OVERVIEW OF CALCIUM AND BONE METABOLISM

1⃣ What level defines hypocalcemia?

< 8.5 mg/dL

2⃣ What triggers PTH secretion?

Low calcium

3⃣ PTH has what effect on phosphate?

Decreases serum phosphate

4⃣ What is the main action of calcitonin?

Lower serum calcium

5⃣ The most common cause of hypoparathyroidism is:

Neck surgery (parathyroid damage)

6⃣ In kidney failure, hypocalcemia is caused by:

Inability to activate vitamin D + phosphate retention

7⃣ A sign of hypocalcemia in children may be misdiagnosed as:

Epilepsy

8⃣ Tetany is caused by:

Hypocalcemia

9⃣ What is a key GI symptom of hypercalcemia?

Nausea, vomiting, constipation

10⃣ Osteoporosis is defined as:

Decreased bone density

11⃣ A client with hyperparathyroidism is likely to have which lab abnormality?

Hypercalcemia

12⃣ Paget disease is treated with:

Calcitonin and bisphosphonates

13⃣ After age 35, which occurs?

Bone resorption exceeds formation

14⃣ A patient with kidney failure develops hypocalcemia because:

Decreased GI absorption of calcium

15⃣ What symptom would alert you to possible hypercalcemia?

Constipation and confusion

16⃣ Hypercalcemia causes what effect on muscle/nerve function?

Depression

17⃣ A patient on corticosteroids is at risk for:

Osteoporosis

18⃣ Early osteoporosis may be detected by:

Bone density scan (DEXA)

19⃣ Active vitamin D is called:

Calcitriol

20⃣ In vitamin D deficiency, the calcium level:

Decreases

21⃣ What is a symptom of tetany?

Twitching of facial muscles

22⃣ The main role of vitamin D is to:

Increase intestinal calcium absorption

23⃣ In osteoporosis, the most common fracture sites are:

Spine, hips, wrists

24⃣ Which client is at highest risk for osteoporosis?

Postmenopausal woman on steroids

25⃣ Hypercalcemia can cause which heart issue?

Cardiac dysrhythmia

26⃣ In Paget disease, what is happening to bone?

High turnover, deformity

27⃣ Which drug is first-line for osteoporosis prevention?

Bisphosphonates

28⃣ A nurse explains that calcium and phosphate have what type of relationship?

Inverse

29⃣ Calcium deposits in the kidney can cause:

Kidney stones (renal calculi)

30⃣ A nurse teaches that lifestyle prevention of osteoporosis includes:

Weight-bearing exercise and no smoking