FRHD 2280 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Luteinizing Hormone, Endocrine System, Puberty
18 Oct 2016
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Chapter 2: Biological Foundations
Puberty
The changes in physiology, anatomy, and physical functioning that develop a person into a
mature adult biologically and prepare the body for sexual reproduction
➔ Derived from the Latin word Pubescere which means “to grow hairy”
The Endocrine System
A network of glands in the body. Through hormones, the glands coordinate their functioning and
affect the development and functioning of the body
➔ Hormones can be described as, chemicals released by the glands of the endocrine
system, that affect the development and functioning of the body including development
during puberty
➔ The Hypothalamus is the “master gland” and is located in the lower part of the brain
beneath the cortex. It affects a wide range of psychological and physiological functioning
and stimulates and regulates the production of hormones by other glands.
◆ The hormonal changes of puberty first begin here when the hypothalamus begins
to increase its production of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
◆ The release of GnRH is released in pulses at intervals of about 2 hours; the
increase begins in middle childhood, at least a year or two before even the
earliest of bodily changes of puberty
◆ Recently, evidence suggests that this increase in GnRH occurs once a certain
threshold level of body fat is reached. The body produces a protein called Leptin
that signals the hypothalamus to increase the production of GnRH
➔ The increase of GnRH affects the Pituitary Gland which is a gland about half an inch
long located at the base of the brain that releases Gonadotropins, hormones that
stimulate the development of gametes, as a part of the body’s preparation for
reproduction
◆ Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) & Luteinizing Hormone (LH) not only
stimulate the development of gametes but also influence the production of sex
hormones by the ovaries and testes which are known as Gonads
➔ Due to the stimulation of FSH & LH, the gonads increase their production of the sex
hormones
◆ There are two classes of sex hormones: Estrogens & Androgens. The most
important estrogen is Estradiol and the most important androgen is
Testosterone
◆ These hormones are produced by both boys and girls and throughout childhood,
the levels are similar in genders. Once puberty begins, girls begin to produce
more estrogen and boys more testosterone
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