Endocrinology Exam Questions and Answers Related

Review Endocrinology Exam Questions and Answers related questions and content

Oxytocin:

  • A. is not produced in males.
  • B. inhibits lactation.
  • C. stimulates smooth muscle contraction.
  • D. is produced primarily in the SON in the hypothalamus.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Oxytocin is a hormone that is produced in both males and females. In females, oxytocin plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, notably during labor and childbirth. Oxytocin acts on the smooth muscles of the uterus, causing them to contract during labor (parturition) and helps in the ejection of milk during breastfeeding. This hormone is primarily synthesized in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary gland before being released into the bloodstream. Overall, oxytocin's main function is to stimulate smooth muscle contraction in the uterus and the mammary glands.