The parathyroids are four tiny glands, located in the neck, that produce the parathyroid hormone. This hormone regulates the body's calcium levels.
Think of parathyroids as a team of construction site managers. They don't do the actual work but they oversee and regulate how much calcium (the workers) is in your bloodstream (the construction site).
Calcitonin: This hormone works opposite to parathyroid hormone, it lowers blood calcium levels by storing it in bones.
Osteoporosis: A condition characterized by weak and brittle bones due to loss of bone mass which can be caused by imbalance in regulation of calcium.
Endocrine Glands: These are ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. The thyroid and parathyroid glands are examples of endocrine glands.
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