How it Works
Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (Free-Trial)

A patient with a recent head trauma exhibits polyuria and polydipsia. Which hormone deficiency might be responsible for these symptoms?

A.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

B.

Aldosterone

C.

Oxytocin

D.

Cortisol

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

A. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): ADH (vasopressin) promotes water reabsorption in the kidneys; deficiency reduces water reabsorption, producing excessive urine output (polyuria) and compensatory thirst (polydipsia), and head trauma can damage the hypothalamic–posterior pituitary axis causing this deficiency.
B. Aldosterone: Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption and water retention in the distal nephron; deficiency can cause salt wasting and volume depletion but is less directly associated with the classic polyuria/polydipsia pattern seen after head trauma.
C. Oxytocin: Oxytocin primarily affects uterine contraction and milk ejection; deficiency does not typically produce polyuria and polydipsia.
D. Cortisol: Cortisol influences metabolism and stress responses and, in excess, can cause polyuria via osmotic diuresis from hyperglycemia, but isolated cortisol deficiency or excess is a less direct explanation for sudden polyuria and polydipsia following head trauma compared with ADH loss.


Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Free Nursing Study Resources

Related Questions

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. To increase blood glucose levels directly:The hypothalamus does not directly raise blood glucose; it regulates hormones that influence this process indirectly via other glands.
B. To store and release oxytocin:Oxytocin is stored and released by the posterior pituitary, not the hypothalamus itself.
C. To secrete corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH):The hypothalamus produces and releases CRH, which stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete ACTH, initiating the HPA axis cascade leading to cortisol release.
D. To produce aldosterone:Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, not by the hypothalamus.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH):TSH is released by the anterior pituitary in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus, not CRH.
B. Prolactin:Prolactin release is primarily inhibited by dopamine and can be stimulated by TRH and other factors, but it is not the principal anterior pituitary response to CRH.
C. Growth hormone (GH):GH secretion is regulated mainly by growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin from the hypothalamus, not by CRH.
D. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH):ACTH is secreted by the anterior pituitary in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus and stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol.

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

Register