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Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle

I can explain the roles of FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone in controlling the menstrual cycle in human females.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Hormonal control of the menstrual cycle

I can explain the roles of FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone in controlling the menstrual cycle in human females.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. FSH causes follicle maturation and secretion of oestrogen by the ovaries.
  2. Oestrogen causes thickening of uterus wall, secretion of LH by the pituitary gland and inhibits the release of FSH.
  3. LH causes ovulation; FSH and LH cause the mature follicle to break down and secrete progesterone.
  4. Progesterone prepares uterus lining for implantation of fertilised egg; stops secretion of LH & FSH by pituitary gland.
  5. Fall in progesterone causes menstruation.

Common misconception

That the menstrual cycle is not linked with reproduction; that hormones only control mood.

Diagrams to show the clear effect of hormones on changes in the menstrual cycle and discuss the importance of the process to fertilisation.

Keywords

  • FSH - follicle stimulating hormone, causes the follicle containing an egg to mature

  • LH - luteinising hormone causes ovulation

  • Oestrogen - a hormone that causes thickening of the uterus lining and the release of LH from the pituitary gland

  • Progesterone - maintains the uterus lining and stops the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland

  • Ovulation - the release of an egg from a mature follicle in the ovaries

The final task can be presented in different ways; comic strip, poster etc.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is menstruation?
The building up of the uterus lining.
Correct answer: Breaking down of the uterus lining and it leaving the body.
The monthly cycle of female hormones.
The releasing of an egg from the ovary.
Hormones screted by the pituitary gland.
Q2.
What is the name given to an egg being released from an ovary?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: Ovulation
Q3.
Which of the following about hormones are true?
They control our movement.
Correct answer: They are produced by glands.
Correct answer: They travel around the body in blood.
The more you have, the more moody they make us.
Correct answer: They are a chemical.
Q4.
Match the part to its name.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:A,fallopian tube

fallopian tube

Correct Answer:B,ovary

ovary

Correct Answer:C,cervix

cervix

Correct Answer:D,vagina

vagina

Correct Answer:E,uterus

uterus

Q5.
What does fertilisation produce?
An image in a quiz
ovules
Correct answer: zygote
egg
ova
foetus
Q6.
Put these in order of development.
1 - egg cell
2 - zygote
3 - embryo
4 - foetus
5 - baby

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What are the effects of FSH?
It causes menstruation.
Correct answer: It causes the ovaries to secrete oestrogen.
Correct answer: It causes the follicle containing an egg to mature.
It causes progesterone to be released.
It causes the uterus lining to thicken.
Q2.
Put these steps of the menstrual cycle in the correct order.
1 - uterus lining breaks down and menstruation takes place
2 - uterus lining reforms and thickens
3 - ovulation
4 - uterus lining continues to thicken as egg travels down the fallopian tube
5 - uterus lining is maintained ready for a fertilised egg
Q3.
Which hormone causes ovulation to take place?
Correct Answer: LH, luteinising hormone
Q4.
Which hormones cause the mature follicle to break down and secrete progesterone?
LH and oestrogen
FSH and oestrogen
Oestrogen and progesterone
Correct answer: LH and FSH
Progesterone and FSH
Q5.
A fall in which hormone triggers menstruation?
Correct Answer: Progesterone
Q6.
Order the steps.
An image in a quiz
1 - FSH is released from the pituitary gland and travels to the ovaries.
2 - A follicle matures and oestrogen is released.
3 - Oestrogen causes uterus lining to thicken, LH to be released and inhibits FSH.
4 - LH causes ovulation.
5 - FSH and LH cause the mature follicle to break down and secrete progesterone.
6 - Progesterone maintains uterus lining and prevents the secretion of FSH and LH.
Q6 Dee-sign/Shutterstock