Final answer:
The production of milk requires the hormone prolactin, and the 'let down' of milk requires the hormone oxytocin; hence, the correct answer is a) Prolactin, Oxytocin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hormone responsible for the production of milk is prolactin, while the hormone needed for the “let down” or release of milk is oxytocin. Prolactin is a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland, and it stimulates the mammary glands to produce breast milk. Its levels change with time and are kept high with frequent nursing or pumping. However, over time, with continuous breastfeeding, prolactin levels naturally decrease to pre-pregnancy levels. Oxytocin, on the other hand, is involved in the let down reflex, which is the milk ejection from the breast. It is triggered by neural impulses from the stimulation of nipples, a reaction termed as the milk let down response. This hormone also plays a role in vaginal and uterine contractions during birth. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is a) Prolactin, Oxytocin.