Question

Hormone oxytocin controls
(a) Growth
(b) Lactation
(c) Childbirth
(d) Both (b) and (c)

Answer 1

A biological process which is also called parturition controlled by hormone oxytocin controls . The other names given to it commonly are labour or delivery. It is the end of a pregnancy resulting in the birth of one or more babies through the uterus or by caesarean.

Complete answer:
Hormone oxytocin controls childbirth. Oxytocin along with vasopressin is originally synthesized by the hypothalamus. From here they are transported axonally to the neurohypophysis.
One may wonder what this neurohypophysis is.
The pituitary gland is anatomically divided into anterior pituitary and posterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary is also called ‘adenohypophysis’ while posterior pituitary is called by the name ‘neurohypophysis.’ Neurohypophysis (pars nervosa) stores and releases two hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin (ADH).
Now let's study about the roles oxytocin play in various processes within our body.
-Oxytocin acts on the smooth muscles of our body and stimulates their contraction.
-At the time of childbirth, oxytocin stimulates a vigorous contraction of the uterus in females.
-It also helps in milk ejection from the mammary gland during the lactation period.

Additional Information: -Pars distalis region of pituitary commonly called anterior pituitary produces hormones like growth hormone and prolactin.
-Growth hormone in children, on over secretion stimulates abnormal growth of the body leading to gigantism.
-Conversely, low secretion of growth hormone in children leads to stunted growth resulting in pituitary dwarfism.
So, the correct answer is, ‘Both (b) and (c).’

Note: -The hormone prolactin regulates the growth of mammary glands and consequent formation of milk in them while the expression of milk from the mammary glands is done by oxytocin.
-Over secretion of growth hormone in adults especially in the middle age can lead to severe disfigurement (especially of the face). This condition is called acromegaly.