CLC EXAM TEST BANK 2026 CERTIFIED
LACTATION CONSULTANT EXAM TEST
BANK QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
DOMAIN 1: BREASTFEEDING PHYSIOLOGY & MILK PRODUCTION
(Questions 1-35)
Question 1
What are the two major hormones of lactation, and where are they
secreted from?
A) Estrogen and progesterone – ovaries
B) Oxytocin and prolactin – pituitary gland
C) Gastrin and CCK – gastrointestinal tract
D) Insulin and glucagon – pancreas
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Prolactin (anterior pituitary) stimulates milk synthesis by
alveolar cells, while oxytocin (posterior pituitary) causes
myoepithelial cell contraction for milk ejection (let-down) .
Question 2
What is the primary function of prolactin in breastfeeding?
,A) Causes milk to be released (let-down)
B) Causes milk to be made (synthesis)
C) Stimulates nipple growth
D) Increases fat content in milk
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Prolactin stimulates the alveolar cells in the breast to
produce milk. Oxytocin, not prolactin, is responsible for milk
ejection .
Question 3
What is the primary function of oxytocin in breastfeeding?
A) Causes milk to be made
B) Causes contractions that move the milk (let-down)
C) Stimulates nipple growth
D) Increases fat content in milk
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Oxytocin causes myoepithelial cells around the alveoli to
contract, moving milk from the alveoli toward the nipple .
Question 4
What causes oxytocin to be released during breastfeeding?
,A) High levels of prolactin
B) Frequent feeding and nipple stimulation
C) Increased fat content in milk
D) Maternal hydration level
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Oxytocin is released in response to nipple stimulation
(via afferent nerve pathways T4 and T5) and frequent milk removal.
Nipple stretching and stroking trigger oxytocin and prolactin
release, respectively .
Question 5
What is required for Lactogenesis III (galactopoiesis) to succeed?
A) High levels of prolactin only
B) Adequate maternal fluid intake only
C) Frequent milk removal and nipple stimulation
D) Complete delivery of the placenta
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: C
Rationale: Lactogenesis III (maintenance of milk production)
depends on frequent, effective milk removal and nipple stimulation.
Prolactin levels rise with nipple stimulation, and receptor sites must
be regularly activated to maintain supply .
, Question 6
What determines the fat content of milk suckled by the baby?
A) The mother's diet
B) The speed/efficiency with which the baby removes milk
C) The time of day
D) The mother's hydration level
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Faster, more efficient milk removal leads to higher fat
content in the milk (hindmilk). Fat content increases as the breast
empties because fat globules are released later in the feeding .
Question 7
What is most effective at increasing gastrin and cholecystokinin
(CCK) in infants?
A) Feeding with species-specific milk (human milk)
B) Feeding with formula
C) Feeding with water
D) Feeding with solid foods
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: A
Rationale: Species-specific milk (human milk for human babies) is
most effective at stimulating the release of gastrin and CCK, which
promote satiety and digestive maturation .
LACTATION CONSULTANT EXAM TEST
BANK QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
DOMAIN 1: BREASTFEEDING PHYSIOLOGY & MILK PRODUCTION
(Questions 1-35)
Question 1
What are the two major hormones of lactation, and where are they
secreted from?
A) Estrogen and progesterone – ovaries
B) Oxytocin and prolactin – pituitary gland
C) Gastrin and CCK – gastrointestinal tract
D) Insulin and glucagon – pancreas
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Prolactin (anterior pituitary) stimulates milk synthesis by
alveolar cells, while oxytocin (posterior pituitary) causes
myoepithelial cell contraction for milk ejection (let-down) .
Question 2
What is the primary function of prolactin in breastfeeding?
,A) Causes milk to be released (let-down)
B) Causes milk to be made (synthesis)
C) Stimulates nipple growth
D) Increases fat content in milk
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Prolactin stimulates the alveolar cells in the breast to
produce milk. Oxytocin, not prolactin, is responsible for milk
ejection .
Question 3
What is the primary function of oxytocin in breastfeeding?
A) Causes milk to be made
B) Causes contractions that move the milk (let-down)
C) Stimulates nipple growth
D) Increases fat content in milk
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Oxytocin causes myoepithelial cells around the alveoli to
contract, moving milk from the alveoli toward the nipple .
Question 4
What causes oxytocin to be released during breastfeeding?
,A) High levels of prolactin
B) Frequent feeding and nipple stimulation
C) Increased fat content in milk
D) Maternal hydration level
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Oxytocin is released in response to nipple stimulation
(via afferent nerve pathways T4 and T5) and frequent milk removal.
Nipple stretching and stroking trigger oxytocin and prolactin
release, respectively .
Question 5
What is required for Lactogenesis III (galactopoiesis) to succeed?
A) High levels of prolactin only
B) Adequate maternal fluid intake only
C) Frequent milk removal and nipple stimulation
D) Complete delivery of the placenta
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: C
Rationale: Lactogenesis III (maintenance of milk production)
depends on frequent, effective milk removal and nipple stimulation.
Prolactin levels rise with nipple stimulation, and receptor sites must
be regularly activated to maintain supply .
, Question 6
What determines the fat content of milk suckled by the baby?
A) The mother's diet
B) The speed/efficiency with which the baby removes milk
C) The time of day
D) The mother's hydration level
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: B
Rationale: Faster, more efficient milk removal leads to higher fat
content in the milk (hindmilk). Fat content increases as the breast
empties because fat globules are released later in the feeding .
Question 7
What is most effective at increasing gastrin and cholecystokinin
(CCK) in infants?
A) Feeding with species-specific milk (human milk)
B) Feeding with formula
C) Feeding with water
D) Feeding with solid foods
Correct ,,,ANSWER,,,,: A
Rationale: Species-specific milk (human milk for human babies) is
most effective at stimulating the release of gastrin and CCK, which
promote satiety and digestive maturation .
