Question

Why is oxytocin called a birth hormone?

Answer 1

Hint: It helps in the contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus.

Complete answer:
Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide. It is produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. It plays a major role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, and childbirth.
Oxytocin is released in the bloodstream as a hormone for stretching of the cervix and uterus during labor and also during breastfeeding. This hormone helps with birth, bonding with the baby, and milk production.

Additional information

Oxytocin stimulates forceful contractions of the uterus and cervix, facilitating childbirth.
Estrogen has been found to increase the secretion of oxytocin and also increase its expression in the brain.
It is also known as the love hormone or cuddle hormone because it is released when people snuggle up or bond socially.
Oxytocin is a hormone that acts as a neurotransmitter and plays an important role in reproduction.
It may also have benefits as a treatment for several conditions, including depression, anxiety, and intestinal problems.
Oxytocin and biomedical therapies have proven to help diagnose autism-spectrum in children.
It also has an influence on insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood sugar levels in diabetic patients.

Note: The uterine contracting properties of the principle later named as oxytocin were discovered by British pharmacologist Sir Henry Dale in 1906, and its milk ejection property was described by Ott and Scott in 1910 and by Schafer and Mackenzie in 1911. The word oxytocin was coined from the Greek term oxytocic, oxys meaning sharp or swift, and tokoc meaning childbirth.