How do pancreatic and thyroidparathyroid hormones act to con

How do pancreatic and thyroid/parathyroid hormones act to control blood glucose and calcium levels, respectively? What are those hormones? How would you describe the control of release of these hormones?

Solution

insulin and glucagon are the pancreatic hormones that are responsible for regulating blood glucose levels.These hormones are secreted by the islet cells of the pancreas.Blood glucose levels should be ideaaly maintained within 70mg/dl to 110mg/dl. Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas.It is normally produced in response to high glucose concentration in the blood.In response to insulin secretion a variet of cells such as fat cells ,red blood cells and muscles help in absorbing glucose,so as to reduce blood glucose levels. On the other hand glucagon acts to increase blood glucose levels.Glucagon is secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreas.Glucagon acts on the liver to release the glucose that has been stored by it into the bloodstream.Glucagon is also seen to help in the production of glucose from proteins and fats by the liver.Therefore glucagon is seen to increase blood glucose concentration.

The thyroid gland produces the hormone calcitonin that regulates the blood calcium level.Calcitonin functions by reducing the calcium and phoshorus levels.Calcitonin causes a reduction in the activity of bone cells called osteoclasts ,which release calcium from the bones.Calcitonin alos increases the calcium and phosphorus uptake by the bones. Calcitonin works along with parathyroid hormone to regulate calcium levels.Parathyroid hormone is produced in response to low calcium levels.Once the calcium levels are restored to normal ,secretion of parathyroid hormone is supressed..Therefore calcitonin is produced by thyroid in reponse to high calcium level,whereas parathyroid hormone is produced in response to low calcium level and helps in increasing calcum level.Parathyroid hormone also decreases the calcium from being filtered by the kidneys into the urine.