Sex Steroids Flashcards
What are hormones?
Chemicals secreted by the endocrine glands
What are the sex steroids?
Progesterones, oestrogens, androgens
FSH, LH and GnRH are not usually regarded as sex steroids although they play a major sex role
What cells can hormones affect?
A hormone can only influence cells that have specific target receptors for the hormone
Where are natural sex steroids produced?
By gonads (ovaries, testes), by adrenal cortex, or by conversion from other sex steroids in other tissue such as liver or fat.
What are androgens?
Considered ‘male sex hormones’ as have masculine effect but present in both men and women
What is the main androgen?
Testosterone
What are oestrogen and progesterone considered as?
‘Female sex hormones’ but present in both men and women
What is the main oesotrogen?
Oestradiol
