Imagine that a woman is in the final week of her pregnancy. Her doctor gives her an injection of oxytocin. The likely result of this is that the pregnant woman would
A) undergo the loss of oxytocin receptors from her uterine smooth muscle cells.
B) stop secreting prostaglandins from the placenta.
C) undergo vigorous contractions of her uterine muscles.
D) increase the synthesis and secretion of progesterone.
E) be prevented from lactation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates the muscles of the uterus to contract, which can lead to labor and delivery. Therefore, an injection of oxytocin in a woman who is in the final week of pregnancy is likely to cause vigorous contractions of her uterine muscles, ultimately leading to childbirth. Answer A is incorrect because oxytocin binds to its receptors on uterine smooth muscle cells, causing contraction, rather than causing loss of the receptors. Answer B is incorrect because oxytocin does not affect the secretion of prostaglandins from the placenta. Answer D is incorrect because oxytocin does not increase the synthesis and secretion of progesterone. Answer E is incorrect because the injection of oxytocin has no direct effect on lactation.

Imagine That a Woman Is in the Final Week of Her