Whose excessive secretion causes abnormal elongation of long bones in childhood ?

Options

A. Growth hormone
B. Prolactin
C. Vasopressin
D. Oxytocin

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Identify the Hormone Responsible for Growth:**
The hormone responsible for growth in humans is the growth hormone (GH), which is secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

2. **Understand the Role of Growth Hormone:**
Growth hormone plays a crucial role in stimulating growth, particularly in long bones during childhood and adolescence.

3. **Locate the Growth Plates:**
At the ends of long bones, there are areas known as growth plates or epiphyseal plates. These plates are made of hyaline cartilage and are essential for the elongation of bones.

4. **Know the Closure Age of Growth Plates:**
The epiphyseal plates close at different ages for males and females. In females, this closure occurs between the ages of 15 to 20, while in males, it occurs between 17 to 24.

5. **Recognize the Effect of Excessive Growth Hormone:**
If there is excessive secretion of growth hormone before the closure of the epiphyseal plates, it leads to continuous growth or elongation of the bones.

6. **Identify the Resulting Condition:**
The condition caused by excessive growth hormone secretion during childhood, before the closure of the growth plates, is known as gigantism.

7. **Conclusion:**
Therefore, the excessive secretion of growth hormone causes abnormal elongation of long bones in childhood, leading to gigantism.

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