Parathyroid Physiology
This hormone is released when serum calcium levels are low.
What is parathyroid hormone (PTH)?
Rationale: PTH is secreted in response to low calcium as part of the negative feedback loop.
The most common cause of hypoparathyroidism.
What is accidental removal or damage during thyroid or neck surgery?
Rationale: Hypoparathyroidism commonly follows thyroidectomy complications.
Hyperparathyroidism leads to elevated levels of this electrolyte.
What is calcium?
Rationale: Overactive PTH results in hypercalcemia.
This thyroid hormone is decreased in hypothyroidism.
What is thyroid hormone (TH) or T3/T4?
Rationale: Hypothyroidism results from decreased secretion of thyroid hormones.
This is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
What is Graves’ disease?
Rationale: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition causing excessive thyroid hormone production.
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) increases calcium levels through actions on these three body systems.
What are the kidneys, bones, and intestines?
Rationale: PTH increases renal calcium reabsorption, bone resorption, and intestinal absorption of calcium.
Low levels of this electrolyte are responsible for muscle cramps, tetany, and paresthesia.
What is calcium?
Rationale: Hypocalcemia is the hallmark feature of hypoparathyroidism.
The most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism.
What is a parathyroid tumor (adenoma)?
Rationale: Tumors drive excess PTH secretion.
This hormone released from the anterior pituitary is increased in uncontrolled hypothyroidism.
What is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)?
Rationale: The anterior pituitary continues to release TSH when the levels of T3 & T4 remain low, causing serum levels of TSH to be eleveated.
Clients with hyperthyroidism often exhibit this sign due to increased metabolic rate and heat intolerance.
What is warm, moist skin or sweating?
Rationale: Elevated TH increases basal metabolic rate, producing heat.
This mineral increases when calcium decreases due to an inverse relationship.
What is phosphorus?
Rationale: Low calcium leads to elevated phosphate levels.
This assessment method using a blood pressure cuff can elicit a spasm in acute hypocalcemia.
What is Trousseau’s sign?
Rationale: BP cuff inflation over systolic pressure for 3 minutes causes carpal spasm.
Excess bone breakdown in hyperparathyroidism increases the risk of this condition.
What is osteoporosis, bone pain and fractures?
Rationale: Calcium is released from bone due to increased PTH-mediated resorption.
This life-threatening complication of severe, untreated hypothyroidism involves decreased LOC and hypothermia.
What is myxedema coma?
Rationale: Myxedema coma is the most severe form of hypothyroidism requiring emergency treatment.
Bulging eyes, commonly seen in Graves’ disease, are called this.
What is exophthalmos?
Rationale: Autoimmune inflammation causes orbital tissue swelling, pushing the eyes forward.
These small glands are embedded around the thyroid gland and regulate calcium balance.
What are the parathyroid glands?
Rationale: The parathyroids are located near the thyroid and secrete PTH.
This medication, paired with calcium, is used to help increase calcium absorption.
What is calcitriol (vitamin D)?
Rationale: Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the intestines.
This diuretic may be given to help flush excess calcium.
What is furosemide?
Rationale: Loop diuretics promote calcium excretion.
A classic physical symptom of hypothyroidism that results from the accumulation of mucopolysaccharides under the skin.
What is nonpitting edema or “myxedema”?
Rationale: Myxedema describes the characteristic swelling seen in advanced hypothyroidism.
This emergency disorder is characterized by fever, tachycardia, hypertension, and neurological changes.
What is thyroid storm?
Rationale: Thyroid storm is a hypermetabolic crisis requiring urgent intervention.
This endocrine control mechanism in the PPT describes how hormones maintain homeostasis.
What is the hypothalamic–pituitary axis?
Rationale: The PPT explains the HPA axis as central to hormonal regulation, including endocrine glands like parathyroids.
Clients with chronic hypoparathyroidism are at risk for this renal complication due to calcium deposits.
What are kidney stones?
Rationale: Reduced PTH impairs renal calcium handling, causing calcium deposits and nephrolithiasis. Clients with hypoparathyroidism are also at risk for kidney stones due to calcium supplementation.
A major postoperative risk after parathyroid tumor removal, caused by sudden hormone drop.
What is hypocalcemia/hypoparathyroidism?
Rationale: Post-op drop in PTH can create acute hypocalcemia.
The primary treatment for hypothyroidism involves daily replacement with this medication.
What is levothyroxine?
Rationale: Levothyroxine provides synthetic thyroid hormone to restore normal metabolic function.
The medication class used to block thyroid hormone synthesis in hyperthyroidism.
What are antithyroid drugs (e.g., methimazole or propylthiouracil)?
Rationale: These medications inhibit thyroid hormone production and are first-line therapy in many cases.