Question

Injections of a hormone are sometimes given to strengthen contractions of the uterus during childbirth. What hormone might this be?
A. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
B. Thyroxine
C. Oxytocin
D. Insulin

Answer 1

Hint: Hormones aka chemical messengers help in regulating many physiological activities in our bodies. These are transported from one organ to another by using body fluids as a medium, especially blood. In some cases, hormones are manually injected into a patient’s body to enhance a particular activity.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
ACTH or Adrenocorticotropic hormone by the name tells that it is a tropic hormone. It is secreted by the anterior pituitary present in the brain. It acts on the adrenal cortex located at the top of both kidneys to stimulate the production of cortisol. Three different types of corticoids are secreted from three different zones of the adrenal cortex. These are glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens which help in regulation of production of glucose in unfavourable times, salt and water balance, secretion of sex hormones respectively.

Thyroxine is secreted by the thyroid gland. It is one of the three hormones secreted by this gland, the other two being Calcitonin and T3/Triiodothyronine. Thyroxine/T4 influences many of our metabolic activities which have an effect on our growth and development. For its production, Iodine is very essential.

Oxytocin hormone comes handy majorly at two times. One, when the mother is in labour, this hormone is released by the posterior pituitary gland to induce greater contractions of the uterus. Two, when the baby is delivered, this hormone is secreted to induce lactation.

Insulin is secreted by the Islets of Langerhans located in the pancreas which is necessary for regulation of glucose levels.

Thus, the correct answer is C: Oxytocin

Note: Tropic hormones are the hormones which have endocrine glands as their target organs. They stimulate the production of a hormone through another endocrine gland.
Oxytocin, although secreted by the posterior pituitary gland, is made by the hypothalamus.