[UHS-2024] Posterior lobe of pituitary produce:
A
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
B
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
C
Adreno Corticotrophic Hormone (ACTH)
D
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The neurohypophysis acts as a storage reservoir rather than a true secretory factory.
Solution:- While technically synthesized by hypothalamic nuclei, Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) travels down axonal tracts and is released into the systemic circulation exclusively by the posterior lobe of the pituitary.
Why other options are incorrect:TSH, ACTH, and FSH are exclusively synthesized and secreted by the anterior lobe (adenohypophysis).
[UHS-2024] Insulin converts glucose into:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Insulin is the primary anabolic hormone of the body, designed to lock away excess energy when food is abundant.
Solution:- When blood glucose is high, insulin first drives the liver and muscles to convert glucose into glycogen.
- Once glycogen stores are full, insulin forces the liver to convert all remaining excess glucose into fatty acids, which are stored in adipose tissue as triglycerides (lipids).
Why other options are incorrect:The human body cannot synthesize minerals, and it only synthesizes a few vitamins (not from glucose). Glucose is not converted into cortisone.
[NUMS-2024] Which disorder would be diagnosed by a doctor on seeing a patient with thick and dry skin, puffy eyes and low metabolic rate?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Thyroid hormones are the body's metabolic engine. A lack of these hormones drastically slows down all cellular processes.
Solution:- Severe hypothyroidism in an adult is clinically termed Myxedema.
- Without thyroxine, the metabolic rate crashes. The body accumulates mucopolysaccharides under the skin, which trap water and create a distinct puffy appearance (especially around the eyes), accompanied by lethargy and dry skin.
Why other options are incorrect:Cretinism is hypothyroidism in
infants (causing dwarfism and retardation). Cushing's and Addison's relate to adrenal cortisol imbalances, not primary metabolic crash.
[NUMS-2024] Choose the one NOT related to hyperparathyroidism:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept: Symptoms of parathyroid hormone dysfunction.
Solution: Hyperparathyroidism leads to hypercalcemia, muscle weakness, and kidney stones. Tetany is caused by hypocalcemia (hypoparathyroidism), making it unrelated to hyperparathyroidism.
[NUMS-2024] Which of the following is an example of negative feedback mechanism?
A
Control of body temperature
B
Aggregation of platelets during wound healing
D
Milk secretion during suckling
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Biological negative feedback serves to maintain homeostasis by reversing any deviation from an ideal set-point.
Solution:- If a person steps into a freezing environment, core temperature drops. The hypothalamus detects this and triggers shivering to generate heat.
- Once the body warms back up to 37\(^\circ\)C, the shivering stops. Because the response (heat) turned off the initial stimulus (cold), the control of body temperature is a perfect negative feedback loop.
Why other options are incorrect:Platelet aggregation, labor contractions, and milk let-down are all classic examples of
positive feedback, where the body amplifies the response until a final event occurs.
[NUMS-2024] A desert mammal faces severe dehydration in hot sunny day. Which internal condition would lead to secretion of ADH?
A
High osmotic pressure of blood
C
Low osmotic pressure of blood
D
Low solute potential of blood
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Osmotic pressure refers to how "salty" or concentrated a solution is. Water loss drives this pressure up.
Solution:- As the mammal sweats and exhales water vapor in the hot desert, it loses pure water from its plasma, leaving the salts behind.
- This thickens the blood, resulting in a dangerously high osmotic pressure. Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus shrink in response to this hypertonic blood and fire signals to release ADH to save whatever water is left in the kidneys.
Why other options are incorrect:Dehydration causes
low blood pressure. Low osmotic pressure would mean the blood is too watery, which would inhibit ADH, not stimulate it.
[UHS-2023] What is true about Oxytocin?
D
Dilate milk ducts of mammary glands
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Oxytocin targets specific smooth muscle tissues in the female reproductive system.
Solution:- In lactating mothers, suckling triggers the release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary.
- Oxytocin reaches the mammary glands via the blood and binds to myoepithelial cells, causing them to contract and dilate the milk ducts, forcefully ejecting the milk (let-down reflex).
Why other options are incorrect:ADH (not oxytocin) acts on kidney tubules. GnRH stimulates ICSH. It has no generalized "cellular fun" role.
[SZABMU-2023] Hormone released during child birth and in nursing women is:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:A single hormone coordinates both the delivery of a newborn and its subsequent nourishment.
Solution:- Oxytocin is massively released during childbirth to force the uterus to contract.
- Immediately following birth, the same hormone is utilized during nursing to squeeze milk out of the alveolar ducts in the breast.
