Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Practice

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Study for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Dive into multiple choice questions, each with explanations and helpful hints. Enhance your knowledge and prepare for success in your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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Which hormone is primarily involved in regulating stress responses?

Cortisol
Prolactin
Oxytocin
FSH

The correct answer is: Cortisol

Cortisol is the primary hormone involved in regulating stress responses. It is released by the adrenal glands, particularly in response to stress and low blood glucose levels. This hormone plays a crucial role in the body's "fight or flight" response, helping to mobilize energy stores and prepare the body to deal with perceived threats. Cortisol affects a wide range of bodily functions, including metabolism, immune response, and the regulation of blood pressure. Under stress, levels of cortisol increase, which helps to heighten alertness, increase the availability of glucose for energy, and suppress non-essential functions like digestion and reproduction, allowing the body to focus on immediate survival. Other hormones mentioned, such as prolactin, oxytocin, and FSH, have different primary functions that are not directly related to the regulation of stress responses. Prolactin primarily influences lactation, oxytocin is often associated with social bonding and reproductive behaviors, and FSH is involved in reproductive processes like gamete production. Thus, cortisol uniquely stands out as the key hormone for stress regulation.