Question

Define parturition.

Answer 1

Parturition:

1. Parturition is the expelling of the fully formed young one from the mother's uterus after the gestation period of 280 days in human females.
2. It is also known as labour.
3. It is the mechanism of signalling the onset of labour (or) a procedure of delivering a child after the completion of pregnancy period.
4. The average duration of human pregnancy is about 9 months.
   
5. After this period uterus contracts vigorously and causes expulsion or delivery of foetus.
6. This expulsion or delivery of foetus is called parturition.

Hormones responsible for parturition:

1. Oxytocin hormone secreted by the neurohypophysis that specifically causes uterine contraction.
2. Foetus' pituitary gland also separately produce increasing quantities oxytocin that could possibly play a role in exciting the uterus.
3. The adrenal gland secretes a large quantity of cortisol that also a possible uterine stimulant.