2.2- hormonal control of reproduction Flashcards
what are hormones?
chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands and secreted directly into the bloodstream
3 things hormones control
onset of puberty
sperm production
menstrual cycle
what happens at the onset of puberty?
the hypothalamus secretes a releaser hormone which acts on the pituitary gland
what is stimulated for hormones to be released?
the pituitary gland
2 hormones that influence puberty in males
FSH- follicle stimulating hormone
ICSH- interstitial cell stimulating hormone
2 hormones that influence puberty in females
FSH- follicle stimulating hormone
LH- luteinising hormone
what do FSH and ICSH trigger in males?
sperm production
what does FSH and LH trigger in females?
menstrual cycle
what does FSH do when it arrives in the bloodstream?
promotes sperm production in the seminiferous tubules
what does ICSH do when it arrives in the bloodstream?
stimulates the interstitial cells to produce the male sex hormone testosterone
2 functions of testosterone
stimulates sperm production in the seminiferous tubules
activates prostate gland and seminal vesicles to produce their secretions
how is testosterone regulated and what by?
self regulated
by negative feedback control
what happens when the concentration of testosterone builds up in the bloodstream?
testosterone concentration reaches a level where it inhibits the secretion of FSH and ICSH from the pituitary gland
what does the inhibition of the secretion of FSH and ICSH lead to and what happens?
leads to a decrease in testosterone concentration
then the pituitary gland becomes active again and making FSH and ICSH
where does FSH and LH come from?
pituitary gland
2 functions of FSH in the follicular phase
stimulates the development and maturation of each follicle
stimulates ovary tissue to secrete the sex hormone oestrogen
what is the name given to the lining of the uterus?
endometrium
2 functions of oestrogen
stimulates proliferation of the endometrium preparing it for implantation
affects the consistency of cervical mucus
what effect does the thin consistency of the cervical mucus have?
mucus more easily penetrated by sperm
what happens at peak levels of oestrogen and what is triggered?
surge of LH is stimulated
triggers ovulation
what is ovulation and when does it occur?
release of an egg from a follicle in the ovary
often occurs around the midpoint of the menstrual cycle (day 14)
2 phases of the menstrual cycle
follicular phase (1 - 13)
luteal phase (15 - 28)
what 2 things happens to the follicle in the luteal phase?
develops into a corpus luteum
secretes progesterone
what does progesterone do and what effect does it have?
promotes further development and vascularisation of the endometrium
this prepares endometrium for implantation if fertilisation occurs