Question

True or false: The corpus luteum is retained upon implantation due to the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Short answer

True. The corpus luteum is retained upon implantation due to the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which maintains the production of progesterone essential for sustaining pregnancy during its early stages.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Corpus Luteum

The corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine structure formed in the ovaries after ovulation. It is responsible for producing progesterone, which is essential for preparing the uterus for pregnancy and maintaining it until the placenta takes over this function. Step 2: Understanding hCG

Understand the hormone hCG

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the developing placenta after implantation of a fertilized egg into the uterine wall. It is crucial to maintain the corpus luteum during the initial stages of pregnancy. This hormone stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone to prevent menstruation and support the developing embryo. Step 3: Relation between hCG and Corpus Luteum during Implantation

Understand the connection between hCG and the corpus luteum during implantation

Upon implantation, the increasing levels of hCG help to maintain the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum then keeps producing progesterone, which is essential for the continuing development of the embryo. Without hCG, the corpus luteum would eventually degenerate, leading to a decline in progesterone levels, menstruation, and the loss of the pregnancy. Step 4: Verifying the statement

Determine the truthfulness of the statement

Based on the above information, the statement "The corpus luteum is retained upon implantation due to the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)" is True. The presence of hCG is crucial in maintaining the corpus luteum and ensuring the continued production of progesterone, which is necessary for sustaining pregnancy, especially during its early stages.

Key concepts

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)

Human chorionic gonadotropin, often abbreviated as hCG, is a critical hormone in early pregnancy. Produced by the cells forming the placenta, it emerges immediately after a fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine wall. This hormone acts as an early sign of pregnancy and is the substance detected by pregnancy tests.

hCG plays a pivotal role by ensuring the embryo's environment remains conducive to development. Upon its release, hCG sends signals to maintain the corpus luteum, a temporary gland in the ovary, prompting it to continue producing crucial hormones.

• Roles in pregnancy: It protects and maintains early pregnancy.
• Detectable early: Pregnancy tests can identify hCG levels in urine or blood around 10 days after conception.
• Indicator of healthy pregnancy: Steadily increasing hCG levels typically indicate a progressing pregnancy.

Progesterone Production

Progesterone is an essential hormone in the reproductive process, crucial for pregnancy maintenance. Its production primarily occurs in the corpus luteum, a structure that forms after ovulation. As ovulation concludes, the corpus luteum takes on the vital task of producing progesterone to prepare and sustain pregnancy.

Progesterone's main roles in pregnancy include:

• Preparing the uterine lining: It thickens the lining of the uterus to receive and nurture a fertilized egg.
• Preventing contractions: By smoothing the muscles of the uterus, it averts premature contractions that could disrupt early pregnancy.
• Maintaining pregnancy conditions: Progesterone ensures an optimal environment for fetal development.

Without adequate levels of progesterone, early pregnancy would be at risk, emphasizing the corpus luteum's crucial function during the initial weeks before the placenta takes over hormone production.

Early Pregnancy Maintenance

The initial weeks of pregnancy are a critical time for the embryo, requiring precise hormonal balance for successful development. Early pregnancy maintenance hinges on a delicate interplay of hormones, primarily progesterone and hCG.

After the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus, hCG not only affirms the presence of pregnancy but also sustains the corpus luteum so it continues to produce progesterone. This hormonal synergy helps prevent the onset of menstrual cycles and supports the uterine environment needed for embryonic growth.

• hCG's role: It signals the need to maintain the corpus luteum's function.
• Progesterone's role: Supports pregnancy by managing uterine conditions and deterring menstrual shedding.
• Transition to placenta: As the pregnancy progresses, the placenta takes over hormone production, ensuring continuous support.

This synchronized hormonal action is crucial in safeguarding the development during the embryo's formative stages, marking its importance in early pregnancy success.