Hormone responsible for ovulation is :

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Explanation

Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is the primary trigger for ovulation.
A massive increase in LH, known as the 'LH surge', occurs mid-cycle, approximately 24-36 hours before the egg is released.
This surge causes the final maturation and rupture of the dominant ovarian follicle (Graafian follicle).
Following ovulation, LH is also crucial for the formation and maintenance of the corpus luteum.

Option A: Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is responsible for the growth and development of ovarian follicles at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, not for the final act of ovulation.
Option C: Prolactin's primary function is to stimulate milk production in the mammary glands. High levels of prolactin can actually inhibit ovulation.
Option D: While a peak in oestrogen levels is the signal that triggers the LH surge (positive feedback), oestrogen itself does not directly cause the follicle to rupture and release the egg.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle and ovulation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the LH surge is clinically vital for family planning and infertility treatment. Commercially available ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) work by detecting this surge in urine, helping to identify the most fertile period.
In conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), persistently high levels of LH relative to FSH can disrupt normal follicular development and prevent ovulation, leading to infertility.
What if? If the question asked which hormone maintains the uterine lining for implantation after ovulation, the answer would be Progesterone, which is produced by the corpus luteum under the influence of LH.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing knowledge of reproductive physiology.
First, identify the key physiological event in the question: 'ovulation'.
Next, recall the sequence of hormonal events in the menstrual cycle.
Differentiate the roles: FSH grows the follicle, Oestrogen builds the uterine lining and triggers the LH surge, and LH causes the final release (ovulation).
Eliminate options based on their primary functions. Prolactin is for lactation, FSH is for growth, and Oestrogen is a signal, not the direct trigger.
This leaves LH as the hormone directly responsible for the physical act of ovulation.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 3 p. 35-37

E6 Physiology Essentials Sembulingam 10e Part 2 p. 129-131

Practise the full IGNOU PB Bsc Nsg.Entrance-2026

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.