Question

Dwarfism is a hormonal disorder due to

• A. Deficiency of thyroxine secreted by the thyroid
• B. Excess of thyroxine
• C. Deficiency of growth hormone produced by the pituitary
• D. Deficiency of thyroxine and GH

Answer 1

The correct option is C Deficiency of growth hormone produced by the pituitary

Dwarfism is a hormonal disorder due to deficiency of growth hormone produced by the pituitary. The growth hormone is also known as somatotropin or somatotrophic hormone. ‘Soma’ means body and ‘trophe’ means nourishment. It regulates the growth of the body by promoting protein anabolism, intestinal absorption of calcium, conservation of glucose etc. It helps in synthesis and depositing of proteins, the growth of long bones and other parts of the skeleton. The low secretion of growth hormone before puberty causes pituitary dwarfism. It leads to stunted growth due to premature stoppage of body growth and reduced development of the skeleton. The dwarfism due to undersecretion of GH is also called pituitary dwarfism.