Parathyroid Gland
Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands in the neck of humans and other tetrapods . Humans usually have four parathyroid glands, located on the back of the thyroid gland in variable locations. The parathyroid gland produces and secretes parathyroid hormone in response to a low blood calcium, which plays a key role in regulating the amount of calcium in the blood and within the bones . Parathyroid hormone (also known as parathormone) is a small protein that takes part in the control of calcium and phosphate homeostasis , as well as bone physiology. Parathyroid hormone has effects antagonistic to those of calcitonin . Calcium . PTH increases blood calcium levels by directly stimulating osteoblasts and thereby indirectly stimulating osteoclasts (through RANK/RANKL mechanism) to break down bone and release calcium. PTH increases gastrointestinal calcium absorption by activating vitamin D , and promotes calcium conservation (reabsorption) by the ki