The stomach secretes the hormone ghrelin which functions to

The correct answer is: increase appetite.

Explanation:

Ghrelin is a hormone secreted by the stomach with two main functions: increase appetite and stimulate the release of the growth hormone.

Ghrelin is called the "hunger hormone" because it stimulates the ingestion of food and the storage of fat by traveling through the bloodstream (like all hormones) to the hypothalamus, which is a region in the brain that controls appetite. To stimulate the release of growth hormone, ghrelin also reaches the pituitary gland.

Other functions of this hormone include protecting the cardiovascular system and controlling the release of the hormone insulin.