When the newborn female is born with ambiguous genitalia, the follow-up investigation discovers adrenogenital syndrome (also called congenital adrenal hyperplasia). The parents question why the baby's genitalia looks more male than female. The nurse would explain that:
A)The disorder caused the infant to be a hermaphrodite with both male and female sex organs.
B)The changes in the genitalia are due to increased androgens secondary to deficient cortisol.
C)The excessive cortisol caused the enlargement of the female tissue, creating a male appearance.
D)The child has only one sex chromosome resulting in an XO configuration.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Adrenogenital syndrome (also called congenital adrenal hyperplasia) is a genetic disorder that affects the adrenal glands, resulting in increased production of androgens (male hormones). In affected newborn females, the excess androgens can cause ambiguous genitalia or even masculine appearing genitalia. This occurs because the female tissue is unable to develop normally in the presence of excess androgens. The infant does not have both male and female sex organs (hermaphroditism) nor is there an issue with the number of sex chromosomes.

When the Newborn Female Is Born with Ambiguous Genitalia, the Follow-Up