1. Module 3

1.31. Page 4

Lesson 2

Module 3—The Male and Female Reproductive Systems

Lesson Summary

 

In this lesson, you considered the following focusing questions:

  • What are the female reproductive hormones?

  • How do hormones maintain homeostasis in the female reproductive system?

  • What role do the female hormones play in regulating the primary and secondary sex characteristics?

To be able to perpetuate the species, females need to menstruate for their sexual hormones to be properly controlled. The proper control of the sexual hormones leads to a healthy reproductive system and a greater chance of having offspring.

 

For women, puberty starts with the increase in GnRH, which then causes the pituitary to release FSH and LH hormones. These hormones help with sexual development, successful formation of functioning gametes, and continued occurrence of the menstrual cycle.

 

Stress, eating disorders, and excessive exercise can play a major role in hormone function that can result in not having a proper menstrual cycle.

 

Lesson Glossary

 

Consult the glossary in the textbook for other definitions that you may need to complete your work.

 

amenorrhea: lack of menstruation due to low body fat, stress, or medical problems

 

bone density: solidity of the bone; related to calcium intake, impact exercise, and blood estrogen levels

 

estrogen: a female steroid sex hormone secreted by the developing follicle prior to ovulation and the corpus luteum after ovulation

 

Estrogen develops the endometrium and female secondary sex characteristics.

 

genitalia: external and internal sex organs

 

menopause: the period when menstruation and all female reproductive function ends; on average, at age 53

 

menstrual cycle: the female reproductive cycle of producing an egg and developing then shedding the endometrium every 28 days, on average

 

osteoporosis: the loss of bone density that increases risk of fracture

 

If osteoporosis occurs after menopause, the cause is often lack of estrogen.

 

progesterone: a female steroid sex hormone secreted by the corpus luteum after ovulation

 

Progesteron helps estrogen maintain the developed endometrium until menstruation.