Final answer:
Calcitonin is released in response to elevated blood calcium levels and stimulates osteoblasts to build bone, reducing excess calcium in the blood and the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calcitonin is released when blood calcium levels are elevated.
This hormone stimulates osteoblasts to build bone, storing excess calcium. Calcitonin is produced by the parafollicular or C cells of the thyroid gland, and it serves the role of decreasing blood calcium levels by inhibiting the activity of osteoclasts and stimulating osteoblasts.
These osteoblasts play a key role in bone formation by removing calcium from the blood and incorporating it into the bone matrix. Additionally, calcitonin also stimulates the kidneys to excrete more calcium, thereby helping to lower the calcium concentration in the blood.
This action is part of the body's mechanism to maintain calcium homeostasis and ensure that the structural integrity of bones is preserved.