Parathyroid Hormone and the Buffering Function of Bone

Bone mobilization serves two metabolic functions: acid-base homeostasis and calcium homeostasis. Evidence is cited that the former is primary and that PTH exploits bone's buffering role as it mediates calcium homeostasis. The clinical implications of this thesis are particularly pertinent to the differentiation of hypercalcemia according to whether it results from parathyroid hyperactivity or is of nonparathyroid origin.