SCIENCE 10

School Year: 2023 -2024

Quarter: 3rd
CONCEPT NOTES:

The menstrual cycle is regulated by the complex interaction of hormones FSH and LH produced by the
anterior pituitary gland and estrogen and progesterone produced by the ovary. The following describes how the
hormones affect the menstrual cycle.

Menstruation is the elimination of the internal lining of the uterine wall along with other secretions from the
body through the vagina. It is caused by the low amount of estrogen and progesterone that allows the shedding
of the uterine lining.

Follicular Phase - At the start of the menstrual cycle, the anterior pituitary gland situated at the base of the
brain secretes a hormone called FSH and stimulates ovarian follicle to grow and reach maturity. This hormone
produces 10 to 20 follicles in the ovary and each follicle houses an immature egg. These follicles produce the
hormone estrogen, which in turn thickens the lining of the endometrium in preparation to receive a fertilized
egg.

Ovulation - occurs on the14th day. The term “ovulation “indicates the formation of a mature egg by one of the
ovaries. The release of estrogen during the follicular phase causes the brain to produce a gonadotrophin-
releasing hormone that prompts the pituitary gland to produce raised levels of luteinizing hormone. This
extracts the mature egg from the follicle(cyst) and transports it from the ovary to the fallopian tube. If
fertilization does not occur during this phase, the egg continues towards the uterus and dissolves within 6 to 24
hours.

Luteal Phase - During this phase, the follicle from which the mature egg burst out (now called the yellow body
of the ovary or corpus luteum) released a large quantity of progesterone and some estrogen which inhibits the
production of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland. The two hormones help thicken the lining of the
endometrium and the progesterone. maintains its thickness. If fertilization does not occur, the yellow body
degrades and progesterone levels decrease, leaving the lining unstable. The endometrial layer is slough away
and eliminated from the body as menstrual blood. As estrogen and progesterone levels are now too low to
inhibit the anterior pituitary gland, the cycle can now begin again.

DO IT YOURSELF!

Fill in the missing words in the paragraph by underlining the correct word. The
first one is done for you.

The (1. anterior/posterior) pituitary gland produces (2. FSH / LH), which causes the development of a follicle
in the (3. uterus/ovary). As the egg develops inside the follicle, the follicle produces the hormone (4.
progesterone/ estrogen), and it causes growth and repair of the lining of the uterus wall. Estrogen inhibits the
secretion of (5. FSH/ progesterone). When estrogen (6. drops/rises) to a high enough level, it causes a surge in
(7. FSH / LH) from the pituitary, which causes (8. ovulation/fertilization) where an egg is released from the
follicle. The follicle becomes the corpus luteum, and this produces estrogen and progesterone, which (9.
inhibit/stimulate) FSH and LH production by the pituitary gland. Progesterone maintains the uterus lining. If
the egg has not been fertilized, the corpus luteum dies, and progesterone levels (10. drop/rise). This causes
menstruation, where the uterus lining breaks down - this is known as having a period.