The mother of 6-year-old male and female fraternal twins has brought her son to see a pediatrician because he is nearly 4 inches shorter than his sister. Which of the following phenomena would the physician most likely suspect as contributing factor to the boy's short stature?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inadequate levels of hypothalamic GHRH will result in adequate production but inadequate release of GH by the pituitary. Genetic short stature is less likely given the disparity between his height and his twin's, and a shortage of IGF receptors is not a noted pathology. While poorly controlled diabetes can contribute to short stature, excess insulin production is not a likely factor.

The Mother of 6-Year-Old Male and Female Fraternal Twins Has