the role and hormones

Question 1

what is the role of hormones?

Answer 1

• cause the physical development that defines each sex
• have an effect on the brain of the developing foetus
• puberty = a burst of hormonal activity triggers the development of secondary sex characteristics, such as breasts, pubic hair etc

Question 2

what is the role of testosterone?

Answer 2

• both sexes have it
• males have greater quantities
• cause the development of the male sex organ and masculinises the brain by speeding up development in a certain area, such as those that are responsible for spatial awareness
• testostrone linked with competitiveness and aggression
• differences in the area of the hypothalamus

Question 3

what is the role of oestrogen?

Answer 3

• primarily a female hormone
• promotes development and maintenance of female characteristics = development of breasts in puberty and later on mensturation
• linked with sensitivity, nurturing

Question 4

what is the role of oxytocin?

Answer 4

• greater amounts in women
• as a result of giving birth
• facilitates bonding
• ‘love hormone’
• released in massive quantities during labour and after childbirth which makes them feel in love with their baby
• both sexes produce oxytocin in similar amounts during sex

Question 5

what is the role of chromosomes?

Answer 5

• 46 pairs in the human body
• 23rd pair determines the sex of the child
• first chromosome is passed onto the child by the mother = always an X
• father is the one that determines the sex
• if Y chromosome passed on then testes develop in the foetus = secrete adrogens = causes it to develop into a male = without them turn into female