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oxytocin |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.07 sec. |
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oxytocin (ŏksĭtō`sĭn), hormone hormone, secretory substance carried from one gland or organ of the body via the bloodstream to more or less specific tissues, where it exerts some influence upon the metabolism of the target tissue. ..... Click the link for more information. released from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland pituitary gland, small oval endocrine gland that lies at the base of the brain . It is sometimes called the master gland of the body because all the other endocrine glands depend on its secretions for stimulation (see endocrine system ). ..... Click the link for more information. that facilitates uterine contractions and the milk-ejection reflex. The structure of oxytocin, a cyclic peptide peptide, organic compound composed of amino acids linked together chemically by peptide bonds. The peptide bond always involves a single covalent link between the α-carboxyl (oxygen-bearing carbon) of one amino acid and the amino nitrogen of a second amino acid. ..... Click the link for more information. consisting of nine amino acids, was determined in 1953 and in the same year it was synthesized in the laboratory. Both oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone antidiuretic hormone (ăn'tēdīy ..... Click the link for more information. are biosynthesized in the hypothalamus of the brain and travel down neuronal axons to the posterior pituitary, where they accumulate prior to release. Stimuli that elicit the release of oxytocin include childbirth, suckling, and coitus; the uterine contractions that result may facilitate either childbirth or the ascent of spermatozoa through the fallopian tubes. Oxytocin may also play a role in the initiation of labor. The milk-ejection response occurs only in females immediately after childbirth. The role of oxytocin in males is unknown. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| As a professional herbalist, I agree that there are some types of herbs that should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, such as emmenagogues, strong laxatives, bitters and diuretics, plants high in alkaloids, steroidal precursors, oxytocic and teratogenic herbs, and a few others. The effects of routine oxytocic administration in the management of the third stage of labor: an overview of the evidence from controlled trials. |
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