Why other options are incorrect:Progesterone levels actually plummet right before childbirth. Calcitonin is for bone mineralization.
[SZABMU-2023] Which is not a function of testosterone?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Testosterone is a critical androgen responsible for male sexual development and continuous sperm generation.
Solution:- Testosterone works synergistically with FSH to actively promote and sustain high rates of sperm production (spermatogenesis).
- It does NOT limit spermatogenesis. High systemic levels of testosterone will inhibit pituitary LH via negative feedback, but locally in the testes, it is an absolute requirement for making sperm.
Why other options are incorrect:Because testosterone supports sperm production and negatively inhibits LH/FSH, options B, C, and D are true physiological functions, making A the false statement.
[ETEA-2023] FSH stimulates spermatogenesis by stimulating ____ cells to complete the development of sperms.
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:In the testes, different pituitary hormones target very specific somatic cells to orchestrate reproduction.
Solution:- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) acts directly on the Sertoli cells (often called nurse cells) located inside the seminiferous tubules.
- Sertoli cells respond by producing androgen-binding protein (ABP) and providing the necessary nutrients and environment for spermatids to mature into fully developed spermatozoa.
Why other options are incorrect:LH targets Leydig cells to make testosterone. Inhibin is a hormone secreted
by Sertoli cells, not a cell type itself.
[NUMS-2023] Hormone secreted in bulk due to decreased water content of blood is:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The body must continuously balance water intake and output. Dehydration shrinks blood volume and concentrates solutes.
Solution:- When blood water content drops, osmolarity rises. Hypothalamic osmoreceptors detect this thick, salty blood.
- They trigger the posterior pituitary to secrete bulk quantities of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH). ADH forces the kidneys to reabsorb water, pulling it back into the blood to prevent fatal dehydration.
Why other options are incorrect:Glucagon and thyroxin deal with metabolic energy, not osmoregulation. Oxytocin is for reproduction.
[ETEA-2023] The term polydipsia refers to:
A
A condition in which abnormally large volume of urine is produced
B
A condition of excessive thirst
C
condition of excessive hunger
D
A condition in which the concentration of blood decreases in the body
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Medical terminology for diabetic symptoms relates to three classic "poly" signs: polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia.
Solution:- Due to massive fluid loss from frequent urination (polyuria), patients with uncontrolled diabetes become severely dehydrated.
- This dehydration triggers an unquenchable, relentless desire to drink water, a clinical symptom known as polydipsia (excessive thirst).
Why other options are incorrect:Large urine volume is polyuria. Excessive hunger is polyphagia.
[NUMS-2023] Endorphins are produced in:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Endorphins are endogenous opioid neuropeptides that act as natural analgesics (painkillers).
Solution:- Endorphins are primarily synthesized and stored within the central nervous system, specifically in the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus of the brain.
- They are released in response to pain, stress, or intense physical exercise (causing "runner's high").
Why other options are incorrect:The adrenal gland handles adrenaline and cortisol. The thymus manages T-cell maturation, and the stomach secretes digestive juices.
[NUMS-2023] The hormone responsible for production of sperm cells and male secondary sexual characteristics is:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Secondary sexual characteristics are the physical traits that distinguish biological males and females, manifesting at puberty.
Solution:- Testosterone, an androgen produced by the testes, drives the entire physical masculinization of the body.
- It not only ensures the continued production of sperm but also deepens the voice, increases muscle mass, and promotes facial and body hair growth.
Why other options are incorrect:Estrogen and progesterone dictate female reproductive cycles and characteristics.
[NUMS-2023] Which hormone is chemically steroid?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Hormone chemical classification determines whether a hormone can pass through a lipid bilayer.
Solution:- Any hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex or the gonads is generally a steroid.
- Cortisone is a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex. Because it is synthesized from cholesterol, it is a lipid-soluble steroid hormone.
Why other options are incorrect:Insulin and ADH are water-soluble peptides. Thyroxin is an amine derived from tyrosine.
[UHS-2023] Production of Follicle-stimulating hormone and Luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland of female is controlled by:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The pituitary gland does not act autonomously; it requires clearance from a higher neural center to release its gonadotropins.
Solution:- The master controller of the reproductive axis is the hypothalamus.
- It secretes Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) into the portal circulation, which directly commands the anterior pituitary to synthesize and release FSH and LH into the general bloodstream.
Why other options are incorrect:The ovary and stimulated follicles provide
feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary, but the actual direct stimulatory control of pituitary output comes from the hypothalamus.
