North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) Practice Exam

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From where is oxytocin produced?

Anterior pituitary
Posterior pituitary
Adrenal glands
Ovaries

The correct answer is: Posterior pituitary

Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and is subsequently transported and released from the posterior pituitary. The posterior pituitary serves as a storage and release site for hormones produced in the hypothalamus, including oxytocin, which plays a crucial role in childbirth and lactation. During labor, oxytocin helps stimulate uterine contractions, and after delivery, it assists with the milk ejection reflex during breastfeeding. The anterior pituitary, on the other hand, produces different hormones such as growth hormone, luteinizing hormone, and prolactin but does not produce oxytocin. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, while the ovaries primarily produce estrogen and progesterone. Therefore, the only correct answer regarding the source of oxytocin is the posterior pituitary, highlighting its critical role in reproductive physiology.