parathyroid hormone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowtechnical/medical
Quick answer
What does “parathyroid hormone” mean?
A hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands that regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands that regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.
Often used broadly in medical contexts to refer to the biological agent that controls calcium homeostasis; in clinical discussions, it can refer to both the natural hormone and synthetic or recombinant forms used in therapy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in use. Spelling conventions (e.g., hormone/hormon) do not apply. Pronunciations may differ slightly due to accent.
Connotations
Identical technical/medical connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Frequency is tied to medical/scientific contexts; no regional variation in frequency of use within those contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “parathyroid hormone” in a Sentence
Noun + (verb) e.g., 'PTH increases blood calcium.'Adjective + Noun e.g., 'elevated parathyroid hormone'Noun + Preposition + Noun e.g., 'parathyroid hormone in renal failure'Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used only in pharmaceutical/biotech business contexts, e.g., 'The company is developing a new parathyroid hormone analog.'
Academic
Primary context. Used in biology, endocrinology, and medical research papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only used when discussing specific medical conditions with a doctor.
Technical
Core context in clinical medicine, endocrinology, and laboratory diagnostics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “parathyroid hormone”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “parathyroid hormone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “parathyroid hormone”
- Misspelling as 'parathyreoid hormone'.
- Incorrect abbreviation (e.g., 'PH' instead of 'PTH').
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a parathyroid hormone') is unusual outside specific biochemical contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are completely different. Thyroid hormone (e.g., thyroxine) regulates metabolism, while parathyroid hormone regulates blood calcium.
It often indicates hyperparathyroidism, which can be due to a benign tumour on a parathyroid gland, kidney disease, or vitamin D deficiency.
No, it is essential for life. Severe deficiency (hypoparathyroidism) leads to dangerously low blood calcium, causing muscle spasms, seizures, and cardiac issues, requiring lifelong calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
Yes, teriparatide (Forteo) is a synthetic fragment of PTH used as an injectable treatment for osteoporosis to stimulate new bone formation.
A hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands that regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.
Parathyroid hormone is usually technical/medical in register.
Parathyroid hormone: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpær.əˈθaɪ.rɔɪd ˈhɔː.məʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpær.əˈθaɪ.rɔɪd ˈhɔːr.moʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ParaTHyroid Hormone helps your THigh bones stay strong by regulating calcium. (Think: PARA-THIGH-ROID).
Conceptual Metaphor
HORMONE AS A MESSENGER / HORMONE AS A REGULATOR.
Practice
Quiz
What is the main physiological role of parathyroid hormone (PTH)?