A Patient Who Has Recently Undergone Surgery to Remove Tumors

question 47

Multiple Choice

A patient who has recently undergone surgery to remove tumors from his thyroid gland suddenly begins to tremble violently from head to toe because his nerves have become too excitable. Why?

• A) Too much thyroid tissue was removed, and without oxytocin, blood calcium levels fell too low.
• B) The parathyroid glands were removed, and without parathyroid hormone (PTH), blood calcium levels rose too high.
• C) The parathyroid glands were removed, and without parathyroid hormone (PTH), blood calcium levels fell too low.
• D) Too much thyroid tissue was removed, and without calcitonin, blood calcium levels fell too low.
• E) The hypothalamus was removed, and without it releasing hormones, blood calcium levels fell too low.