Question

Choose the correct answer from each of the four options given below:

Gigantism and Acromegaly are caused due to:

• A. Hyposecretion of thyroxine
• B. Hyposecretion of growth hormone
• C. Hypersecretion of thyroxine
• D. Hypersecretion of growth hormone

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Hypersecretion of growth hormone

The correct option is D:

Explanation of the correct option:

1. Hypersecretion of growth hormone causes gigantism in children and acromegaly in adults.
2. Gigantism is the condition of abnormal growth in height and elongation of long bones in children.
3. The height of the body reaches 7-8 ft.
4. In acromegaly, the appearance becomes gorilla-like with the lower jaw projecting forward and forehead slanting forward.
5. In acromegaly the hands, feet, lips, and ears become elongated.

Explanation of the incorrect option:

Option A:

1. Hyposecretion of thyroxine causes cretinism in children and myxoedema in adults.
2. Cretinism is characterized by stunted physical and mental growth in children.
3. Myxoedema is more common in females than in males.
4. In this case, (Myxoedema) the limbs and neck become swollen due to the accumulation of mucus within the cells in this region.
5. Loss of memory, decreased BMR (basal metabolic rate ) etc are the symptom of myxoedema.

Option B:

1. Hyposecretion of growth hormone causes dwarfism.
2. Due to the deficiency of growth hormone, the growth rate becomes very slow.
3. The height may range up to 3 feet.

Option C:

1. Hypersecretion of thyroxine causes exophthalmic goitre or Graves' disease.
2. The eyes protrude because of oedema(accumulation of mucus in tissue) in the tissue of the eye socket.
3. The person may not be able to close his/her eyes while sleeping.
4. The BMR increases.

Final answer:

Hence, gigantism and acromegaly are occurred due to the hypersecretion of growth hormone.