B3.6 Puberty, Menstrual cycle & Reproductive systems

• What is puberty?

  The period of developing secondary sexual characteristics
• What triggers the process of puberty?

  Reproductive hormones
• What hormone is mainly responsible for male puberty?

  Testosterone
• Where is testosterone produced in men?

  In the testes
• What hormone is primarily responsible for female puberty?

  Estrogen
• Where is estrogen produced in women?

  In the ovaries
• What are the four stages of the menstrual cycle?

  1. Menstruation
  2. Uterus lining buildup
  3. Ovulation
  4. Uterus lining maintenance
• Puberty is the period in which adolescents start to develop secondary sexual characteristics.
• What is the average length of a menstrual cycle?

  Around 28 days
• What happens during menstruation?

  Breakdown of the uterus lining and bleeding
• How long does menstruation typically last?

  About four days
• What occurs in stage two of the menstrual cycle?

  The uterus lining builds up again
• How long does stage two last?

  Around ten days
• What is the purpose of the thick spongy layer in stage two?

  To prepare for a fertilized egg
• What happens during ovulation?

  The egg is released from the ovaries
• How long does ovulation last?

  One day
• What occurs in stage four of the menstrual cycle?

  Maintaining the lining of the uterus
• What happens if no fertilized egg reaches the uterus?

  The uterus lining breaks down
• What happens if a fertilized egg implants into the uterus?

  The menstrual cycle stops
• What hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle?

  • Estrogen
  • Progesterone
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• What hormone stimulates the growth of the uterus lining?

  Estrogen
• When does progesterone increase during the menstrual cycle?

  In stage four
• What happens if progesterone levels drop?

  The uterus lining breaks down
• Where are LH and FSH produced?

  In the pituitary gland
• What is the role of FSH in the menstrual cycle?

  To stimulate egg maturation in ovaries
• What does LH stimulate on day 14?

  The release of the egg (ovulation)
• How do FSH and estrogen interact in the menstrual cycle?

  • FSH stimulates ovaries to produce estrogen
  • Increased estrogen inhibits FSH (negative feedback)
• What triggers the release of LH?

  High levels of estrogen
• What does progesterone inhibit?

  Both LH and FSH
• What is the overall process of the menstrual cycle?

  1. Menstruation: Breakdown of uterus lining
  2. Uterus lining buildup: Preparation for fertilization
  3. Ovulation: Release of the egg
  4. Uterus lining maintenance: If fertilized, cycle stops
• The term 'secondary sexual characteristics' refers to the bodily changes that take place during puberty. 

  Which of the following are secondary sexual characteristics?

  • Deepening voice 
  • More muscle mass 
  • Breast development 
  • Increase in height 
• Which organ is testosterone released from?

  Testes 
• Is oestrogen the main sex hormone in males or females?

  Females 
• Which organ is oestrogen released from?

  Ovaries 
• Ovaries

  
• Uterus lining 

  
• Fallopian tubes

  
• Uterus 

  
• How long does the average menstrual cycle last? 

  28 days
• The menstrual cycle

  The menstrual cycle is a series of steps that prepares the uterus for the implantation of a fertilised egg.

  If there is no fertilised egg, then the cycle repeats.

  But if there is a fertilised egg, then the cycle will stop and the egg will implant into the uterus lining, where it can develop into a foetus.