The orthopedic surgeon suggests a new therapy for your great aunt\'s condition t

Question

The orthopedic surgeon suggests a new therapy for your great aunt's condition that relies upon the administration of the hormone calcitonin. Your relatives want to understand how this hormone works.

12. What effect does calcitonin have on the organ(s) affected by the disease?

13. What effect does it have on the cells involved?

14. What might its effects be on the body when given in excess of what the body normally produces?

15. What dietary supplement might you recommend to accompany the calcitonin treatment? Why? One of your friends suggests treatment with parathyroid hormone (PTH) since it would elevate plasma calcium levels and would presumably enhance bone formation.

16. Based on the actions of PTH do you think it will be effective in reversing the effects of the disease? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

Calcitonin is a hormone produced by parafollicular cells, also known as C-cells of thyroid gland. It reduces blood calcium level by opposing the action of parathyroid hormone. In this case the patient is being administrated with hormone calcitonin. So the surgeon must be thinking of reducing blood calcium by inhibiting the bone degradation or reducing osteoporosis and it help in old age female patient and thus reducing the chances of bone fracture in old female patient.

Parathyroid hormone only increase blood calcium by bone resorption while calcitonin opposes action of Parathyroid hormone and thus reducing osteoporosis.

Excess of calcitonin is also harmful as it can reduce blood calcium level to that extent that other disease like tetany or lock jaw may occur.

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