[SZABMU-2023] Which body function is controlled through positive feed-back mechanism?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Positive feedback mechanisms are rare in biology because they rapidly drive physiological variables to extremes.
Solution:- Labor pains (contractions) represent one of the few essential positive feedback loops.
- The pain/stretch of the cervix causes a massive surge in oxytocin, which creates an even harder contraction, causing more stretch, more pain, and more oxytocin, ending only when the infant is expelled.
Why other options are incorrect:Body temperature and metabolic hormone levels (insulin, thyroxin) must be kept strictly stable via negative feedback.
[NUMS-2023] Under activity of parathyroid glands causes a drop in blood of:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The four tiny parathyroid glands on the back of the thyroid are the body's primary calcium regulators.
Solution:- They secrete Parathyroid Hormone (PTH), which aggressively extracts calcium from the bones to raise blood calcium levels.
- If these glands are underactive (hypoparathyroidism), PTH is absent. The bones stop releasing calcium, and the kidneys excrete too much of it, resulting in a dangerous drop in blood calcium ions (\(Ca^{2+}\)).
Why other options are incorrect:Sodium and potassium balance are regulated by aldosterone from the adrenal glands, not the parathyroids.
[SZABMU-2023] Follicle Stimulating hormones (FSH) is secreted by:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Tropic hormones are signaling molecules that target other endocrine glands rather than direct physiological tissues.
Solution:- FSH is a glycoprotein gonadotropin. It is synthesized by the gonadotropic cells situated in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
- Once secreted, it travels to the gonads (ovaries or testes) to initiate gametogenesis.
Why other options are incorrect:The ovaries and testes are the targets of FSH, not the source. The adrenal gland handles stress and mineral balance.
[ETEA-2023] Which of the following hormone is released by the posterior lobe of pituitary gland?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The posterior pituitary is essentially an extension of hypothalamic nervous tissue that stores two specific hormones.
Solution:- The only two hormones released by the posterior pituitary are oxytocin and Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH/Vasopressin).
Why other options are incorrect:Growth hormone and prolactin are synthesized in the anterior pituitary. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries.
[ETEA-2023] The hormone "calcitonin" is secreted by:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept: Thyroid parafollicular cell endocrine output.
Solution: Calcitonin is synthesized and secreted by the parafollicular cells (C-cells) of the Thyroid gland to lower blood calcium levels.
#22 of 40
ETEA-2023 Retake
[ETEA-2023 Retake] In breast feeding mother, which hormone would be at an increased level?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Lactation requires sustained physiological changes to continuously produce nutrition for the newborn.
Solution:- Suckling by the infant strongly inhibits dopamine release from the hypothalamus, which removes the brakes on the anterior pituitary.
- This causes a massive and sustained increase in prolactin levels, which commands the mammary alveolar cells to continuously synthesize milk.
Why other options are incorrect:While oxytocin is also elevated for milk let-down, prolactin is the primary hormone driving the actual production process. Thyroxine, aldosterone, and insulin do not surge specifically for the mechanics of breastfeeding.
[UHS-2022] Hormone produced by placenta is:
A
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
B
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The placenta acts as a temporary, vital endocrine gland during pregnancy to support fetal development and maintain the uterine environment.
Solution:- During pregnancy, the placenta secretes high levels of progesterone, estrogen, and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
- Progesterone is absolutely critical for maintaining the thick endometrial lining and preventing premature uterine contractions.
Why other options are incorrect:FSH and LH are secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, while testosterone is primarily produced by the Leydig cells in the testes.
[SZABMU-2022] Vasopressin is an example of:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Vasopressin, also known as Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), regulates water reabsorption in the kidneys.
Solution:- Vasopressin is synthesized in the hypothalamus and consists of a short chain of exactly 9 amino acids.
- Because it is composed of a short amino acid chain, it is structurally classified as a peptide hormone.
Why other options are incorrect:It is not a steroid (which is lipid-based), not a catecholamine (like adrenaline), and not a glycoprotein (which would have attached carbohydrate chains like FSH).
[ETEA-2022] Hormone are usually:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The endocrine system regulates the body through the secretion of highly specific molecules into the extracellular fluid.
Solution:- Hormones act as chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to bind to specific receptors on distant target cells, eliciting a physiological response.
Why other options are incorrect:Biological catalysts are enzymes, which speed up biochemical reactions but do not act as long-distance communicators. Hormones are chemical, not physical or strictly genetic messengers.
