AEMCA Practice Exam

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What is the function of calcitonin?

Increases blood calcium levels
Decreases blood calcium levels
Stimulates cortisol production
Promotes insulin release

The correct answer is: Decreases blood calcium levels

Calcitonin primarily functions to help regulate calcium levels in the bloodstream by decreasing blood calcium levels. This hormone is secreted by the thyroid gland and acts to lower calcium concentrations in the blood when they become elevated. It achieves this by inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption, which subsequently reduces the release of calcium into the bloodstream from the bones. Calcitonin also promotes the excretion of calcium through the kidneys, further contributing to the decrease in blood calcium levels. In contrast, the other options describe functions that do not pertain to calcitonin. For instance, the role of increasing blood calcium levels aligns more with parathyroid hormone (PTH) rather than calcitonin. Stimulating cortisol production relates to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and the adrenal glands, while promoting insulin release is associated with the pancreas. Thus, the distinctive role of calcitonin in decreasing blood calcium levels solidifies B as the correct response.