Endocrine system and reproductive system

• This causes the endometrium to break down, and start the menstrual cycle all over again.
• The endocrine system works in parallel with the nervous system to maintain homeostasis by releasing chemical hormones from various glands.
• Hormones are chemical regulators produced in one part of the body to control the function of another part of the body.
• Endocrine glands are hormone producing organs that release small amounts of hormone into the bloodstream, such as the pituitary gland.
• Exocrine glands release hormones into body cavities, or the surface of the body, such as the pancreas.
• Non-target hormones affect many cells throughout the body, such as growth hormone.
• Target hormones affect specific cells, such as gastrin that stimulates the stomach to produce stomach acid.
• Some glands produce a variety of hormones.
• Steroid hormones pass into the cell and activate a gene to produce a specific protein that is needed by the body.
• Protein hormones combine with a specific receptor protein located in the membrane of cells, once bound, the complex triggers the formation of cAMP from ATP which, in turn, activates enzymes (that produce hormones) within the cell.
• The pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain below the hypothalamus, can be divided into two parts: the posterior pituitary and the anterior pituitary.
• The posterior pituitary stores and secretes the hormones ADH (antidiuretic hormone) and oxytocin, both of which are produced in the hypothalamus.
• The anterior pituitary produces and releases six main hormones: TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), PRL (prolactin), hGH (human growth hormone), FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (lutenizing hormone).
• The pancreas is responsible for regulating the negative feedback system of blood glucose levels.
• The same hormones that trigger the events of puberty also regulate the mature male reproductive system over a person’s lifetime.
• Hormone feedback systems control sperm production and maintain the secondary sexual characteristics in males.
• The hypothalamus releases GnRH, which triggers the release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary.
• FSH causes the seminiferous tubules in the testes to produce sperm and release inhibin, which inhibits the anterior pituitary from releasing more FSH.
• The menstrual cycle occurs as two interconnected cycles: the ovarian cycle and the uterine cycle.
• The menstrual cycle releases an ovum at the same time that the uterus becomes most receptive to a fertilized egg.
• Ovulation takes place around halfway through the menstrual cycle.
• The uterine cycle begins on the first day of the menstrual cycle, the corpus luteum has degenerated and the levels of the sex hormones are low.
• The female reproductive system follows a cyclic pattern known as the menstrual cycle, which is approximately 28 days long on average.
• If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates and levels of sex hormones drop.
• Increasing estrogen levels in the uterine cycle cause the thickening of the endometrium, and increasing progesterone levels rapidly thickens the endometrium, which may double or triple in thickness.
• Increased progesterone and estrogen levels in the ovarian cycle inhibit the anterior pituitary from producing more FSH and LH, causing the degeneration of the corpus luteum and restarts the cycle.
• LH causes the interstitial cells in the testes to release testosterone, which promotes the development of male reproductive tract and secondary sex characteristics.
• Increased LH levels in the ovarian cycle trigger ovulation, making the follicle burst and releasing the ovum, and trigger production of corpus luteum in the follicle after the release of the ovum.
• Increased estrogen levels in the ovarian cycle inhibit the anterior pituitary from releasing more FSH and trigger the pituitary to release more LH.
• In the ovarian cycle, the hypothalamus releases GnRH, which triggers the release of FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary.
• Testosterone also inhibits the release of LH.
• Menstruation occurs for the first five days of the uterine cycle.
• FSH causes the development of one follicle in the ovary, which then causes the release of estrogen and some progesterone, preparing the uterus for the fertilized egg and the placenta to maintain pregnancy.
• The corpus luteum releases progesterone and some estrogen.
• Estrogen maintains sexual organs and secondary sexual characteristics.
• Label the diagram

  A) ductus deferens/vas deferens

  B) scrotum

  C) epididymis

  D) Cowper's gland

  E) prostate gland

  F) testis/testes

  G) ejaculatory duct

  H) seminal vesicle

  I) penis

  J) glans penis

  K) foreskin

  
• a follicle is an immature gamete
• males go through puberty around their early teens
• puberty occurs when the hypothalamus goes into overdrive and the pituitary gland releases hormones
• the anterior pituitary gland releases the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which produces sperm