hormones

Question 1

What are hormones?

Answer 1

Chemical messengers in the body that travel through the bloodstream and coordinate different functions in the body.

Question 2

Where is the pituitary gland located in the body?

Answer 2

Below the hypothalamus.

Question 3

What is the function of the pituitary gland?

Answer 3

To secrete hormones that stimulate other endocrine glands to release hormones for growth, metabolism, and reproduction.

Question 4

Name some examples of endocrine glands. (4)

Answer 4

Testes, ovaries, pituitary, and adrenal cortex.

Question 5

What is the role of sex hormones in the body?

Answer 5

affect the growth and functioning of the reproductive organs and the development of secondary sex characteristics.

Question 6

What are the male endocrine glands?

Answer 6

Testes/gonads

Question 7

What are the female reproductive glands?

Answer 7

The ovaries

Question 8

Which gland is responsible for secreting hormones to stimulate other endocrine glands

Answer 8

The pituitary gland

Question 9

What are secondary sex characteristics?

Answer 9

Physical traits that develop during puberty that distinguish males from females, such as deepened voice, facial hair, breast development, and widened hips.

Question 10

What are androgens?

Answer 10

Androgens are hormones that are responsible for controlling the development and functioning of male sex organs, as well as for the development of secondary sex characteristics.

Question 11

Which hormone is the main androgen secreted by the testes?

Answer 11

The main androgen secreted by the testes is testosterone

Question 12

What is the role of androgens in spermatogenesis?

Answer 12

testosterone is responsible for the production of sperm (spermatogenesis).

Question 13

Do males or females have higher levels of androgens?

Answer 13

Males have higher levels of androgens than females.

Question 14

Where are androgens produced?

Answer 14

Androgens are mainly produced by the testes in males.

Question 15

What is the role of oestrogen in males?

Answer 15

Along with testosterone, it is responsible for the maturation of sperm

Question 16

What are the roles of oestrogen in females? (overall)

Answer 16

Plays a key role in the functioning and development of female reproductive organs and systems, as well as secondary sex characteristics.

Question 17

Where is oestrogen produced in females?

Answer 17

ovaries and placenta during pregnancy

Question 18

What is the main function of oestrogen in the menstrual cycle?

Answer 18

Thickens the lining of the endometrium in preparation for potential pregnancy and triggers ovulation.

Question 19

Where is progesterone produced?

Answer 19

mainly produced in corpus luteum, and placenta

Question 20

What is the function of progesterone?

Answer 20

• known as the “pregnancy hormone”
• responsible for the maintenance and thickening of the endometrium for implantation after ovulation.
• stimulates the secretion of cervical mucus to create a favourable environment for implantation
• prevents muscle contractions from happening in the uterus to support implantation and foetal development during pregnancy
• stimulates the production of milk in mammary glands (lactation).

Question 21

What triggers the release of progesterone?

Answer 21

The release of progesterone is triggered by the luteinising hormone (LH) which is produced by the anterior pituitary gland.

Question 22

What is the role of progesterone in preparing the breast for lactation during pregnancy?

Answer 22

helps in the development of milk ducts in the breast to grow in size.

Question 23

What happens to progesterone levels if pregnancy does not occur?

Answer 23

• progesterone levels in the body will begin to decline
• lining of the uterus begins to break down and is shed through the cervix and vagina.- menstruation

Question 24

What is the role of progesterone in supporting a healthy pregnancy?

Answer 24

• thicken the endometrium
• prevent contractions of the uterus that could lead to premature delivery
• promote the growth of blood vessels in the uterus to provide nutrients and oxygen to the fetus.

Question 25

What happens to progesterone levels after delivery?

Answer 25

Drecreases

Question 26

How does progesterone prepare the uterus for implantation?

Answer 26

* thickening of the lining of uterus * preventing contractions by relaxing muscles to ensure egg is implanted

Question 27

Where is progesterone primarily made?

Answer 27

* corpus luteum (first ten weeks of pregnancy) * placenta (later stages of pregnancy)

Question 28

Where is Luteinising (LH) hormone made?

Answer 28

pituitary gland in the brain

Question 29

What is the role of LH in ovulation?

Answer 29

* Surge in LH levels is responsible for ovulation

Question 30

How does LH affect t he corpus luteum?

Answer 30

* if pregnancy does not occur, low levels of LR will cause the break down of the corpus luteum

Question 31

What happens once corpus luteum breaks down?

Answer 31

significant drop in progesterone which results in menstruation drop in oestrogen levels

Question 32

What is the role of follicle-stimulating hormone in the female reproductive system?

Answer 32

stimulating the maturation of ovarian follicles, which contain the immature egg cells

Question 33

Where is FSH produced?

Answer 33

pituitary gland

Question 34

What are the two main phases of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 34

Follicular phase and luteal phase

Question 35

What happens during ovulation in the menstrual cycle?

Answer 35

a mature egg is released from the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus.

Question 36

What happens during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 36

1. hypothalamus releases GnRH, which stimulates the pituitary gland to release FSH and LH. 2. FSH stimulates the maturation of ovarian follicles 3. as the follicle grows, it produces estrogen. 4. High levels of estrogen inhibits FSH production to prevent other follicles from maturing 5. high levels of oestrogen thickens endometrium and stimulates production of LH 6. surge in LH results in ovulation

Question 37

What is the role of the corpus luteum in maintaining pregnancy during the few months?

Answer 37

* secretion of progesterone which helps maintains endrometrium

Question 38

What are the main hormones that are secreted by the placenta during pregnancy?

Answer 38

* progesterone * oestrogen * hcG

Question 39

What is the function of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) during pregnancy?

Answer 39

hormone stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone

Question 40

What is the function of the umbilical cord in pregnancy?

Answer 40

transports oxygen and nutrients and removes wastes

Question 41

What are the potential consequences if the placenta fails to function properly during pregnancy?

Answer 41

* affect development and growth of foetus *

Question 42

How does the placenta maintain pregnancy after the corpus luteum breaks down?

Answer 42

* secretes progesterone * transport oxygen and nutrients to foetus via umbilical cord and removes wastes

Question 43

During the luteual phase, when oestrogen and progesterone levels are high, they can inhibit the secretion of which two key hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle?

Answer 43

FSH AND LH

Question 44

What happens to the corpus luteum after few months of pregnancy?

Answer 44

breaks down and is replaced by the placenta who takes over role

Question 45

What is role of prolactin?

Answer 45

stimulates milk production in the breasts by enlarging mammary glands

Question 46

When do levels of prolactin start to rise during pregnancy?

Answer 46

second trimester

Question 47

What is lactation?

Answer 47

Lactation is the production of milk by the mammary glands in the breasts

Question 48

What is the corpus luteum

Answer 48

It is a temporary endocrine structure in the ovary that is from the ovarian follicle after ovulation