lecture 32

Question 1

how do sex hormones change over a lifespan?

Answer 1

puberty : increase in sex hormones, large increase in testosterone (males) and estrogens (females)

• adult to middle aged: stable hormones
• middle- aged to old: declining hormones, gradual decrease in testosterone and estrogens at menopause

Question 2

where are testosterone and estrogen produced in both females and males?

Answer 2

females testosterone is produced in:

• ovaries
• adrenal gland
• fat cells

Question 3

what are the main secondary sex characteristics in males and females?

Answer 3

males

• voice deepens
• facial, body, pubic hair growth.

females

• breast development
• pubic hair growth

Question 4

what are major changes in bone, muscle and cardiovascular physiology induced by sex hormones at puberty?

Answer 4

puberty causes increase in height.
- bones get longer, wider and denser.

Oestrogens important in bone density.

Females
- loss of estrogens at menopause = bone loss

Males
- testosterone converted to estrogens.
low testosterone= bone loss

Change in body composition and shape. males - increase lean muscle mass
females - increase fat mass

testosterone —> more red blood cells= better transport of O2

estrogen protects from fatty deposits in arteries reducing risk of arteries from becoming blocked.

Question 5

how testosterone can induce athletic performance differences ?

Answer 5

testosterone- helps with red blood cells production therefore can carry more oxygen trough the body and therefore will enhance sport performance

Question 6

understand how doping with androgens disrupts the hypogonadal- pituitary- gonads (HPG) pathways

Answer 6

it gives a supercharged negative feedback back to the GnRH