Hormones

Which gland is called the “master gland”?
a) Thyroid
b) Pituitary
c) Adrenal
d) Pancreas
Answer: b
Explanation: The pituitary regulates most other endocrine glands. (BPSC 65th)
Insulin is secreted by:
a) Liver
b) Pancreas
c) Thyroid
d) Adrenal
Answer: b
Explanation: The pancreas secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar. (BPSC 64th)
Deficiency of which hormone causes diabetes mellitus?
a) Glucagon
b) Insulin
c) Thyroxine
d) Adrenaline
Answer: b
Explanation: Lack of insulin increases blood glucose level. (BPSC Teacher 2023)
Which hormone regulates metabolism?
a) Estrogen
b) Insulin
c) Thyroxine
d) Testosterone
Answer: c
Explanation: Thyroxine, from the thyroid gland, controls basal metabolism. (BPSC 66th)
Which gland secretes growth hormone?
a) Pancreas
b) Pituitary
c) Adrenal
d) Thyroid
Answer: b
Explanation: Pituitary secretes growth hormone (GH) essential for body growth.
Which hormone is released during stress?
a) Insulin
b) Cortisol
c) Melatonin
d) Glucagon
Answer: b
Explanation: Cortisol is a stress hormone secreted by adrenal cortex.
Which hormone is responsible for the fight-or-flight response?
a) Insulin
b) Adrenaline
c) Testosterone
d) Estrogen
Answer: b
Explanation: Adrenaline prepares body for emergency actions. (BPSC CDPO)
Which hormone is responsible for milk ejection in lactating women?
a) Oxytocin
b) Prolactin
c) LH
d) FSH
Answer: a
Explanation: Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions and milk ejection.
Melatonin is secreted by:
a) Thyroid
b) Pineal gland
c) Thymus
d) Adrenal gland
Answer: b
Explanation: Pineal gland regulates sleep-wake cycle via melatonin.
Which hormone controls female secondary sexual characters?
a) Testosterone
b) Estrogen
c) Progesterone
d) Oxytocin
Answer: b
Explanation: Estrogen is secreted by ovaries for female traits. (BPSC 67th)

NCERT-Based Questions (Q11–30)

Which of the following is NOT a hormone?
a) Insulin
b) Pepsin
c) Estrogen
d) Glucagon
Answer: b
Explanation: Pepsin is an enzyme, not a hormone.
Glucagon increases:
a) Blood pressure
b) Blood glucose
c) Protein
d) Urea
Answer: b
Explanation: Glucagon raises blood sugar by breaking down glycogen.
Hormones are secreted directly into:
a) Ducts
b) Organs
c) Bloodstream
d) Lymph
Answer: c
Explanation: Hormones are secreted into blood without ducts.
Which hormone helps in childbirth by causing uterine contraction?
a) LH
b) Estrogen
c) Oxytocin
d) Prolactin
Answer: c
Explanation: Oxytocin causes contractions during delivery.
ADH acts on:
a) Stomach
b) Kidney
c) Liver
d) Intestine
Answer: b
Explanation: ADH promotes water reabsorption in kidneys.
FSH is essential for:
a) Muscle building
b) Bone growth
c) Gamete formation
d) Digestion
Answer: c
Explanation: Follicle-stimulating hormone helps in egg and sperm formation.
Hormones are chemically:
a) Proteins
b) Steroids
c) Amino acid derivatives
d) All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation: Hormones vary chemically across types.
Testosterone is secreted by:
a) Testes
b) Pituitary
c) Liver
d) Adrenal
Answer: a
Explanation: Testosterone is secreted by Leydig cells in testes.
Iodine is essential for the synthesis of:
a) Insulin
b) Thyroxine
c) Estrogen
d) Cortisol
Answer: b
Explanation: Thyroid requires iodine to produce thyroxine.
Which gland is located on top of kidneys?
a) Pituitary
b) Adrenal
c) Thyroid
d) Pineal
Answer: b
Explanation: Adrenal glands sit above kidneys.
Prolactin hormone helps in:
a) Childbirth
b) Growth
c) Milk production
d) Ovulation
Answer: c
Explanation: Prolactin triggers milk secretion in females.
Hormone regulating sleep-wake cycle:
a) Cortisol
b) Melatonin
c) Insulin
d) Oxytocin
Answer: b
Explanation: Melatonin maintains circadian rhythm.
Which gland is also known as the third eye?
a) Pineal
b) Pituitary
c) Adrenal
d) Thymus
Answer: a
Explanation: Pineal gland responds to light, thus called 'third eye'.
Parathyroid hormone controls:
a) Iron
b) Calcium
c) Sodium
d) Urea
Answer: b
Explanation: PTH regulates calcium level in blood.
Thyroid gland is located in:
a) Brain
b) Abdomen
c) Neck
d) Chest
Answer: c
Explanation: Thyroid is butterfly-shaped, located in neck region.
Which hormone lowers blood glucose?
a) Glucagon
b) Insulin
c) Cortisol
d) Thyroxine
Answer: b
Explanation: Insulin helps glucose enter cells, reducing its level in blood.
Which hormone is secreted by the pancreas?
a) Insulin
b) ADH
c) TSH
d) Oxytocin
Answer: a
Explanation: Pancreas secretes insulin and glucagon.
Which hormone initiates puberty in females?
a) Estrogen
b) Insulin
c) Oxytocin
d) Thyroxine
Answer: a
Explanation: Estrogen controls secondary sexual features and menstrual cycle.
Which hormone controls water balance?
a) ADH
b) Estrogen
c) Insulin
d) Cortisol
Answer: a
Explanation: ADH (vasopressin) maintains water retention in kidneys.
Adrenaline increases:
a) Digestion
b) Muscle contraction
c) Blood glucose & heart rate
d) None
Answer: c
Explanation: Adrenaline prepares body for fight-or-flight response.

