calcium homeostasis

(noun)

Calcium homeostasis is the mechanism by which the body maintains adequate calcium levels in order to prevent hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia, both of which can have important consequences for health.

Related Terms

  • Calcitonin
  • calcitriol
  • calcidiol

Examples of calcium homeostasis in the following topics:

  • Bone and Calcium Homeostasis

    • Calcium metabolism or calcium homeostasis is the mechanism by which the body maintains adequate calcium levels.
    • Calcium metabolism or calcium homeostasis is the mechanism by which the body maintains adequate calcium levels.
    • Bone serves as an important storage point for calcium, as it contains 99% of the total body calcium.
    • Removal of calcium from the bone is also inhibited.
    • This results in the removal of calcium from the bone to correct blood calcium levels.
  • Overview of the Thyroid Gland

    • The thyroid also produces calcitonin, which plays a role in calcium homeostasis.
  • Overview of the Parathyroid Glands

    • Parathyroid glands control the amount of calcium in the blood and within the bones.
    • When blood calcium levels drop below a certain point, calcium-sensing receptors in the parathyroid gland are activated to release parathyroid hormone (PTH) into the blood.
    • PTH modulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis, as well as bone physiology.
    • PTH has effects antagonistic to those of calcitonin by increasing blood calcium levels by stimulating osteoclasts to break down bone and release calcium.
    • PTH also increases gastrointestinal calcium absorption by activating vitamin D, and promotes calcium conservation by re-absorption in the kidneys.
  • Control of Homeostasis

    • Homeostasis is maintained by negative feedback loops within the organism.
    • Homeostasis is controlled by the nervous and endocrine systems in mammals.
    • Another example of an increase as a result of a feedback loop is the control of blood calcium.
    • If calcium levels decrease, specialized cells in the parathyroid gland sense this and release parathyroid hormone (PTH), causing an increased absorption of calcium through the intestines and kidneys.
    • The effects of PTH are to raise blood levels of calcium.
  • Overview of the Urinary System

    • The urinary system maintains blood homeostasis by filtering out excess fluid and other substances from the bloodstream and secreting waste.
    • Regulation of acid-base homeostasis and blood pH, a function shared with the respiratory system.
    • The primary function of the kidneys is to maintain a stable internal environment (homeostasis) for optimal cell and tissue metabolism.
    • Many hormones involved in homeostasis will alter the permeability of these tubules, changing the amount of water that is retained by the body.
    • Besides ADH secretion, the renin-angiotensin feedback system is critically important to maintain blood volume and blood pressure homeostasis.
  • Sodium, Electrolytes, and Fluid Balance

    • Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis within the body.
    • Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis within the body.
    • The most serious electrolyte disturbances involve abnormalities in the levels of sodium, potassium, and/or calcium.
  • Development of the Endocrine System

    • The endocrine system regulates growth, metabolism, and body homeostasis using hormones that effectively target organs via the bloodstream.
    • The ability to maintain homeostasis and respond to stimuli is largely due to hormones secreted within the body.
    • The thyroid also produces and releases the hormone calcitonin (thyrocalcitonin), which contributes to the regulation of blood calcium levels.
    • Thyrocalcitonin decreases the concentration of calcium in the blood.
    • Most of the calcium removed from the blood is stored in the bones.
  • Parathyroid Hormone

    • Parathyroid hormone maintains the body's calcium levels by increasing absorption of calcium from the bones, kidneys, and GI tract.
    • When blood calcium levels drop below a certain point, calcium-sensing receptors in the parathyroid gland are activated, and the parathyroid glands release parathyroid hormone (PTH) into the blood.
    • Parathyroid hormone acts to increase blood calcium levels, while calcitonin acts to decrease blood calcium levels.
    • Parathyroid hormone acts on the bone to increase blood calcium levels by stimulating osteoclasts to break down bone, releasing calcium into the bloodstream.
    • It acts on the kidneys to increase blood calcium levels by promoting calcium reabsorption in the nephrons.
  • Hormonal Control of Blood Calcium Levels

    • PTH is released in response to low blood calcium levels.
    • In the intestines, PTH increases dietary calcium absorption and in the kidneys, PTH stimulates re-absorption of the calcium.
    • PTH release is inhibited by rising blood calcium levels.
    • Calcitonin decreases blood calcium levels by inhibiting osteoclasts, stimulating osteoblasts, and stimulating calcium excretion by the kidneys.
    • It increases blood calcium levels by stimulating the resorption of bones, increasing calcium resorption in the kidneys, and indirectly increasing calcium absorption in the intestines.
  • Regulation of Urine Concentration and Volume

    • In a way, urine volume regulation is part of homeostasis, in that it directly regulates blood volume, because greater amounts of urine will reduce the volume of waters in blood.
    • As the fluid flows along the proximal convoluted tubule useful substances like glucose, water, salts, potassium ions, calcium ions, and amino acids are reabsorbed into the blood capillaries that form a network around the tubules.
    • Describe how regulating the amount of water excreted in urine is an essential component of homeostasis that is regulated by the antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
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