PSB-2000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Corpus Luteum, Prenatal Development
Document Summary
Hormonal variation: androgen insensitivity syndrome, 5-alpha reductase deficiency: no dht because testosterone cannot be converted. The baby comes out looking like a girl, but at puberty external masculinization comes about at puberty: congenital adrenal hyperplasia: the adrenal glands are overactive during prenatal development which secrete too much testosterone. Adrenal glands produce stress hormones such as cortisol and testosterone. This problem affects females because it masculinizes the female brain and genitalia. In the 50"s: there was a surgical reassignment to female followed by a rearing as a female. This was a problem because they have no sexual sensation and the changed child had resentment/shame at being lied to about their sex. Today, the child"s identity is based on predominant external genitalia. Also do not perform surgery on that person until they are old enough to give the ok. Activation effects of hormones/temporary change in behavior or physiology due to hormone changes: males, minimum level of testosterone generally necessary for sexual activity.
