Question

Explain the following: [3 MARKS]
(a) Some ladies develop beard, moustache and a masculine voice.
(b) Mouth dries up and heartbeat increases during maiden speech.
(c) Milk is secreted from the breast of the mother during sucking by the infant.

Answer 1

Each Part: 1 Mark

(a) The overgrowth (oversecretion) of adrenal cortex in mature ladies leads to the development of beard, moustache and masculine voice. The result is known as adrenal virilism or masculinisation.

(b) The adrenaline hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla increases heartbeat and blood supply to muscles, and decreases blood supply to visceral organs during stressful conditions (emergency). That is why mouth dries up and heartbeat increases during maiden speech.

(c) As the child sucks the nipple of breast, the production of prolactin and oxytocin is stimulated. The prolactin hormone causes the secretion of milk while the oxytocin hormone causes the ejection of milk from the breast.