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PREKSHA MEDITATION, THERAPY AND CURES/ 189
through food from where it is absorbed by blood and reaches to thyroid. Thyroid stores its hormones in globular sacs called follicals. Around these follicles are parafollicular cells which produce another hormone, calcitonin. This hormone plays important role in calcium absorption by diverting excess calcium to the bones.
Hyper and Hypo thyroidisms, both conditions invite several diseases. An overactive thyroid gland results in thyrotoxicosis whose symptoms are protrusion of eyeballs, nervousness, irritability, sweating and loss of weight. Conversely, if thyroid is under active, it results in Myxoedema. Its main symptoms are tiredness, swollenness, sensitivity to cold and constipation.
An important point to note is that thyroid activities are affected in conditions of fear and anger. The Parathyroid Gland
There are four parathyroid glands which are normally about the size and shape of a grain of rice situated on the posterior surface of thyroid glands. They produce a chemical, parathormone. This hormone raises the level of calcium in blood. The sole purpose of the parathyroid glands is to regulate the calcium level in our bodies within a very narrow range so that the nervous and muscular systems can function properly. Although they are neighbours and both part of the endocrine system, the thyroid and parathyroid glands are otherwise unrelated. The single major disease of parathyroid glands is over activity of one or more of the parathyroids which make too much parathyroid hormone causing a potentially serious calcium imbalance. This is called hyperparathyroidism.
The Pancreas
As an abdominal gland, it lies behind the stomach, with its head pointed toward the small intestine, and its tail pointed to the right. The pancreas produces chemicals that are crucial to proper digestion and blood sugar regulation. It is a mixed gland having both exocrine and endocrine functions.
Important hormones secreted by the pancreas include: • Insulin
• Glucagon
These maintain the appropriate levels of sugar throughout our body. The parts of the pancreas responsible for the production of hormones are the Islets of Langerhans, which are small clusters of cells separated from the exocrine
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