Predicted/Reference Book-Based Questions (Q31–50)

Which of the following is NOT an endocrine gland?
a) Pancreas
b) Thyroid
c) Salivary gland
d) Pituitary
Answer: c
Explanation: Salivary gland is exocrine, not endocrine.
Which hormone controls menstrual cycle?
a) Progesterone
b) Testosterone
c) Cortisol
d) Thyroxine
Answer: a
Explanation: Progesterone regulates endometrial lining and cycle.
The gland that shrinks with age:
a) Thyroid
b) Pineal
c) Thymus
d) Adrenal
Answer: c
Explanation: Thymus shrinks after puberty; helps in immune system.
Hormone controlling blood calcium:
a) Thyroxine
b) Cortisol
c) Parathormone
d) Insulin
Answer: c
Explanation: Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium and phosphate balance.
Which hormone prepares uterus for implantation?
a) Estrogen
b) Progesterone
c) FSH
d) LH
Answer: b
Explanation: Progesterone thickens endometrium for embryo implantation.
Which hormone is used in emergency for asthma?
a) Insulin
b) Adrenaline
c) Oxytocin
d) TSH
Answer: b
Explanation: Adrenaline dilates airways during asthma attacks.
Diabetes insipidus is caused due to deficiency of:
a) Insulin
b) ADH
c) Glucagon
d) TSH
Answer: b
Explanation: ADH deficiency causes frequent urination and dehydration.
Cretinism in children is due to deficiency of:
a) Insulin
b) Estrogen
c) Thyroxine
d) Progesterone
Answer: c
Explanation: Hypothyroidism leads to mental and physical stunting.
Gigantism is caused by excess of:
a) Estrogen
b) Growth hormone
c) Testosterone
d) TSH
Answer: b
Explanation: GH excess before puberty causes abnormal height.
Which hormone is given during labor?
a) LH
b) Oxytocin
c) Insulin
d) ADH
Answer: b
Explanation: Oxytocin is injected to stimulate labor.
Which hormone helps kidney absorb sodium?
a) Cortisol
b) Aldosterone
c) Insulin
d) Melatonin
Answer: b
Explanation: Aldosterone conserves sodium and maintains BP.
Which gland has both endocrine and exocrine functions?
a) Liver
b) Pancreas
c) Kidney
d) Thyroid
Answer: b
Explanation: Pancreas secretes hormones (insulin) and enzymes (pancreatic juice).
Which hormone causes ovulation?
a) FSH
b) LH
c) Estrogen
d) Prolactin
Answer: b
Explanation: LH surge leads to release of egg.
A hormone produced by placenta:
a) hCG
b) Progesterone
c) Estrogen
d) All of these
Answer: d
Explanation: Placenta secretes all three to sustain pregnancy.
Hormone secreted during early pregnancy for detection:
a) LH
b) hCG
c) Oxytocin
d) Insulin
Answer: b
Explanation: hCG is detected in pregnancy test kits.
Which hormone increases heart rate and BP?
a) Insulin
b) Oxytocin
c) Adrenaline
d) Melatonin
Answer: c
Explanation: Adrenaline boosts cardiac output under stress.
Which hormone is antidiuretic?
a) ADH
b) FSH
c) TSH
d) GH
Answer: a
Explanation: ADH reduces water loss in urine.
Hormone secreted by thyroid gland:
a) Cortisol
b) Thyroxine
c) Insulin
d) Progesterone
Answer: b
Explanation: Thyroxine regulates metabolism and growth.
Estrogen is secreted by:
a) Adrenal
b) Pituitary
c) Ovary
d) Hypothalamus
Answer: c
Explanation: Ovaries produce estrogen.
The hormone essential for lactation:
a) LH
b) FSH
c) Prolactin
d) Oxytocin
Answer: c
Explanation: Prolactin enables milk synthesis.