Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) hormone is produced by :

IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Easy

Appeared in: IGNOU PB. Bsc. Nsg. Entrance-2025

Explanation

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced primarily by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta after implantation.
The main function of hCG is to maintain the corpus luteum in the ovary during early pregnancy.
This maintenance ensures the continued secretion of progesterone, which is vital for sustaining the uterine lining and preventing menstruation.
The detection of hCG in a woman's blood or urine is the basis for modern pregnancy tests.

Option B: Cytotrophoblasts are the precursor cells that differentiate and fuse to form the syncytiotrophoblast. They are not the primary site of hCG secretion.
Option C: The mesoderm is one of the three primary germ layers of the embryo. It gives rise to structures like muscle, bone, and the circulatory system, and is not involved in the production of placental hormones.
Option D: Decidual glands are part of the decidua (the uterine lining in pregnancy). The decidua produces other hormones, such as prolactin and relaxin, but it does not produce hCG.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Source of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Production as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses rely on hCG measurement for several critical clinical tasks: confirming pregnancy, monitoring the viability of an early pregnancy, and helping to diagnose ectopic pregnancies or potential miscarriages.
Serial hCG levels (checking levels every 48-72 hours) are often monitored by nurses to assess if a pregnancy is progressing normally, as hCG levels should roughly double in this timeframe in a healthy early pregnancy.
Abnormally high hCG levels can be a clinical sign of a multiple gestation (e.g., twins) or gestational trophoblastic disease (molar pregnancy), requiring careful nursing assessment and follow-up.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the production of the hormone hCG.
Recall the physiology of early pregnancy and the role of the placenta.
Differentiate between the different layers and structures associated with the developing embryo and placenta: the trophoblast (with its two layers, syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast), the germ layers (like mesoderm), and the maternal uterine structures (like the decidua).
Associate the primary hormone-producing function of the placenta with the syncytiotrophoblast, the layer that directly interfaces with maternal blood.
Eliminate the other options based on their known functions: cytotrophoblast as a precursor, mesoderm as a germ layer for structural tissues, and decidua as a producer of different hormones.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QzNjjXJ_LKNCuoeOdgUiGA

E6 Physiology Guyton 4SAE Part 3 p. 58-60

E6 Gynecology Williams p. 352-421