Chapter 5 - Hormones Flashcards
Define homeostasis?
Keeping the body’s internal conditions constant
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers that control the body (released from glands e.g. adrenal glands = adrenaline
What internal conditions need to be controlled by your body?
- Temperature
- Blood sugar levels
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide levels
- Hydration levels
- Blood pressure
- Ions/salts
- Urea
Where do hormones act?
Or target organs or target cells
What are the male and female sex hormones?
Male: testosterone (testes)
Female: oestrogen (ovaries)
What are the three main hormones involved in the menstrual cycle?
- Oestrogen
- FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)
- LH
Three points about FSH?
- Secreted by pituitary gland
- Causes ovaries to produce an egg
- Stimulates ovaries to produce oestrogen
Three pints about oestrogen?
- Secreted by ovaries
- Stops FSH production
- Starts LH production
Two points about LH?
- Secreted by pituitary gland
2. Stimulates egg release
What is the role of progesterone?
Maintains uterus lining
How does the contraceptive pill work?
Artificially gives high levels of oestrogen which inhibits FSH production therefore an egg won’t develop and you can’t get pregnant
What does IVF stand for?
in vitro fertilisation (Latin for glass) = test tube baby
What does IVF mean?
It is when eggs are removed from a woman’s ovaries and mixed with sperm in a test tube
What hormones are involved in fertility treatment?
- FSH
- LH
Both stimulate your ovaries to produce and ripen eggs
Benefits of fertility treatment?
- Allows couples to choose when they want a child (e.g. wait until you can afford it)
- Increases a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant
- Boosts production of mature eggs
- Infertile women an have children
- Decreased risk of developing cancer in uterus & ovaries
- You can pick gender and chose whether or not to have an egg with inherited diseases
