PHYSIOLOGY OF FEMALE SEX

HORMONES

G1 (42110044 – 42110055)
TANTA UNIVERSITY
 ILOs
Demonstrate primary and secondary sex organs.
Enumrate female sex hormones.
Identify function of estrogen.
Identify function of progesterone.
Explain control of ovarian hormones.
 ‫‪Thanks to‬‬
‫‪Academic‬‬ ‫‪Academic‬‬
‫‪Number‬‬
‫‪Name‬‬ ‫‪Number‬‬
‫‪Name‬‬
‫‪42110044‬‬ ‫احمد صالح الدين المرسي الزيط‬ ‫‪42110051‬‬ ‫احمد عاطف احمد عبد الحق‬
‫‪42110045‬‬ ‫احمد صالح محمد مصلحي الشيخ‬ ‫‪42110052‬‬ ‫احمد عاطف عبد العزيز الغنيمي‬
‫‪42110046‬‬ ‫احمد طارق السيد حسين محمد‬ ‫‪42110053‬‬ ‫احمد عبد الرازق عبد المعطي محمد‬
‫‪42110047‬‬ ‫احمد طلعت يحيي رجب الشيخ‬ ‫‪42110054‬‬ ‫احمد عبد الشافي محمد صديق‬
‫احمد عادل عبد المنعم سعد مرجان‪42110049‬‬ ‫‪42110055‬‬ ‫احمد عبد العزيز ابراهيم ابراهيم‬
 Primary&Secondary sex organ

1) Primary sex organs:

Ovaries

Secrete ova and female sex hormones.

2) Secondary sex organs:

Two Oviduct

Uterus

Vagina

External genitalia & mammary gland

 Female sex hormones
The ovaries secrete mainly two hormones:

1) Estrogen

2) Progesterone
 Function of estrogen
Function of estrogen is to help with female growth and
reproductive development.

On female sex organs:

1) The primary female sex organs:

• It induces the growth & maturation of the graafian follicles.

• It is essential for formation of the corpus luteum (by

stimulating LH surge).
 2) The secondary female sex organs:

-The uterus:

• It increases the size of the uterus.

• It is responsible for the proliferative phase of the

menstrual cycle.
• It stimulates the contractility of the myometrium.

• It increases the sensitivity of the myometrium to the action

of oxytocin.

-The fallopian tube:

• Estrogen stimulates growth of their mucosal and muscular
layers.
 On the cervix:

• It makes the cervical mucus thin and alkaline which promotes

the survival & transport of sperms.

On the vagina:

• It causes change of the vaginal epithelium into a stratified type

which resists trauma & infection.

On the external genitalia:

• It increases in the size of the external genitalia with the exception of

the clitoris
On female characters:
1) Characteristic fat distribution:

• Fat is deposited in the breasts, lower abdomen,

buttocks & thighs (characteristic feminine contour).

2) Changes in the body configuration:

• e.g.: Narrow shoulders & broad hips.

• The skin is soft, smooth, more vascular & warm.

 3) Feminine distribution of hair:

• Less body hair.

• More scalp hair without frontal recession.
• The pubic hair is triangular with its base up.

4) The larynx & the vocal cords are not enlarged:

• So, the voice remains high pitched as in children.

5) On the breasts: It stimulates:

• The stromal tissues of breasts.
• The development of the duct system.
• The growth of the nipples & darkening of the areolas.
General metabolic effects:
1) Anabolic effect on protein metabolism:

2) On the skeleton:
• It stimulates the osteoblastic activity &deposition of Ca++& PO4.

• It causes early union of the epiphysis so; the mature female is usually shorter than
the male.

It causes Na+& water retention.

 Functions of progesterone hormone

Progesterone is one of the hormones in our bodies that stimulates and regulates various functions.

The hormone is produced in the ovaries, the placenta (when a woman gets pregnant) and the adrenal glands.

Progesterone plays a role in maintaining pregnancy and It helps prepare female body for conception and
pregnancy and regulates the monthly menstrual cycle.
 On primary female sex organ(ovaries)

It prevents ovulation & menstruation during pregnancy: Through a negative

feedback mechanism (by inhibition of LH secretion).
The secondary female sex organs:

1) On the uterus:

• It promotes the progestational changes of the endometruim during the secretory phase of the
menstrual cycle.

• It prepares the uterus for implantation of the fertilized ovum.

• It decreases uterine contractions by the following mechanisms:

1) It decreases number of estrogen receptors in endometrium.

2) It decreases the sensitivity of the myometrium to oxytocin.

2) On Cervix:

• Scanty viscid cellular secretion that prevent sperm penetration.

3) On Vagina:

• Vaginal epithelium proliferates and is infiltrated with leucocytes.

 Female sex characters
1) On the breasts:
• It promotes the growth of the secretory acini of the breasts.
 Metabolic effect
1) Thermogenic action

• It increases the body temperature by about 0.5C in the second half of menstrual cycle (by its direct
action on the hypothalamus).

2) On electrolyte & water balance

• Progesterone in large dose produces natriuresis because it antagonizes the aldosterone by competitive
inhibition.

• But, progesterone (in small doses) causes Na+& water retention.

 Control of the ovarian hormones

1) Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis

• Gonadotropin releasing hormones (Gnrh) (LHRF & FSHRF) are polypeptide hormones which control
the anterior pituitary gonadotropins (LH &FSH) via the hypothalamic hypophyseal portal connection.

• LHRF is secreted from the hypothalamus in a pulsatile form lasting for several minutes and occur
every few hours this in turn causes pulsatile output of LH.
 Control of the ovarian hormones

2) Gonadotropins of the anterior pituitary

• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH):

It stimulates the maturation of the graafian follicles & secretion ofestrogen.

 Control of the ovarian hormones

2) Gonadotropins of the anterior pituitary

• Luteinizing hormone (LH):

It stimulates the progressive growth of the graafian follicle & secretion of

estrogen.

LH induces both ovulation and the corpus luteum's subsequent secretion of progesterone and
estrogen, reaching a peak on the 13th day after the start of menstruation.
 Control of the ovarian hormones

3) Negative feedback effects on LH & FSH secretions

• Estrogen (in small amount) & progesterone (in large amount) inhibit FSH & LH secretions through the
following mechanisms:

Direct inhibition of the anterior pituitary (main mechanism).

Inhibition of the secretion of Gnrh from the hypothalamus (weak mechanism).

This occur over almost all the course of the cycle except the two days before ovulation.
 Control of the ovarian hormones

4) Positive feedback effects on LH & FSH secretion before ovulation

• Estrogen (large amounts), two days before ovulation, stimulates the anterior pituitary, for an unknown
cause

to secrete large amounts of LH (8-10 folds) & small amounts of FSH

(2-3 folds). So ovulation occurs.

5) Inhibin B hormone of granulosa cells

It is produced by the ovary to inhibit the secretion of FSH hormone

from anterior pituitary by a negative feedback mechanism.
 Resources

Text book p.

https://www.healthline.com/health/female-sex-hormones

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324887

https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/female-reproductive-organs
THANKYOU!