AP Biology

Menstrual Cycle Regulation

(a little more complicated than when you learned it in health class!)

Regents Biology

Meet the Female hormones FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)

released from anterior pituitary stimulates egg development (ripening) & hormone release

LH (Leuteinizing Hormone) peak release = release of egg (ovulation)

Estrogen released from ovary cells around developing egg (follicle) stimulates growth of lining of uterus decreasing levels causes menstruation

Progesterone released from “corpus luteum” in ovaries

(cells that used to take care of developing egg) stimulates blood supply to lining of uterus decreasing levels causes menstruation

Regents Biology

Egg maturation in ovary

releasesprogesterone

maintainsuteruslining

produces estrogen

Regents Biology

Menstrual cycle Controlled by

interaction of 5 hormones Releasing Hormone

(GnRH) FSH & LH estrogen progesterone

Regents Biology

Regents Biology

Regents Biology

Regents Biology

Regents Biology

Regents Biology

Regents Biology

Regents Biology

corpusluteumovary

Female reproductive cycle

pregnancy

maintainsuterus lining

no

yes

Feedback

estrogenegg

matures &is released(ovulation)

builds up uterus lining

FSH & LHprogesterone

progesterone

fertilized egg(zygote)

HCG

corpus luteum breaks downprogesterone drops

menstruation

corpusluteum

maintainsuterus lining

GnRH

pituitarygland

hypothalamus