Question

Andrew never really grew to be very tall. The doctor told his parents that Andrew's ____ gland did not secrete enough growth hormone, causing his small stature.

Answer 1

Andrew's condition, pituitary dwarfism, is caused by the underproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, leading to a shorter stature.

Step-by-step explanation:

Andrew's short stature is likely due to a condition known as pituitary dwarfism, which is a result of the hyposecretion of growth hormone (GH) by the pituitary gland. This gland, located at the base of the brain, is responsible for producing GH which is essential for normal growth in children. When the pituitary gland does not produce enough GH, a child may end up with a reduced growth rate leading to a smaller stature, characterized by symmetric body formation. This is in contrast to gigantism, where a tumor can cause the gland to produce excessive amounts of GH leading to abnormally tall stature.