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MBBS QUESTION #10296
Question 1
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), the hormone detected by pregnancy tests, is secreted by which tissue, and what is its principal function in early pregnancy?
  • The maternal corpus luteum; it suppresses the maternal immune response to the fetus
  • The syncytiotrophoblast of the developing placenta; it maintains corpus luteal progesterone secretion until the placenta itself takes over steroid production✔️
  • The maternal anterior pituitary gland; it stimulates additional LH release
  • The fetal adrenal cortex; it regulates fetal cortisol synthesis
Correct Answer Explanation
hCG, produced by the syncytiotrophoblast, acts like LH to 'rescue' and maintain the corpus luteum's progesterone secretion during early pregnancy (before the placenta itself becomes the dominant progesterone source around 8-10 weeks) — the physiological basis for urine/blood pregnancy testing.