Video Transcript
Which of the following defines
hyperparathyroidism? (A) Overproduction of thyroxine,
(B) overproduction of parathyroid hormone, (C) underproduction of parathyroid
hormone, or (D) underproduction of thyroxine.
The thyroid gland is a
butterfly-shaped endocrine gland found at the base of the front of the neck. The thyroid gland produces
hormones, such as thyroxine, to control functions like metabolism, growth, and
development. The four parathyroid glands are
found on the surface of the thyroid gland. The parathyroid glands produce
parathyroid hormone, which is involved in calcium homeostasis. If these glands don’t function
properly, they may produce excess or insufficient levels of parathyroid hormones,
which can be very dangerous for the individual.
The prefix hypo- means low, and
hypoparathyroidism is when low levels of parathyroid hormone are produced as a
result of injury or damage to the parathyroid glands. This causes the level of calcium in
the blood to become low, which results in overexcitation of the nervous system and
can cause seizures or muscle spasms.
On the other hand, the prefix
hyper- means high, and hyperparathyroidism is a term used to describe the
overproduction of parathyroid hormone. This can happen because of the
overactivity of one or more of the parathyroid glands, which can occur due to a
tumor or growth in the gland. Too much parathyroid hormone in the
body can cause increased bone resorption, leading to increased levels of calcium in
the blood. This can cause the bones to lose
mass and become fragile, making them more susceptible to fractures. The high levels of calcium in the
body can also cause kidney stones, as calcium is deposited in the kidney
tubules.
With the information we’ve learned,
we can answer our question. Hyperparathyroidism is defined as
(B): overproduction of parathyroid hormone.
