parathyroid gland
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Definition
- Noun:
- A small endocrine gland: The parathyroid gland is any one of four small endocrine glands located in the neck, near or embedded within the thyroid gland.
- Function: Its primary function is to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), which regulates the body's calcium and phosphate levels.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The surgeon carefully identified the parathyroid gland during the thyroid procedure.
- Overactivity of the parathyroid gland can lead to a condition called hyperparathyroidism.
- Calcium levels in the blood are primarily controlled by the parathyroid gland.
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: The term is almost exclusively used in medical, biological, and anatomical contexts.
- The patient's hypocalcemia was traced to accidental damage to the parathyroid gland during surgery.
Variants and Related Words
- Parathyroid (adjective): Pertaining to the parathyroid gland.
- Parathyroid hormone is essential for bone health.
- Parathyroidectomy (noun): The surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands.
- The parathyroidectomy was successful in treating the patient's hypercalcemia.
Synonyms
- Parathyroid (when used as a noun in context): In medical shorthand, "parathyroid" can refer to the gland itself.
- The scan showed an adenoma on the left inferior parathyroid.
Related Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs or Idioms)
- Endocrine gland: A ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream.
- Thyroid gland: The larger endocrine gland in the neck which the parathyroid glands are associated with.
- Parathyroid hormone (PTH): The hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands.
Noun
- any one of four endocrine glands situated above or within the thyroid gland