[UHS-2022] A hormone that plays a major role in social bonding, childbirth, milk ejection and sexual reproduction is:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Oxytocin is a potent peptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland.
Solution:- Often referred to as the "bonding hormone", oxytocin is critical for uterine contractions during labor (positive feedback) and stimulates the myoepithelial cells in mammary glands to cause milk ejection (let-down reflex).
- It also plays a significant psychological role in social bonding and maternal behaviors.
Why other options are incorrect:Prolactin stimulates milk
production (not ejection). Estrogen develops female secondary sex characteristics, and secretin is a digestive hormone.
[SZABMU-2022] Posterior lobe of pituitary gland produces:
B
Thyroid stimulating hormone
C
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
D
Follicle stimulating hormone
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (neurohypophysis) does not synthesize its own hormones but stores and releases hormones produced by the hypothalamus.
Solution:- The two hormones released by the posterior pituitary are Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) and Oxytocin.
Why other options are incorrect:TSH, ACTH, and FSH are all tropic hormones synthesized and secreted directly by the
anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
[SZABMU-2022] Tetany is caused by _ in blood.
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Calcium ions stabilize voltage-gated sodium channels in resting neurons. Proper calcium homeostasis is heavily regulated by the parathyroid gland.
Solution:- When parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels drop, it leads to severe hypocalcemia (low blood calcium).
- Without enough extracellular calcium, sodium channels become overly permeable, causing neurons to depolarize spontaneously. This results in continuous, involuntary muscle spasms known as tetany.
Why other options are incorrect:High calcium (hypercalcemia) causes sluggish reflexes and muscle weakness, not spasms. Magnesium imbalances also cause issues but are not the primary driver of classical tetany.
[ETEA-2022] Which of the following lobes of the pituitary gland is known as master gland of the body?
D
Anterio-posterial gland
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The pituitary gland is historically called the "master gland" because it exerts hierarchical control over many other endocrine structures.
Solution:- Specifically, the anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) secretes numerous tropic hormones (TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH) that dictate the functions of the thyroid, adrenal cortex, and gonads.
Why other options are incorrect:The posterior lobe only releases ADH and oxytocin. The intermediate lobe primarily secretes MSH in some species and is not considered the main orchestrator.
[BUMHS-2022] Acromegaly is caused due to over secretion of:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Somatotropic Hormone (STH), also known as Growth Hormone (GH), stimulates protein synthesis and bone growth.
Solution:- If there is hypersecretion of STH after the epiphyseal plates of long bones have closed (i.e., in adulthood), the bones can no longer lengthen.
- Instead, bones in the hands, feet, jaw, and face become abnormally thick, a condition clinically termed acromegaly.
Why other options are incorrect:Over-secretion of TSH causes hyperthyroidism. ICSH and FSH affect the gonads, not systemic skeletal thickening.
[DUHS-2022] It has neurosecretory cells that secrete releasing and inhibiting hormone:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The neuroendocrine system connects neural activity directly to endocrine output.
Solution:- The hypothalamus contains highly specialized neurons called neurosecretory cells.
- These cells synthesize releasing hormones (like TRH, CRH) and inhibiting hormones (like somatostatin) that travel via the hypophyseal portal system to regulate the anterior pituitary gland.
Why other options are incorrect:The pituitary gland responds to these releasing factors but does not produce them. The thyroid and adrenal glands are purely classical endocrine targets.
[PMC-2020] Which of the following neurotransmitters function, both as neurotransmitter and hormones, decreasing our perception of pain?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Certain molecules in the body serve dual roles, acting locally across synapses as neurotransmitters and systemically via blood as hormones.
Solution:- Endorphins are endogenous opioid peptides produced mainly in the central nervous system and the pituitary gland.
- They bind to opiate receptors to naturally inhibit the transmission of pain signals and induce feelings of euphoria.
Why other options are incorrect:Epinephrine is a stress hormone, dopamine is involved in reward pathways, and serotonin regulates mood. While they act as dual messengers, they are not primarily responsible for systemic pain reduction like endorphins.
[PMC-2020] Which body function is controlled through positive feedback mechanism?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:A positive feedback loop amplifies the initial stimulus, pushing the physiological process further away from its starting state to achieve a definitive endpoint.
Solution:- During childbirth, the baby's head pushes against the cervix. Stretch receptors signal the hypothalamus to release oxytocin.
- Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract violently, which pushes the baby harder against the cervix, triggering the release of even more oxytocin. This explosive cascade of labor contractions continues until the baby is delivered.
Why other options are incorrect:Insulin, body temperature, and thyroxin release are all strictly regulated by negative feedback loops to maintain a steady baseline.
