Question:easy
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is secreted mainly by which organ?
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) is secreted mainly by which organ?
Show Hint
Growth hormone acts on this organ to make somatomedins.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- Liver
- Pituitary gland
- Pancreas
- Adrenal glands
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The puzzle here is separating where a hormone is triggered from where it is actually made. The anterior pituitary fires off growth hormone, but growth hormone is largely a messenger that tells another organ to do the real work.
Step 2: That target organ is the liver. Under growth hormone stimulation, hepatocytes synthesise somatomedins, and the chief one, somatomedin C or $IGF\text{-}1$, is the molecule that promotes skeletal and soft-tissue growth.
Step 3: $IGF\text{-}1$ binds plasma carrier proteins, so it persists for around 20 hours compared with the brief 20-minute life of growth hormone, and its concentration mirrors growth hormone output.
Step 4: Cross off the distractors. The pituitary only releases growth hormone, the pancreas releases true insulin, and the adrenals release cortisol and catecholamines, none of which is the IGF source.
\[\boxed{\text{Liver}}\]
Step 2: That target organ is the liver. Under growth hormone stimulation, hepatocytes synthesise somatomedins, and the chief one, somatomedin C or $IGF\text{-}1$, is the molecule that promotes skeletal and soft-tissue growth.
Step 3: $IGF\text{-}1$ binds plasma carrier proteins, so it persists for around 20 hours compared with the brief 20-minute life of growth hormone, and its concentration mirrors growth hormone output.
Step 4: Cross off the distractors. The pituitary only releases growth hormone, the pancreas releases true insulin, and the adrenals release cortisol and catecholamines, none of which is the IGF source.
\[\boxed{\text{Liver}}\]
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