Endocrine System

Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands: Introduction and Index

Feeling run down and tired? Is your attention span poor? Do you really dislike playing in the snow? Lots of disorders can cause such complaints, but these types of symptoms are compatible with inadequate production of thyroid hormones, the primary endocrine secretion of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid hormones affect three fundamental physiologic processes: cellular differentiation, growth, and metabolism. If you think about that statement for a minute, you might legitimately ask "So what else is there?", which emphasizes just how much of physiology is affected by thyroid hormones. Not many hormones can claim as diverse a set of target cells.

The thyroid gland also produces another hormone called calcitonin, and the parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin participate in control of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and have significant effects on bone physiology.

Core information on the thyroid and parathyroid glands and their hormones is presented in the following topics:

Advanced and supplemental information on the thyroid and parathyroid glands and the hormones they produce:


Send comments to Richard.Bowen@colostate.edu