Endocrinology Practice Questions

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Intranasal vasopressin may be helpful. In diabetes insipidus, there is a deficiency of vasopressin leading to excessive urination and thirst. Administering vasopressin intranasally can help replace the deficient hormone, reducing urine output and thirst. Hypernatremia (choice A) can occur due to excessive water loss, but it is not always present. There is no osmolar gap (choice C) in diabetes insipidus. Urine specific gravity (choice D) is typically low in diabetes insipidus due to the dilute urine produced.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormone are synthesized in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary gland before being released into the bloodstream. This process is essential for regulating various physiological functions. Choices A and C are incorrect as oxytocin and anti-diuretic hormone are not complex steroids and are not released from the anterior pituitary. Choice B is also incorrect because while these hormones are indeed synthesized in the posterior pituitary, they are stored in the posterior pituitary before their release.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer B is correct: 1. Cushing's syndrome is characterized by excess cortisol production. 2. Women are more likely to develop Cushing's syndrome due to hormonal differences. 3. Women have higher cortisol levels naturally, making them more susceptible. 4. Men can still develop Cushing's syndrome but at a lower rate compared to women. Summary: A: Incorrect, as women are more likely to develop Cushing's syndrome. C: Incorrect, as the incidence is higher in women due to hormonal factors. D: Incorrect, as it refers to thyroid hormones, not cortisol in Cushing's syndrome.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Oxytocin. The anterior pituitary gland produces several hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone (A), growth hormone (B), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (D). Oxytocin is actually produced by the posterior pituitary gland, not the anterior pituitary. Oxytocin is responsible for uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding. Therefore, C is the correct answer as it is not produced by the anterior pituitary unlike the other hormones mentioned.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Correct Answer: B (Rheumatic carditis) Rationale: 1. Rheumatic carditis is a heart condition, which may lead to a decreased cardiac output and subsequently a lower pulse rate during sleep. 2. Anxiety neurosis can lead to increased sympathetic activity, causing an elevated pulse rate during sleep. 3. Pulmonary tuberculosis can cause systemic inflammation and increased metabolic demand, resulting in an elevated pulse rate during sleep. 4. Atropine, a parasympatholytic drug, inhibits the action of the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to an increased pulse rate.