Reproductive System

The reproductive organs are part of the endocrine system in that they involve specific hormones.

Some of the hormones required by the reproductive process are produced by the pituitary gland. The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland produces Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutinizing hormone (LH) which stimulate production of sperm and testosterone in males and of eggs, estrogen, and progesterone in females.

The hormone oxytocin, synthesized in the hypothalamus and distributed in the blood by the pituitary, aids in lactation by nursing mothers by causing muscles in the breast to contract. This ejects milk from the saclike milk glands into the nipples. Oxytocin also causes contraction of the muscles of the uterus during childbirth. Oxytocin may also affect male reproductive behavior by causing contraction of the sperm-carrying tubes, as observed in several animal species.

The testes secrete several hormones, collectively called androgens, in response to stimulation from the pituitary gland as noted above. The most important of these is testosterone. The ovaries secrete the steroid hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Reaching a mature state where reproduction is possible is termed puberty, and it is associated with increase in the secretion of releasing hormones by the hypothalamus. This stimulates the pituitary to produce more FSH and LH into the bloodstream, reaching the ovaries or testes and elevating the level of release of the sex hormones. It is generally associated with a growth spurt, and the circulating sex hormones are associated with the development of secondary sex characteristics.

Adrenal Gland Wiki


This material is part of a brief overview of the topics studied in biology with the intent to highlight the connections to basic ideas in physics and physical science.
Index

Reference
Audesirk & Audesirk
Ch 32, 35,36

Thibodeau & Patton
Ch 16
 
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