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The parathyroid glands are small glands located around or on top of the thyroid gland. Normally, each of these four glands is about the size of a lentil . They secrete a hormone called parathyroid hormone, which determines how much calcium is stored in the bones and how much calcium is found in the blood. When these glands enlarge, they can secrete excessive amounts of hormones. This condition is called hyperparathyroidism . In this state, calcium is drawn from the bones into