| receptors, parathyroid hormone | Cell surface proteins that bind parathyroid hormone with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes which influence the behaviour of cells. Parathyroid hormone receptors on bone, kidney, and gastrointestinal cells mediate the hormone's role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| parathyroid | 1. <anatomy> Situated beside the thyroid gland. 2. <endocrinology> One of the parathyroid glands. 3. <pharmacology> A sterile preparation of the water soluble principle of the parathyroid glands, administered parenterally as an antihypocalcaemic, especially in the treatment of acute hypoparathyroidism with tetany. (18 Nov 1997) |
| parathyroid gland | <anatomy, endocrinology> Four small endocrine glands lying close or embedded in the posterior surface of the thyroid gland. They secrete the hormone parathormone. (27 Sep 1997) |
| parathyroid glands | Two small paired endocrine glands in the region of the thyroid gland. They secrete parathyroid hormone and are concerned with the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| parathyroid hormone | <hormone> A peptide hormone of 84 amino acids (9402 D). Stimulates osteoclasts to increase blood calcium levels, the opposite effect to calcitonin. (18 Nov 1997) |
| parathyroid hormonelike protein | A 140 amino acid protein secreted by some cancer cells; it causes hypercalcaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| parathyroid hormones | Polypeptide hormones (84 amino acid residues) secreted by the parathyroid glands, which promote release of calcium from bone to extracellular fluid by activating osteoblasts and inhibiting osteoclasts, indirectly promote increased intestinal absorption of calcium, and promote renal tubular reabsorption of calcium and increased renal excretion of phosphates. It is a major regulator of bone metabolism. Secretion of parathyroid hormone increases when the level of calcium in the extracellular fluid is low. Its action is opposed by calcitonin. (12 Dec 1998) |
| parathyroid insufficiency | <endocrinology> A term which describes the abnormally low production of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid glands. Hypoparathyroidism may be congenital or occur in association with another disorder (autoimmune disease, haemochromatosis). Common symptoms are those of low blood calcium: muscle spasms, tetany, facial grimacing, laryngeal spasm and seizures. (11 Jan 1998) |
| parathyroid osteosis | Rarefying osteitis with fibrous degeneration and formation of cysts, and with the presence of fibrous nodules on the affected bones. It is due to marked osteoclastic activity secondary to hyperfunction of the parathyroid glands. (12 Dec 1998) |
| parathyroid tetany | Tetany due to lack of parathyroid function, spontaneous or following excision of the parathyroid glands. Synonym: hypoparathyroid tetany, parathyroprival tetany, tetania parathyreopriva. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chief cell of parathyroid gland | A round clear cell with a centrally located nucleus; secretes parathyroid hormone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| water-clear cell of parathyroid | A variety of chief cell, so-called because the cytoplasm contains much glycogen that is not preserved or stained in the usual preparation. Synonym: wasserhelle cell. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hormone, parathyroid | See Hormone, parathormone. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ackee poisoning | An acute and frequently fatal vomiting disease associated with central nervous system symptoms and marked hypoglycaemia, caused by eating unripe ackee fruit of Blighia spaida, a tree common in Jamaica. Synonym: Jamaican vomiting sickness. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arsenic poisoning | A severe poisoning that occurs after the exposure (ingested or inhaled). Signs and symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid heart rate, apprehension and difficulty breathing. (27 Sep 1997) |