Hormone Involved in Female menstrual cycle? write Their Functions.

Full Answer Section

• Estrogen:

  • Produced primarily by the ovaries.
  • Thickens the lining of the uterus (endometrium) to prepare for a potential pregnancy.
  • Stimulates the development of secondary sexual characteristics (breast development, widening of hips).
  • Plays a crucial role in bone health.

• Progesterone:

  • Produced by the corpus luteum after ovulation.
  • Maintains the thickened lining of the uterus.
  • Prepares the breasts for milk production.
  • Helps regulate the menstrual cycle.

How these hormones work together:

1. Follicular Phase:

   • FSH stimulates the growth of multiple follicles in the ovaries.
   • One follicle typically becomes dominant.
   • As the dominant follicle matures, it produces increasing amounts of estrogen.
   • Rising estrogen levels stimulate the thickening of the uterine lining and provide negative feedback to the pituitary gland, inhibiting further FSH release.

2. Ovulation:

   • The rising estrogen levels trigger a surge in LH release from the pituitary gland.
   • This LH surge triggers ovulation – the release of the mature egg from the ovary.

3. Luteal Phase:

   • After ovulation, the ruptured follicle transforms into the corpus luteum.
   • The corpus luteum starts producing progesterone.
   • Progesterone further thickens the uterine lining and prepares the body for potential pregnancy.
   • If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates, leading to a drop in progesterone levels.

4. Menstruation:

   • With the decline in progesterone, the thickened uterine lining breaks down and is shed, resulting in menstrual bleeding.
   • This marks the beginning of a new menstrual cycle.

This is a simplified overview of the hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle. It's a complex and dynamic process with intricate feedback loops between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries.

Sample Answer

The female menstrual cycle is a complex interplay of hormones. Here are the key players:

• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH):

  • Produced by the pituitary gland.
  • Stimulates the growth and maturation of follicles in the ovaries (each follicle contains an egg).

• Luteinizing Hormone (LH):

  • Also produced by the pituitary gland.
  • Triggers ovulation (the release of the egg from the ovary).
  • Stimulates the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum (the structure formed from the ruptured follicle).