PSYC 3533 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Inguinal Hernia, Scrotum, Clitoris

• School: Memorial University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3533
• Professor: adambrown

Document Summary

Hormones: powerful chemical manufactured by the endocrine glands and secreted directly into the blood stream. A(cid:374)droge(cid:374)s: a group of (cid:862)(cid:373)ale(cid:863) se(cid:454) hor(cid:373)o(cid:374)es (cid:894)e. g. , testosterone) Estroge(cid:374)s: a group of (cid:862)fe(cid:373)ale(cid:863) se(cid:454) hor(cid:373)o(cid:374)es (cid:894)e. g. , estradiol(cid:895) The pituitary gland serves to regulate many glands of the endocrine system: anterior lobe of pituitary interacts with the gonads. The hypothalamus, pituitary and gonads interact to regulate important sexual functions such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, puberty changes and sexual behaviour. Pituitary and testes produce sex hormones in the male. The testes produce testosterone important in stimulating and maintaining secondary sex characteristics, maintaining the genitals and their sper(cid:373) producing capability, stimulating growth of bone and muscle. The pituitary produces fsh and lh: f h = follicle sti(cid:373)ulati(cid:374)g hor(cid:373)o(cid:374)e, lh = luteinizing hormone. These hormones affect the functioning of the testes: fsh = sperm production, lh = testosterone production. Testosterone levels in the healthy male remain relatively constant. Essentially, low testosterone levels turns on the hypothalamus.