Sign In
Ask Question
Biology
Sariah
2 June, 18:50
Why is the hormone oxytocin important?
+4
Answers (
1
)
Amy Weber
2 June, 22:04
0
Oxytocin
Print | Email article to a friend | Last updated: March 31, 2015
Oxytocin is a hormone that acts on organs in the body (including the breast and uterus) and as a chemical messenger in the brain controlling key aspects of the reproductive system including childbirth and lactation, and aspects of human behaviour. Alternative names for oxytocinAlpha-hypophamine; manufactured versions - carbetocin, syntocinon and pitocin. What is oxytocin? Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and is secreted into the bloodstream by the posterior pituitary gland. Secretion depends on electrical activity of neurons in the hypothalamus - it is released into the blood when these cells are excited. The two main actions of oxytocin in the body are contraction of the womb (uterus) during childbirth and lactation. Oxytocin stimulates the uterine muscles to contract and also increases production of prostaglandins which increase the contractions further. Manufactured oxytocin is sometimes given to induce labour if it has not started naturally or it can be used to strengthen contractions to aid childbirth. In addition, manufactured oxytocin is often given to speed up delivery of the placenta and reduce the risk of heavy bleeding by contracting the uterus. During breastfeeding, oxytocin promotes the movement of milk into the breast, allowing it to be excreted by the nipple. Oxytocin is also present in men, playing a role in sperm movement and production of testosterone by the testes. More recently, oxytocin has been suggested to be an important player in social behaviour.
Comment
Complaint
Link
Know the Answer?
Answer
Not Sure About the Answer?
Get an answer to your question ✅
“Why is the hormone oxytocin important? ...”
in 📙 Biology if there is no answer or all answers are wrong, use a search bar and try to find the answer among similar questions.
Search for Other Answers
You Might be Interested in
A geologist finds a layer of rock that is made of coarse-grained foliated particles arranged into bands and splits into sheets when struck with a hammer. What type of rock did the geologist find? A. marble B. gneiss C. quartzite D. slate
Answers (1)
Describe how the different areas of science (life, Earth/space, or physical) use different methods to understand their area of study?
Answers (1)
You have been given a sample of quartz, which has a hardness of 7. How can you use this mineral to determine the hardness of other minerals?
Answers (1)
What is the difference between biological response and Biological response modifiers?
Answers (1)
Write the name of the chromosomal mutation underneath each chromosome in the left column
Answers (1)
New Questions in Biology
Which is the correct order of the processes responsible for the formation of sedimentary rocks? erosion, deposition, compaction weathering, cementation, deposition cementation, compaction, erosion?
Answers (2)
Urine exits through what external opening on both male and female rats
Answers (1)
What information can be inferred about genes that are located on different chromosomes? what information can be inferred about genes that are located on different chromosomes? these genes are always inherited together.
Answers (1)
Bianca is very self-conscious about her weight. she indulges in strict dieting and often skips her meals. as a result, she was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis, an abnormal condition related to the thinning of bones.
Answers (1)
All processes of moving materials across the plasma membrane are classified as either A) diffusion or osmosis B) passive or active transport C) phagocytosis or pinocytosis D) endocytosis or exocytosis
Answers (1)
Home
»
Biology
» Why is the hormone oxytocin important?
Sign In
Sign Up
Forgot Password?