Question

In case of no pregnancy, what is the fate of the corpus luteum?

• A. Remains as it is due to the presence of progesterone
• B. Degenerates in a short time
• C. Becomes active and secretes a lot of FSH and LH
• D. Produces a lot of oxytocin and relaxin

Answer 1

The correct option is B Degenerates in a short time

In case of no pregnancy, corpus luteum stops secreting progesterone and degenerates into corpus albicans (a white mass of tissue).

If pregnancy occurs in an individual, corpus luteum starts functioning like an endocrine gland that secretes majorly progesterone and a small amount of estrogen during early pregnancy. Progesterone secreted from corpus luteum causes changes in the uterus making it more suitable for implantation and provides nourishment to the embryo.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secreted from the pituitary gland helps in follicle development thus increases the level of estrogen, whereas Luteinizing hormones (LH) aids in egg maturation and trigger’s estrogen production thus causes ovulation.

Oxytocin (formed in the hypothalamus) is a hormone that is involved in childbirth and breastfeeding, whereas relaxin (produced from corpus luteum) relaxes the pelvic region thus widening the cervix for expulsion of the baby