Video Transcript
Calcitonin contributes to the
regulation of blood calcium by increasing calcium storage in bone. What is the gland that releases
calcitonin?
Calcitonin is a hormone that helps
with the regulation of calcium in the blood. Hormones are chemical messengers
that are produced within the cells of endocrine glands and then secreted into the
bloodstream. These hormones can then travel
through the bloodstream around the entire body to coordinate and regulate different
responses in their target cells.
Let’s have a look at some of the
different specialized glands that make up the human endocrine system and the
different hormones that they can release. The pituitary gland is located just
below the brain, and it’s about the size of a pea. The pituitary gland secretes many
different hormones, and some of the hormones it produces can control the release of
hormones produced by other glands. Some examples of hormones secreted
by the pituitary gland are growth hormone, antidiuretic hormone, prolactin,
thyroid-stimulating hormone, and oxytocin, to name a few. However, it does not release
calcitonin.
The pancreas is another type of
endocrine gland. Two of the hormones that it
releases are called insulin and glucagon that are involved in energy metabolism and
glucose homeostasis. Homeostasis is the body’s way of
keeping its internal environment stable despite the constant changes that it
faces.
The ovaries, which are found in
biological females, and the testes, which are found in biological males, are
collectively known as the gonads. And on this diagram, they’ve been
shown on the same person to save space. Both of these glands are stimulated
by the pituitary gland to produce and secrete the sex hormones. The ovaries primarily release
estrogen and progesterone, while the testes primarily release testosterone.
The thyroid gland is located at the
front of the neck, below the larynx, and consists of two lobes. The thyroid gland produces and
releases thyroxine, which is involved in energy metabolism. It also produces and releases
calcitonin, which contributes to the regulation of blood calcium levels.
Having looked at some of the
different endocrine glands and the hormones they release, we now know the correct
answer. The gland that releases calcitonin
is the thyroid gland.
