The Hormonal System

Question 1

What happens during puberty?

Answer 1

Levels of reproductive hormones increase, resulting in the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Question 2

What are secondary sexual characteristics?

Answer 2

Physical changes that occur during puberty, such as breast development and pubic hair growth.

Question 3

What is the main reproductive hormone in females?

Answer 3

Oestrogen.

Question 4

Where is oestrogen secreted from?

Answer 4

The ovary.

Question 5

What is the role of oestrogen?

Answer 5

To ensure the uterus lining thickens for egg implantation.

Question 6

What is the main reproductive hormone in males?

Answer 6

Testosterone.

Question 7

Where is testosterone produced?

Answer 7

In the testes.

Question 8

What is the role of testosterone?

Answer 8

To stimulate sperm production.

Question 9

What does follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) do?

Answer 9

It causes the maturation of an egg in the ovary.

Question 10

How does FSH affect oestrogen production?

Answer 10

As the egg matures, it releases oestrogen, which stops FSH production.

Question 11

What is the role of oestrogen in the menstrual cycle?

Answer 11

It causes the uterus lining to thicken and stimulates the release of luteinising hormone (LH).

Question 12

What does luteinising hormone (LH) do?

Answer 12

It causes the release of the egg from the ovary.

Question 13

What happens if the egg is fertilised?

Answer 13

It implants into the uterus lining and is maintained by progesterone.

Question 14

What happens if the egg is unfertilised?

Answer 14

The uterus lining breaks down, resulting in menstruation.

Question 15

What is contraception?

Answer 15

Any method that prevents fertilisation of an egg by sperm.

Question 16

What are the two main types of contraception?

Answer 16

Hormonal methods and non-hormonal methods.

Question 17

What is an example of a hormonal contraceptive?

Answer 17

The contraceptive pill.

Question 18

What is an example of a non-hormonal contraceptive?

Answer 18

Condoms.

Question 19

How do oral contraceptives work?

Answer 19

They contain hormones that inhibit FSH production, preventing egg maturation.

Question 20

What is the role of injections, implants, and skin patches in contraception?

Answer 20

They release progesterone to inhibit egg maturation and release.

Question 21

How effective are hormonal contraceptives when used correctly?

Answer 21

99% effective.

Question 22

What happens if someone forgets to take the contraceptive pill?

Answer 22

It reduces the effectiveness of the method.

Question 23

What are some side effects of hormonal contraceptives?

Answer 23

Mood swings and changes in blood pressure.

Question 24

What are barrier methods of contraception?

Answer 24

Methods like condoms and diaphragms that prevent sperm from reaching the egg.

Question 25

How does an intrauterine device (IUD) work?

Answer 25

It prevents the egg from implanting in the uterine lining.

Question 26

What do spermicidal agents do?

Answer 26

They kill or disable sperm.

Question 27

What is abstinence as a method of contraception?

Answer 27

Abstaining from intercourse when an egg may be in the oviduct.

Question 28

What are surgical methods of contraception?

Answer 28

Female or male sterilisation procedures like vasectomy.

Question 29

What is the main drawback of condoms?

Answer 29

They can tear, increasing the risk of pregnancy.

Question 30

How effective are diaphragms?

Answer 30

They are effective if left in the body for several hours after intercourse.

Question 31

What is a disadvantage of spermicidal agents?

Answer 31

Some people may have allergic reactions to them.

Question 32

Why is abstinence not always reliable?

Answer 32

It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact time of ovulation.

Question 33

What is the downside of surgical methods of contraception?

Answer 33

They are permanent, irreversible, and carry the risk of infection.

Question 34

How can hormones be used to increase the chances of pregnancy?

Answer 34

By using fertility drugs or IVF treatment.

Question 35

What do fertility drugs do?

Answer 35

They provide FSH and LH to stimulate the maturation and release of multiple eggs.

Question 36

How does IVF work?

Answer 36

FSH and LH are used to stimulate egg maturation, the eggs are fertilised in a petri dish, and the embryos are implanted into the uterus.

Question 37

What happens to the fertilised eggs in IVF?

Answer 37

They grow by mitosis and develop into embryos.

Question 38

How many embryos are typically inserted into the uterus during IVF?

Answer 38

One or two embryos.

Question 39

What are some downsides to fertility treatments?

Answer 39

They can be emotionally and physically stressful, expensive, and have a low success rate.

Question 40

Why are 2-3 embryos sometimes inserted during IVF?

Answer 40

To increase the chances of success.

Question 41

What is the risk of inserting multiple embryos?

Answer 41

It can lead to twins or triplets, which carries risks for both the babies and the mother.

Question 43

How do plants respond to their environment?

Answer 43

By using hormones to grow in response to light and gravity.

Question 44

What is positive phototropism?

Answer 44

The growth of shoots towards light to maximise light absorption for photosynthesis.

Question 45

What is negative geotropism?

Answer 45

The growth of shoots against gravity, ensuring upward growth towards light.

Question 46

What is negative phototropism?

Answer 46

The growth of roots away from light to grow deeper into the soil and anchor the plant.

Question 47

What is positive geotropism?

Answer 47

The growth of roots in the direction of gravity, helping anchor the plant into the ground.

Question 48

What hormone controls these plant responses?

Answer 48

Auxin.

Question 49

How does auxin affect the plant?

Answer 49

It accumulates in the shaded side and causes cells to elongate.

Question 50

How does auxin cause the shoot to bend towards light?

Answer 50

The longer cells on the shaded side make the shoot heavier on that side, causing it to bend towards the light.

Question 51

How do humans use plant hormones?

Answer 51

In gardening and agriculture to control the growth of plants.

Question 52

How is ethene used in the food industry?

Answer 52

To control fruit ripening during storage and transport, allowing seasonal fruit and veg to be available year-round.

Question 53

What are auxins used for?

Answer 53

As weed killers, rooting powders and for stimulating the growth of plant cells in tissue culture.

Question 54

How can gibberellins be used?

Answer 54

To promote flowering, end seed dormancy, and increase fruit size.