Textbook Question
Decreased blood calcium level would result in increased:
(a) Secretion of calcitonin
(b) Secretion of PTH
(c) Elimination of calcium by the kidneys
(d) Osteoclast activity
(e) Excitability of neural membranes
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Ch. 18 The Endocrine System
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew12th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy and PhysiologyISBN: 9780137854011
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology25
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Level of Organization34
- Ch. 3 The Cellular Level of Organization29
- Ch. 4 The Tissue Level of Organization24
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System17
- Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Structure33
- Ch. 7 The Axial Skeleton11
- Ch. 8 The Appendicular Skeleton17
- Ch. 9 Joints13
- Ch. 10 Muscle Tissue12
- Ch. 11 The Muscular System28
- Ch. 12 Nervous Tissue18
- Ch. 13 The Spinal Cord, Spinal Nerves, and Spinal Reflexes22
- Ch. 14 The Brain and Cranial Nerves20
- Ch. 15 Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System17
- Ch. 16 The Autonomic Nervous System and Higher-Order Functions30
- Ch. 17 The Special Senses15
- Ch. 18 The Endocrine System21
- Ch. 19 Blood31
- Ch. 20 The Heart31
- Ch. 21 Blood Vessels and Circulation26
- Ch. 22 The Lymphatic System and Immunity25
- Ch. 23 The Respiratory System4
- Ch. 24 The Digestive System18
- Ch. 26 The Urinary System31
- Ch. 27 Fluids & Electrolytes30
- Ch. 28 The Reproductive System12
- Ch. 29 Development and Inheritance17
Martini, Nath, Bartholomew12th EditionFundamentals of Anatomy and PhysiologyISBN: 9780137854011Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 18, Problem 26
Julie is pregnant but is not receiving prenatal care. She has a poor diet consisting mostly of fast food. She drinks no milk, preferring colas instead. How would this situation affect Julie's parathyroid hormone level?
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Step 1: Understand the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the body. PTH is secreted by the parathyroid glands and primarily functions to regulate calcium levels in the blood by increasing blood calcium when it is low.
Step 2: Consider Julie's diet and its impact on calcium intake. Since she drinks no milk (a major source of dietary calcium) and prefers colas (which may contain phosphates that can bind calcium), her calcium intake is likely low, leading to decreased blood calcium levels.
Step 3: Recognize the physiological response to low blood calcium. When blood calcium levels drop, the parathyroid glands respond by increasing secretion of PTH to restore calcium balance by promoting calcium release from bones, increasing calcium absorption in the intestines (via activation of vitamin D), and reducing calcium excretion by the kidneys.
Step 4: Connect Julie's poor diet and pregnancy status to PTH levels. Pregnancy increases calcium demand for fetal development, so combined with low dietary calcium, this would likely cause an increase in PTH secretion to maintain adequate calcium levels in the mother's blood.
Step 5: Summarize that Julie's poor calcium intake and increased calcium demand during pregnancy would stimulate an increase in parathyroid hormone levels as a compensatory mechanism.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Role of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium levels in the blood by increasing calcium release from bones, enhancing calcium absorption in the intestines, and reducing calcium excretion by the kidneys. It is secreted when blood calcium levels are low to restore balance.
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Impact of Diet on Calcium and Vitamin D Levels
A diet low in calcium and vitamin D, such as one lacking milk and rich in fast food and colas, can lead to decreased calcium absorption. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption in the gut, so poor intake can cause calcium deficiency, triggering compensatory hormonal responses.
Physiological Changes During Pregnancy Affecting Calcium Metabolism
Pregnancy increases calcium demand for fetal bone development, often leading to adaptations like increased intestinal calcium absorption. If dietary calcium is insufficient, the body may increase PTH secretion to maintain maternal and fetal calcium levels, potentially affecting bone health.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Pamela and her teammates are considering taking anabolic steroids (synthetic hormones derived from testosterone) to enhance their competitive skills. What natural effects of testosterone are they hoping to gain? What additional side effects might these women expect should they begin an anabolic steroid regime?
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Textbook Question
In Type 2 diabetes, insulin levels are frequently normal, yet the target cells are less sensitive to the effects of insulin. This suggests that the target cells:
(a) Are impermeable to insulin
(b) May lack enough insulin receptors
(c) Cannot convert insulin to an active form
(d) Have adequate internal supplies of glucose
(e) Both b and c
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Textbook Question
Roger has been extremely thirsty. He drinks numerous glasses of water every day and urinates a great deal. Name two disorders that could produce these signs and symptoms. What test could a clinician perform to determine which disorder Roger has?
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