Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!
Multiple Choice
Which organs are primarily involved in the synthesis of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D?
A
Pancreas, thyroid, and adrenal glands
B
Skin, liver, and kidneys
C
Stomach, small intestine, and colon
D
Heart, lungs, and spleen
0 Comments
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D, which plays a crucial role in calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the body.
Recognize that the synthesis of calcitriol involves multiple organs working sequentially: the skin, liver, and kidneys.
Step 1: In the skin, ultraviolet (UV) radiation converts 7-dehydrocholesterol into cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). This is the first step in the synthesis process.
Step 2: In the liver, cholecalciferol is hydroxylated at the 25th carbon position by the enzyme 25-hydroxylase, forming 25-hydroxyvitamin D (calcidiol).
Step 3: In the kidneys, calcidiol undergoes a second hydroxylation at the 1st carbon position by the enzyme 1-alpha-hydroxylase, forming calcitriol, the biologically active form of vitamin D.