[ETEA-2019] Chemically hormones are:
D
Both Proteins and Steroids
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Hormones are organic chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands directly into the bloodstream to regulate specific target organs.
Solution:- Hormones have diverse chemical structures but are generally classified into three main categories: peptides/proteins (e.g., insulin, glucagon), steroids (e.g., estrogen, testosterone), and amino acid derivatives (e.g., epinephrine).
- Therefore, hormones are chemically proteins and steroids.
Why other options are incorrect:Carbohydrates (like glucose or glycogen) serve as primary energy sources or structural components, not as long-distance endocrine signaling molecules.
[ETEA-2019] In male luteinizing hormone is also known as:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option B
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Hormones often have alternative names based on their specific physiological target in males versus females.
Solution:- In females, LH triggers ovulation and luteinization.
- In males, the exact same molecule targets the interstitial cells (Leydig cells) in the testes to stimulate testosterone production. Hence, it is biologically referred to as Interstitial Cell Stimulating Hormone (ICSH).
Why other options are incorrect:ACTH targets the adrenal cortex. TRF (Thyrotropin-Releasing Factor) is from the hypothalamus. MSH affects melanocytes.
[ETEA-2019] The deficiency of which micro-nutrient causes goiter formation?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option C
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The thyroid gland relies heavily on specific trace minerals to construct its active hormones.
Solution:- Thyroxine (\(T_4\)) and Triiodothyronine (\(T_3\)) absolutely require iodine molecules to be synthesized.
- Without sufficient dietary iodine, \(T_3\) and \(T_4\) levels fall, removing negative feedback on the pituitary. The pituitary furiously pumps out TSH, which overstimulates the thyroid gland, causing it to swell immensely into a condition known as a goiter.
Why other options are incorrect:Iron deficiency causes anemia. Zinc is important for immunity, and sodium is for nerve impulses.
[ETEA-2019] A man has to face interview, but during his first five minutes before the interview he experiences sweating, increased heart rate and respiration. Which hormone is responsible for his restlessness?
A
Epinephrine and nor-epinephrine
C
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The "fight-or-flight" response prepares the body for sudden stress by rapidly altering cardiovascular and respiratory rates.
Solution:- In acutely stressful situations (like a high-stakes interview), the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the adrenal medulla.
- The adrenal medulla instantly dumps epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine into the bloodstream, which collectively cause pupil dilation, sweating, tachycardia (increased heart rate), and hyperventilation.
Why other options are incorrect:Aldosterone regulates sodium/water balance over hours. Insulin/glucagon regulate glucose slowly. ACTH simply tells the adrenal cortex to release cortisol, which is for long-term stress, not acute panic.
[MDCAT-2016] ____ hormone is antagonistic to insulin and causes increase in blood glucose level.
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Homeostasis requires opposing pairs of hormones (antagonists) to keep blood levels within a narrow, healthy range.
Solution:- While insulin drastically forces glucose out of the blood and into cells, its direct antagonist is glucagon.
- Glucagon ensures that during fasting or exercise, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves to maintain an adequate supply of blood glucose for the brain.
Why other options are incorrect:Calcitonin regulates calcium. While thyroxin and norepinephrine influence metabolism and can mobilize energy, glucagon is the primary, direct antagonist to insulin in maintaining standard glucose homeostasis.
[MDCAT-2015] \(\alpha\)-cells of pancreas secrete a hormone known as:
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option A
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:The endocrine portion of the pancreas contains distinct cell types that secrete opposing metabolic hormones.
Solution:- Alpha (\(\alpha\)) cells continuously monitor blood glucose and secrete glucagon when blood sugar drops too low.
- Glucagon travels to the liver and stimulates glycogenolysis, dumping stored glucose back into the blood.
Why other options are incorrect:Beta cells secrete insulin. Gastrin is secreted by the stomach lining, and rennin is an enzyme in the stomachs of infants to curdle milk.
[MDCAT-2014] Which one of the following is a steroid hormone?
View Answer & Propolis Autopsy
Correct Key: Option D
Diagnostic Explanation
Concept:Steroid hormones are structurally derived from the lipid precursor cholesterol and can easily cross cell membranes.
Solution:- The five major classes of steroid hormones are glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens, progestogens, and estrogens.
- Therefore, estrogen is a classical steroid hormone produced primarily by the ovaries.
Why other options are incorrect:Glucagon is a polypeptide. Epinephrine and thyroxin are both derived from the amino acid tyrosine, not cholesterol.
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