Question

A) Define parturition. Name the hormones involved in the induction of parturition.
B) In our society women are often blamed for giving birth to daughters. Can you explain why this is not correct?

Answer 1

Hint: The various activities such as dilation of the cervix opening of the vaginal canal and contraction of the uterus are involved in the process of parturition. As we know already, the word parturition comes from the Latin language. The Latin word parturire which means "to be ready to bear young" gave rise to the term parturition in the English language.

Complete answer:
A) Parturition and the hormones involved in the induction of parturition:
- At the end stage of the pregnancy of a woman, there can be the presence of few expulsion or delivery of the fetus, it is because of the vigorous contraction of the uterus.
- The process of parturition includes the delivery of the fetus (childbirth). Generally, a complex neuroendocrine mechanism is included in this process.
- The oxytocin and relaxin are the hormones that are involved in the induction of parturition.
- The signals for parturition originate from the completely advanced fetus and the placenta which normally induce the mild uterine retrenchments called fetal ejection reflex.
- The release of oxytocin from the maternal pituitary is the result of these triggers. The stronger uterine contractions are caused by the uterine muscle in which the hormone Oxytocin is acted upon. This in turn leads to the stimulation to the further release of the hormone Oxytocin.

B) Why women are often blamed for giving birth to daughters.
- Most of the women are blamed for giving birth to daughters in our society. However, it is not correct. This is absurd.
- As we know, the female human being has a XX chromosome pattern. However, the chromosome pattern in male human beings is XY.
- Thus, we can say that the female human beings can produce only the X sex chromosome in all the haploid gametes. However, the sperms produced by the male being could be either X or Y. 50% of sperms carry X chromosomes while the other 50% carry the Y.
- We can say that the zygote would carry either XX or XY, after fusion of the male and female gametes. However, the sex is determined by sperms carrying X or Y has fertilized the ovum.
- It is said that the zygote carrying XX would develop into a female and XY form a male. Thus, we can say that the sex of the baby is determined by the male parent.

Note: Because of the excess production of oxytocin, stimulatory reflex amid the uterine contraction and oxytocin secretion endures the resultant in stronger and stronger contractions. And this leads to the eviction of the baby out of the uterus by the means of the birth canal. The process of parturition is facilitated by the hormone Relaxin. It helps in softening the connective tissue of pubic symphysis. However, the sex of the baby is determined by the father and not by the mother.