FACTS

• HORMONES:

  • Chemical MESSENGERS
  • Released by GLANDS into the BLOODSTREAM
  • Travel in the BLOODSTREAM and trigger EFFECTS in specific TARGET organs
  • Used in the ENDOCRINE system
• PUBERTY:

  • REPRODUCTIVE hormones cause SECONDARY sexual CHARACTERISTICS for example
  • Growth of PUBIC hair
  • More MUSCLE mass
  • Increase in HEIGHT
  • Development of BREASTS
  • Deeper VOICE
• MEN:

  • TESTES produce TESTOSTERONE- which stimulates the TESTES to produce SPERM
• WOMEN:

  • OVARIES produce OESTROGEN
  • Eggs MATURE and are RELEASED every 28 days by the process of OVULATION
  • This is called the MENSTRUAL CYCLE
• MENSTRUAL CYCLE:

  • Preparation for egg RELEASE- uterus LINING becomes THICK & SPONGY

  The EGG is then sent to the UTERUS, where 2 things can happen:

  • If SPERM is present, the egg becomes FERTILISED and is IMPLANTED into the uterus WALL- a BABY develops
  • If the egg is not FERTILISED, the uterus LINING & the EGG is released as a PERIOD