AQA Biology 4.5.3.4 · Combined 4.5.3.3

Hormones in human reproduction

Four hormones run a 28-day cycle. Turn the dial and see which hormone is at work at each stage.

Combined Science · Higher tier

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Once a month.

Most people know a period comes roughly once a month.

If you had to guess, is that timed by a clock in the body, or by chemicals in the blood?

Puberty

Reproductive hormones.

During puberty, reproductive hormones cause secondary sex characteristics to develop. Tap each.

Where the glands are: The endocrine system.

The menstrual cycle

The 28-day cycle.

Several hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle. FSH causes maturation of an egg in the ovary. LH stimulates the release of the egg. Oestrogen and progesterone are involved in maintaining the uterus lining. Turn the dial: pick each stage.

Pick a stage.

Higher

How the hormones interact

The hormones act on each other. Pick a hormone to see its line on the graph and what it does to the others.

Pick a hormone.

Using hormones to prevent or help pregnancy: Contraception and fertility.

Think again · which one releases the egg?

“FSH releases the egg.”

Your call

Choose

Which hormone stimulates the release of an egg?

Sort

Where is it made?

Place each hormone.

Tap a card, then tap the box it belongs in. Tap a placed card to take it back.

Command words in this lesson

Describe: What each hormone does in the cycle.
Explain: How the hormones interact (Higher).
Use the graph: Read when each hormone rises and peaks (Higher).

Key fact

FSH matures an egg, LH releases it, and oestrogen and progesterone maintain the uterus lining. Ovulation happens about every 28 days.

Key note · AQA 4.5.3.4 (Combined 4.5.3.3)

Hormones in human reproduction

Reproductive hormones cause secondary sex characteristics at puberty. Oestrogen: ovary. Testosterone: testes; stimulates sperm production.
FSH matures an egg; LH stimulates its release (about every 28 days); oestrogen and progesterone maintain the uterus lining.
FSH stimulates oestrogen; oestrogen inhibits FSH and stimulates LH; progesterone inhibits FSH and LH.
On a graph: oestrogen peaks before ovulation, LH peaks sharply just before ovulation, progesterone is high in the second half.

Photograph this card. Tomorrow, cover it and say each line first.

Previous and next

Connects to

The endocrine system

Ask MrBadmus

Not sure which gland makes which hormone?

The cycle dial and hormone curves are schematic; cycle length varies from person to person.