The parathyroid glands, a few milligrams essential to the body…

 

The 4 parathyroid glands (the size of a grain of rice, shown in yellow in the drawings) are located behind the thyroid; they control the calcium level in the blood very precisely (in the event of a lack of calcium - hypocalcemia - the symptoms are numerous and can be serious - tetany).

Preserving the parathyroid glands with their blood vessels is an essential goal during thyroid surgery.

 

 

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The parathyroid glands have sensors -calcium sensor in the diagram- which are very sensitive to the level of calcium in the blood; any reduction in this rate caused by a diet low in calcium or a lack of vitamin D will lead to a secretion of the hormone -PTH- This acts on the bones to release calcium and on the kidneys to reduce elimination calcium in urine.