4.

2 THE ROLE OF
HORMONES IN THE
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
1. STATE WHAT MENSTRUATION IS
2. RELATE MENSTRUATION TO THE
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
- Menstruation is the breakdown of the lining of the uterus
wall and its discharge through the vagina with a small
amount of blood and some cells.
- A mature girl produces one ovum every month.
- While the ovum is developing, the inner uterine wall
(endometrium) becomes soft, thickened, folded and
highly vascular (enriched with blood vessels and blood
supply) for preparation for implantation.
- If fertilisation fail to happen, ovum produced dies and
the lining of uterine wall is broken down.
- This monthly cycle is known as menstrual cycle.
- It is divided into 28 days. The first day of a womans
menstruation is the first day of the menstrual cycle.
3. STATE THE IMPORTANCE OF
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
It is important because it controls and coordinates 2
processes :
1. It prepares the inner lining of the uterus to receive
a fertilised ovum.
2. It controls the development of mature ova and
ovulation, and ensures that they occur
simultaneously with the thickening of the
endometrium
4. STATE THE HORMONES INVOLVED IN
THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
2 groups of hormones involved :
1. Hormones that control changes in the ovaries
a) gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
b) Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
c) Luteinising hormone (LH)
1. Hormones that control changes in the uterus
a) Oestrogen
b) Progesterone
Refer table 4.1 pg 129
5. RELATE HORMONAL LEVELS TO THE
DEVELOPMENT OF FOLLICLES, THE
PROCESS OF OVULATION AND THE
FORMATION OF CORPUS LUTEUM
- One day before menstruation begins, the
hypothalamus produces gonadotrophin-releasing
hormone (GnRH).
- GnRH stimulates the anterior lobe of pituitary gland
to secerete FSH and LH.
- FSH has 2 functions :
- 1. causes Graafican folicle to develop in the ovary
- 2. stimulates the follicle cells to secrete oestrogen
- As time of ovulation nearer, the maturing follicle
increases its oestrogen secretion.
- This gives positive feedback on hypothalamus,
resulting in increased GnRH secretion.
- Increased in GnRH results in FSH and LH secretion to
rise.
- High level of LH stimulates the completion of meiosis
I by changing primary oocyte in the follicle into
secondary oocyte.
- It then stimulates ovulation (about 14 day of the
menstrual cycle)
- After ovulation, LH stimulates the corpus luteum to
secrete progesterone and oestrogen.
6. RELATE HORMONAL LEVELS TO THE
CHANGES IN THICKNESS OF
ENDOMETRIUM
Oestrogen and progesterone are the 2 female sex
hormones that induce changes to the endometrium.
Day 1-5 of the menstrual cycle, low level of oestrogen
and progesterone causes endometrium to break down
and its blood vessel to burst. Menstruation occurs.
Day 5-13 : higher oestrogen by growing follicle in the
ovary causes repair and growth of the endometrium.
Day 15-21 : increasing level of progesterone secretion by
corpus luteum causes endometrium to further
vascularise and thicken.
After day 21 : low level of progesterone causes
breakdown of endometrium if no implantation occurs. If
implantation occurs, progesterone level continue to rise
and endometrium is further develop.
7. ROLE OF HORMONES IN
REGULATING THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Refer to table 4.2, page 131
8. STATE WHAT PREMENSTRUAL
SYNDROME (PMS) IS
Symptoms usually start 5 to 11 days before start of
menstruation.
Maybe due to the changing progesterone and
oestrogen level.
Symtoms : table 4.3, page 132
9. STATE WHAT MENOPAUSE IS
Menopause is the time at which the menstrual
cycle stops.
Womens ovary is less sensitive to the stimulation of
FSH and LH.
Eventually, formation of follicles and ovulation stops.
Lead to lower production of progesterone and
oestrogen.