PSY310H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Sex Organ, Pubic Hair, Adrenarche
Document Summary
Produces, circulates and regulates levels of hormones in the body. Hormone= highly specialized substance, secreted by one or more endocrine glands, enters bloodstream. Glands are organs that stimulate particular parts of the body to respond in specific ways. Convey special messages to gonadotropin releasing hormone (gnrh) neurons. Endocrine received instructions from central nervous system to increase/decrease hormone levels through the firing of gnrh neurons in the brain. Ex: like a thermostat - there is a set point. Level for a hormone can be adjusted up or down depending on environmental or internal bodily conditions. Hypothalamus - part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland, and where there is a concentration of gnrh neurons. Gonads- release the sex hormones - androgens(male) and estrogens (women) Puberty occur when it does because several different signals- genetic and environmental instruct the brain to change the set point.
