New
New
Year 11
AQA
Foundation

Hormones: puberty, the menstrual cycle and the menopause

I can explain the role of hormones in controlling puberty, the menstrual cycle and the menopause in humans.

New
New
Year 11
AQA
Foundation

Hormones: puberty, the menstrual cycle and the menopause

I can explain the role of hormones in controlling puberty, the menstrual cycle and the menopause in humans.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hormones are chemicals that are made and secreted by groups of specialised cells called glands.
  2. Hormones are transported around the body in the blood plasma, and detected by receptors on cells and tissues.
  3. During puberty, hormones cause maturation of the sex organs and development of secondary sexual characteristics.
  4. Hormones control the menstrual cycle in adult human females, by causing ovulation and menstruation.
  5. Decreases in hormone levels in older human females cause the menopause, after which the menstrual cycle stops.

Common misconception

Hormones are only released in the brain and control the mood.

Hormones control many processes in the body and are secreted from many glands. Those involved in puberty and the menstrual cycle have physical effects that may also impact on mood.

Keywords

  • Hormone - a chemical messenger secreted by glands and carried in the blood plasma

  • Gland - a group of specialised cells that secrete hormones

  • Puberty - the process of physical changes that lead to sexual maturity

  • Ovulation - the process of an egg being released from an ovary

  • Menstruation - the process of the uterus lining breaking down

There are depictions of the male and female reproductive systems so you may want to address this at the start of the lesson. The main focus is the general role the hormones have rather than the specifics.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the endocrine system do?
transport materials around the body
Correct answer: produce hormones
excrete waste
control movement
control breathing
Q2.
Match the part of the female reproductive system to its name.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:a,ovaries

ovaries

Correct Answer:b,uterus

uterus

Correct Answer:c,vagina

vagina

Q3.
What is a?
An image in a quiz
penis
prostate
Correct answer: testes
Q4.
Match the gamete to its description.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:Sperm,are prodced by males in the testes.

are prodced by males in the testes.

Correct Answer:Egg,are released by females from the ovaries.

are released by females from the ovaries.

Q5.
What word is used to describe the changes a person goes through to become sexually mature?
Correct Answer: Puberty
Q6.
Put these stages of development in right order.
1 - gamete
2 - zygote
3 - embryo
4 - baby
5 - child
6 - teenager
7 - adult

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are true?
Correct answer: Hormones are chemicals.
Correct answer: Hormones are transported around the body in the blood plasma.
Hormones are transported around the body in red blood cells.
Correct answer: Hormones are produced by glands.
Hormones are produced by bone marrow.
Q2.
What is a?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: receptor, receptors
Q3.
Which of the following only occur in males?
pubic hair grows
growth rate increases
Correct answer: testes grow
emotional changes
underarm hair grows
Q4.
When discussing the menopause, who is incorrect?
Correct answer: Sam: When all hormone levels decrease in the body.
Correct answer: Jacob: When you go through puberty.
Izzy: When levels of sex hormones decrease.
Sofia: When the menstrual cycle stops.
Q5.
Which two processes are part of the menstrual cycle?
Correct answer: menstruation
Correct answer: ovulation
puberty
menopause
Q6.
Which changes do the male sex organs undergo during puberty?
shoulders get wider
Correct answer: testes get bigger
hips widen
Correct answer: penis gets bigger
Correct answer: testes start to produce sperm cells