Psychology 2075 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Follicular Phase, Estrous Cycle, Sex Steroid
29 Oct 2018
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Sex hormones: hormones are powerful chemical substances manufacturing by the endocrine glands and secreted directly into the bloodstream. Fsh controls sperm production and lh controls testosterone production. In estrous cycle there is no menstruation, only spotting of blood: timing is different, ovulation occurs when the animal is in "heat" Female animals only engage in sexual behaviour while in heat: phases of the menstrual cycle, 4 phases: Luteal phase: after releasing egg under stimulation of lh, turns into a glandular mass of cells called corpus luteum, this manufactures progesterone. Lh levels then decline and the corpus luteum degenerates, which causes a sharp decline in estrogen and progesterone levels. Falling levels of estrogen stimulate pituitary to begin production of fsh and whole cycle begins again: menstruation. Shedding of inner lining of uterus which passes through cervix then vagina: length and timing of cycle, normal menstrual cycle: 20-36 days, but average is 28 days.
