MCQ Detailed View

Milk production in mothers is controlled by complex hormonal interactions, but the primary hormone responsible for initiating and maintaining milk secretion is prolactin. Prolactin is produced by the anterior pituitary gland (also called adenohypophysis) and plays a crucial role in preparing mammary glands for lactation after childbirth.

During pregnancy, high levels of estrogen and progesterone stimulate the growth and development of mammary tissues, but they suppress actual milk secretion. After childbirth, estrogen and progesterone levels drop rapidly, which allows prolactin to take over and begin milk production. Prolactin stimulates the mammary alveolar cells to synthesize milk proteins, lactose (milk sugar), and fats, which are essential components of breast milk.

It is important to distinguish between prolactin and oxytocin, as both are vital but serve different purposes:

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  Prolactin → Responsible for milk production (lactogenesis).

  
  


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  Oxytocin → Responsible for milk ejection or "let-down reflex," helping milk flow from the breast during suckling.

  
  

Looking at the options given:

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  FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) is linked with reproductive processes like egg and sperm development, not lactation.

  
  


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  Prolactin is the correct answer, as it directly stimulates milk production.

  
  


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  ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone) regulates water balance in the body, unrelated to lactation.

  
  


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  Oxytocin aids milk release but not its production.

  
  

From a medical perspective, prolactin levels rise significantly in mothers immediately after birth and each time the baby suckles, reinforcing the natural process of breastfeeding. This is why breastfeeding is often recommended soon after delivery to establish strong lactation.

In conclusion, the necessary hormone for milk production in mothers is prolactin, while oxytocin complements the process by helping milk flow