Word parts
What it means
The four small parathyroid glands in the neck make parathyroid hormonepar-uh-THY-royd HOR-mohnA hormone from the parathyroid glands in the neck that raises the calcium level in the blood.para- besidethyr/o thyroid-oid resemblingFull entry , which keeps the blood calciumKAL-see-umA mineral that builds bones and teeth and that nerves, muscles, the heart and blood clotting need to work.Full entry level up. When there is too little of the hormone, calcium falls (hypocalcemiahy-poh-kal-SEE-mee-uhA blood calcium level below normal.hypo- belowcalc calcium-emia in the bloodFull entry ) and phosphate rises. The most common cause is damage to or removal of the glands during thyroid or neck surgery. Low calcium makes nerves and muscles too excitable, causing tingling around the mouth and in the fingers, muscle cramps and, when severe, tetanyTET-uh-neeInvoluntary muscle cramps and spasms that come from nerves firing too easily.Full entry and seizures.
For the nurse
After thyroid surgery, ask about tingling around the mouth or in the fingers and toes, and check for Chvostek and Trousseau signtroo-SOH SINEA spasm of the hand and wrist that appears when a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm is kept inflated for a few minutes.Full entry . Keep IV calcium gluconate available as ordered. Teach clients on long-term treatment to take their calcium and vitamin D as prescribed and to have their levels checked.
In a chart
"Day 1 after total thyroidectomy: reports tingling of lips; serum calcium 7.6 mg/dL; provider notified."
At a glance
| Spanish | hipoparatiroidismo |
|---|
Easy to confuse with
hypothyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.
Related terms
calcium
A mineral that builds bones and teeth and that nerves, muscles, the heart and blood clotting need to work.
hypocalcemia
A blood calcium level below normal.
parathyroid hormone
A hormone from the parathyroid glands in the neck that raises the calcium level in the blood.
tetany
Involuntary muscle cramps and spasms that come from nerves firing too easily.
Trousseau sign
A spasm of the hand and wrist that appears when a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm is kept inflated for a few minutes.