WEEK 1

Science 10
December 14 – 18, 2020
Objectives:

■ Describe the parts of the reproductive system

and their functions;
■ Explain the role of hormones involved in the
female and male reproductive systems; and
■ Discuss the phases of the menstrual cycle.
 Gland Hormones Function

Testes (Male) Testosterone It regulates the development of the male sex organs in the embryo. It
also controls sex drive and secondary sex characteristics at puberty.

Estrogen It controls sex drive and regulates the development of female

secondary sex characteristics at puberty.

Ovaries (Female) It controls the development of endometrium (mucus membrane lining

Progesterone the womb) during menstrual cycle and maintenance of uterus during
pregnancy.

Prolactin It stimulates the production of milk in the mammary glands.

Pituitary Luteinizing hormone In females, it stimulates ovulation, maturation of egg cells, and
(LH) progesterone production; whereas in males, it stimulates sperm and
Follicle-stimulating testosterone production.
hormone (FSH)
■ If the egg is not
fertilized or does
not implant, the
woman’s body
sheds the egg and
the
endometrium.
This shedding
causes the
bleeding in a
woman’s
menstrual
period.
 Menstrual Cycle

■ Females begin to menstruate between the ages of 11 and 15. Menstruation

is the monthly shedding of blood from the lining of the uterus.
■ The menstrual cycle begins an egg matures or ripens in one of the ovaries.
At the same time, the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) starts to
thicken for possible pregnancy.
In humans, the cycle would take around 28 days. It
is composed of two major cycles, the ovarian cycle
and the uterine cycle, which happens
simultaneously.

The ovarian cycle involves changes to the follicles

in the ovaries, whereas the uterine cycle involves
changes to the endometrium lining in the uterus.
■ Ovarian Cycle starts with a development of an oocyte
(immature egg). As it begins to mature, it erupts and
travels down the oviduct to the uterus.

■ Uterine Cycle is more commonly known as the

menstrual cycle, which occurs every 4 weeks or so. A
woman’s body prepares for pregnancy, but when
pregnancy does not occur, blood is released as the
woman’s endometrial lining of the uterus sheds. 
The uterine cycle is divided into three phases:

1. Menstruation phase–The menses, or menstrual blood, is shed from the

lining of the uterus known as the endometrium. This period usually
lasts for an average of 5 days.
2. Proliferative phase– this happens when estrogen causes the lining of
the uterus to grow, or proliferate. Estrogen is released by the ovarian
follicles. It initiates the formation of a new layer of endometrium in
the uterus.
3. Secretory phase– as the corpus luteum produces progesterone, this
causes the endometrium to become receptive to implantation of the
blastocyst (developing zygote) and supportive of the early pregnancy.
The ovarian cycle is divided into three phases:

1. Follicular phase (days 1-13) – it is the first part of the

ovarian cycle. During this phase, the ovarian follicles
mature and get ready to release the egg.
2. Ovulation phase (day 14) – it is the shortest phase in the
cycle wherein the mature egg is released from one of the
ovarian follicles down to the Fallopian tube.
3. Luteal phase (days 15-28) – this phase is marked after
the release of the mature egg.
■ The key difference between ovarian cycle
and menstrual cycle is that the ovarian cycle is the
cycle that happens in the ovaries while the
menstrual cycle is the cycle that happens in the
uterus associated with the uterine wall.
■ Ovarian cycle and menstrual cycle are two cycles
occurring in women.
■ This cycle continues for about 450 cycles, then women
enter menopause, which marks the end of the menstrual
cycle. This stage occurs in females around 40-50 years of
age, and starts within 12 months after the last menstrual
period.
■ Signs and symptoms of females about to enter
menopausal stage include irregular periods, vaginal
dryness, sleep problems, hot flashes and mood swings,
weight gain, dry skin and thinning hair, night sweating,
and decreasing breast fullness.