Oxytocin acts on which of the following layers of the uterine wall

Options

A. Endometrium
B. Perimetrium
C. Mesometrium
D. Myometrium

Answer

To solve the question "Oxytocin acts on which of the following layers of the uterine wall?", we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Layers of the Uterine Wall**:
- The uterine wall consists of three layers:
- **Perimetrium**: The outermost layer.
- **Myometrium**: The middle layer, which is thick and contains smooth muscle.
- **Endometrium**: The innermost layer, which is the lining of the uterus.

2. **Understand the Role of Oxytocin**:
- Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the posterior pituitary gland.
- Its primary function is to stimulate contractions of the smooth muscles in the uterus.

3. **Analyze the Options**:
- **Endometrium**: This is the inner lining and does not primarily respond to oxytocin.
- **Perimetrium**: This is the outer layer and does not contain smooth muscle.
- **Myometrium**: This is the middle layer that contains smooth muscle and is responsible for uterine contractions during childbirth.
- **Mesometrium**: This is not a recognized layer of the uterine wall and can be ruled out.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Since oxytocin acts on the smooth muscles of the uterus, which are found in the **myometrium**, the correct answer is **myometrium**.

### Final Answer:
**Oxytocin acts on the myometrium (the middle layer of the uterine wall).**

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