Hormonal coordination

• Puberty


  • Reproductive hormones cause the secondary sex characteristics to develop
• Hormones in human reproduction

  • Main female reproductive hormone
  • Oestrogen
  • Testosterone
  • Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
  • Luteinising hormone (LH)
  • Oestrogen
  • Progesterone
• Oestrogen


  Main female reproductive hormone, produced in the ovary
• Menstrual cycle


  1. At puberty, eggs begin to mature and one is released every 28 days

  2. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) causes an egg to mature in the ovary

  3. Luteinising hormone (LH) causes an egg to be released

  4. Egg travels down the oviduct towards the uterus

  5. If egg is not fertilised, uterus lining breaks down and is shed as a period
• Endocrine system


  • Composed of glands that secrete chemicals called hormones into the bloodstream
  • Blood carries hormones to target organs
  • Effects are slower but act for longer compared to nervous system
  • Pituitary gland is a "master gland" that secretes hormones to stimulate other glands
• Roles of main hormones

  • Oestrogen - controls development of female secondary sexual characteristics, involved in menstrual cycle
  • Testosterone - controls development of male secondary sexual characteristics, involved in sperm production
  • FSH - stimulates egg maturation in ovaries
  • LH - stimulates release of mature egg
  • Oestrogen - maintains uterus lining
  • Progesterone - inhibits FSH and LH release
  • Insulin - controls blood glucose levels
  • Adrenaline - prepares body for fight or flight
• Insulin


  Hormone produced by the pancreas that moves glucose from the blood into cells
• Diabetes


  Non-communicable disease where the body either cannot produce or cannot respond to insulin, leading to uncontrolled blood glucose
• Types of diabetes


  • Type 1 - pancreas no longer produces insulin, treated with insulin injections, diet and exercise
  • Type 2 - body doesn't respond to insulin, treated with carbohydrate-controlled diet and exercise