Types of Calcium Mobilization

The skeletal system can be seen as a calcium depot.

Calcium is a metallic chemical element found in living tissues and cells. It plays an essential role in cell functions and supports the skeletal structures within the body. This material is mobilized throughout the body on a regular basis by means of hormonal secretions that respond to biochemical fluctuations within cell and bone structures.

Identification

Calcium mobilization systems are physiological processes designed to maintain calcium levels within the blood, and provide needed supplies for bone metabolism processes. The body stores 99 percent of its calcium materials within the skeletal structures, with the other one percent residing in cytoplasm and extracellular materials. The skeletal system acts as a storage area for calcium, and helps in maintaining normal levels throughout the body. Parathryoid hormone, calcitonin, and calcitriol are the hormones responsible for regulating calcium levels in the body.

Function

Calcium ions play an essential role in normal cell function. Ions are charged molecules that work to attract other needed molecules within a cell's metabolism process. Phosphorous, in the form of phosphate ions, work alongside calcium in the regulation of the body's biochemistry. Bone structure, neuron function, glandular secretions, muscle contracting, and blood clotting are all dependent on the body's ability to maintain normal calcium levels. Cell membrane structures and bone metabolism processes are also dependent on the ongoing regulation of these ion levels.

Parathyroid Hormone

The cytoplasm material contained inside cells maintains a specific level of calcium ions at all times. When these levels shift, hormones are secreted by the parathryoid in an effort to restore ion balance. The parathyroid also closely regulates the concentration of calcium ions in extracellular materials. Extracellular materials are made up of carbohydrate and protein materials that support surrounding cell processes. In effect, needed calcium supplies are mobilized from the body's bone structures and sent to other areas of the body as needed.

Calcitron

The thyroid gland is another regulator of calcium levels in the body. When ion levels exceed the body's needs, the thryoid gland secretes a hormone called calcitron. Calcitron secretions prevent the bones from releasing calcium supplies into the bloodstream. When this happens, bone structures are able to use these materials for repair and maintenance. When cell levels are low, bone calcium is reabsorbed from bone structures and mobilized into the bloodstream. In effect, the bones are in a constant state of breaking down and building up structural materials in response to the body's needs.

Calcitriol

Calcitriol is manufactured by the body from the foods that make up a person's dietary intake, and is also manufactured by skin cells through sunlight absorption. It's primary role is to enhance the amount of calcium absorbed in the digestion process. Once absorbed, calcium enters the bloodstream and is either used within cellular processes, or deposited in bone structures for storage purposes. When digestion processes fail to absorb incoming calcium materials, its routed to the kidney and eventually excreted.

References

• Calcium Metabolism
• Bone

Resources

• Phosphorus Information Page