noun
- four small endocrine glands located near or within the thyroid gland that regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the blood
Usage: medical; anatomy
Examples
- The parathyroids produce parathyroid hormone to control calcium metabolism.
- Damage to the parathyroids during thyroid surgery can cause calcium deficiency.
- Each of the four parathyroids is about the size of a grain of rice.
- The surgeon carefully preserved the parathyroids during the thyroidectomy.
- Overactive parathyroids can lead to kidney stones and bone weakness.
- Blood tests revealed that her parathyroids were not functioning properly.