Hormonal Control of Reproduction Flashcards
Where does releaser hormone travel from and to?
Hypothalamus to the pituitary gland
Name the 2 gonadotrophic hormones in men.
FSH and ICSH
Name the 2 gonadotrophic hormones in women.
FSH and LH
What effect does FSH have on the testes?
Stimulates sperm production
Where are sperm produced?
seminiferous tubules
What effect does ICSH have on the testes?
Stimulates testosterone production in the interstitial cells
What term is used to describe the fertility in men because they have a steady level of testosterone and therefore sperm production.
Continuously fertile
What term is used to describe the fertility of females?
Cyclical
How does ovulation affect:
a) body temperature
b) cervical mucus
a) body temperature rises by about 0.2-0.5oC
b) Thin and watery
Which hormone stimulates sperm production and activates the prostate gland and seminal vesicles?
testosterone
What effect do high levels of testosterone have on the pituitary gland?
negative feedback - inhibit the production of FSH and ICSH
Approximately, how many days does the menstrual cycle last?
28 days
Name the gonadotrophic hormone that stimulates the follicle and the production of oestrogen.
FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone)
Name the first phase of the menstrual cycle.
Follicular phase
What effect does oestrogen have on the endometrium of the uterus?
stimulates proliferation
What effect does oestrogen have on the cervical mucus?
Reduces the consistency making it easier for the sperm to penetrate
What effect does oestrogen have on the pituitary gland?
stimulates the secretion of LH
When does ovulation take place?
When LH is at its highest
What term is used to describe the release of an egg (ovum) from a follicle in the ovary?
ovulation
Name the 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle.
luteal phase
What does the follicle develop into after ovulation.
corpus luteum
Name the hormone that the corpus luteum secretes.
progesterone
What effect does progesterone have on the endometrium of the uterus?
Further thickening and vascularisation
What effect does progesterone have on the pituitary gland?
inhibit the secretion of FSH and LH
Why is it important that the ovarian hormones inhibit the secretion of FSH and LH?
prevents further follicles developing and eggs being released
What causes the degeneration of the corpus luteum?
lack of LH
How does the degeneration of the corpus luteum affect progesterone levels?
decreases progesterone levels
What effect does the decrease in progesterone levels have on the lining of the uterus?
falls away, menstruation
What effect does testosterone have?
stimulates sperm production in the seminiferous tubules
In the early stages of pregnancy, what maintains the corpus luteum?
HCG released from the embryo
How does the corpus luteum being maintained affect progesterone levels?
Keeps progesterone levels high
How does higher levels of progesterone affect the endometrium lining of the uterus?
Keeps them thick, maintains them.
What takes over the secretion of progesterone 6 weeks into pregnancy?
The placenta
