A patient presents with increased growth of skeletal and soft tissue, hypertension, arthritis, menstrual disturbances, and diabetes mellitus. Upon administration of oral glucose, which of the following levels would increase?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: IGF. Increased growth of skeletal and soft tissue, along with other symptoms, suggest acromegaly due to excess growth hormone (GH) secretion. GH stimulates the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which mediates many of GH's effects. In acromegaly, elevated IGF levels contribute to the clinical manifestations. Option A (GH) is incorrect because GH levels may be high but not necessarily in response to oral glucose. Option C (GH and IGF) is incorrect as GH alone does not directly increase in response to oral glucose. Option D (ADH) is unrelated to the scenario described.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because steroid hormones bind to a receptor inside the target cell, are made from cholesterol, and cause the cell to make new proteins. This is known as the mechanism of steroid hormone action. Choice A is correct as steroid hormones need to bind to intracellular receptors to exert their effects. Choice B is also correct as steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol. Choice C is correct as one of the main actions of steroid hormones is to regulate gene expression and induce the synthesis of new proteins within the cell. Therefore, all of these statements are true regarding steroid hormones, making choice D the correct answer.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: hyperthyroidism. Nervousness, increased body temperature, and increased blood pressure are classic symptoms of hyperthyroidism. This condition is characterized by an overactive thyroid gland, leading to an excess production of thyroid hormones. These hormones can cause an increase in metabolism, leading to symptoms such as nervousness, heat intolerance, and elevated heart rate. Diabetes mellitus (A) is not associated with increased body temperature or blood pressure. Hypoglycemia (B) is characterized by low blood sugar levels, leading to symptoms such as dizziness and confusion, not increased body temperature. Hypothyroidism (C) is characterized by an underactive thyroid gland, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance, not increased body temperature or blood pressure.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: low levels of calcium in the blood. When calcium levels drop, the parathyroid gland releases parathyroid hormone (PTH) to increase calcium levels in the blood. This is a negative feedback mechanism to maintain calcium homeostasis. A: TSH from the posterior pituitary gland is incorrect because TSH is involved in regulating thyroid function, not PTH release. B: High levels of calcium in the blood would not stimulate PTH release as the body aims to lower, not raise, calcium levels. C: Calcitonin from the anterior pituitary gland is incorrect because calcitonin is released by the thyroid gland and works to lower blood calcium levels, opposing the action of PTH.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract is indeed partly contained within the infundibulum, which is a stalk-like structure connecting the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland. This pathway is crucial for the release of hormones from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland. Choice A is incorrect as the hypophysis and pituitary gland are the same structure. Choice C is incorrect as aldosterone is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, not related to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Choice D is incorrect because prolactin synthesis occurs in the lactotroph cells of the anterior pituitary, not in the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract.