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Definition of "calcitonin" []

  • A peptide hormone, produced by the thyroid gland in humans, that lowers plasma calcium and phosphate levels without augmenting calcium accretion. Also called thyrocalcitonin. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "calcitonin" in a sentence
  • "Rats with vagal, pelvic, hypogastric and ovarian neurectomies exhibited a marked decrease in calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerves in the uterus relative to rats with pelvic, hypogastric, and ovarian neurectomies with intact vagus nerves."
  • "That actually mimics the effects of these hormones, or calcitonin, which is a non-sex hormone that increases bone mass in the spine."
  • "It provides a definite fingerprint and time stamp for different species, and researchers make use of similarities between species to create novel treatments ... such as calcitonin from salmon for human use."