Unit 4 - Key Terms

Question 1

The time from conception to birth.

Answer 1

prenatal (pree-NAY-tul) period

Question 2

Chemical substances secreted by the endocrine glands into the bloodstream.

Answer 2

hormones

Question 3

A hormone secreted by the testes in the male (and also present at lower levels in the female).

Answer 3

testosterone

Question 4

A group of sex hormones, one of which is testosterone.

Answer 4

androgens

Question 5

A group of sex hormones one of which is estradiol.

Answer 5

estrogens (ESS-troh-jens)

Question 6

A “female” sex hormone secreted by the ovaries.

Answer 6

progesterone (pro-JES-tur-ohn)

Question 7

A small endocrine gland located on the lower side of the brain below the hypothalamus; the pituitary is important in regulating levels of sex hormones.

Answer 7

pituitary (pih-TOO-ih-tair-ee) gland

Question 8

A small region of the brain that is important in regulating many body functions, including the functioning of the sex hormones.

Answer 8

hypothalamus (hy-poh-THAL-ah-mus)

Question 9

A hormone secreted by the pituitary; it stimulates follicle development in females and sperm production in males.

Answer 9

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Question 10

A hormone secreted by the pituitary; it regulates estrogen secretion and ovum development in the female and testosterone production in the male.

Answer 10

luteinizing hormone (LH)

Question 11

A hormone secreted by the hypothalamus that regulates the pituitary’s secretion of gonad-stimulating hormones.

Answer 11

gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Question 12

Hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad axis, the negative feedback loop that regulates sex hormone production.

Answer 12

HPG axis

Question 13

A substance secreted by the testes and ovaries that regulates FSH levels.

Answer 13

inhibin

Question 14

The first phase of the menstrual cycle, beginning just after menstruation, during which an egg matures in preparation for ovulation.

Answer 14

follicular (fuh-LIK-you-lur) phase

Question 15

Chemicals found in the environment that affect the endocrine system and cause adverse effects on animals, including humans.

Answer 15

endocrine disrupters

Question 16

Release of an egg from the ovaries; the second phase of the menstrual cycle.

Answer 16

ovulation

Question 17

The third phase of the menstrual cycle, following ovulation.

Answer 17

luteal (LOO-tee-uhl) phase

Question 18

The mass of cells of the follicle remaining after ovulation; it secretes progesterone.

Answer 18

corpus luteum

Question 19

The fourth phase of the menstrual cycle, during which the endometrium of the uterus is sloughed off in the menstrual discharge.

Answer 19

menstruation

Question 20

Painful menstruation.

Answer 20

dysmenorrhea (dis-men-oh-REE-uh)

Question 21

Chemicals secreted by the uterus that cause the uterine muscles to contract; they are a likely cause of painful menstruation.

Answer 21

prostaglandins

Question 22

A condition in which the endometrium grows abnormally outside the uterus; the symptom is unusually painful periods with excessive bleeding.

Answer 22

endometriosis

Question 23

The absence of menstruation.

Answer 23

amenorrhea

Question 24

A gene on the Y chromosome that causes testes to differentiate prenatally.

Answer 24

sex-determining region, Y chromosome (SRY)

Question 25

Ducts found in both male and female fetuses; in males they degenerate and in females they develop into the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the upper part of the vagina.

Answer 25

Müllerian ducts

Question 26

Ducts found in both male and female fetuses; in females they degenerate and in males they develop into the epididymis, the vas deferens, and the ejaculatory duct.

Answer 26

Wolffian ducts

Question 27

Undescended testes; the condition in which the testes do not descend to the scrotum as they should during prenatal development.

Answer 27

cryptorchidism

Question 28

A functional change to DNA that does not alter the genetic code itself, but leads to changes in gene expression. Often, an epigenetic change involves methylation; that is, a methyl group is attached to the base cytosine in the DNA.

Answer 28

epigenetics

Question 29

Organs in the male and female that develop from the same embryonic tissue.

Answer 29

homologous (huh-MOLL-uh-gus) organs

Question 30

Organs in the male and female that have similar functions.

Answer 30

analogous (an-AL-uh-gus) organs

Question 31

A condition in which an individual has a mixture of male and female reproductive structures, so that it is not clear at birth whether the individual is a male or a female; formerly called a pseudohermaphrodite.

Answer 31

intersex

Question 32

A newer term for an intersex condition.

Answer 32

disorder of sexual development (DSD)

Question 33

A condition in which a genetic female produces abnormal levels of testosterone prenatally and therefore has male-appearing genitals at birth.

Answer 33

congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)

Question 34

A genetic condition in which the body is unresponsive to androgens so that a genetic male may be born with a female-appearing body.

Answer 34

androgen-insensitivity syndrome (AIS)

Question 35

The time during which there is sudden enlargement and maturation of the gonads, other genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics, so that the individual becomes capable of reproduction.

Answer 35

puberty

Question 36

First menstruation.

Answer 36

menarche (MEN-ar-key)

Question 37

A protein that is related to the onset of puberty.

Answer 37

leptin

Question 38

A hormone involved in the initiation of pubertal development.

Answer 38

kisspeptin

Question 39

Endocrine glands located just above the kidneys; in the female they are the major producers of androgens.

Answer 39

adrenal (uh-DREE-nul) glands

Question 40

A time of increased secretion of adrenal androgens, usually just before age 8.

Answer 40

adrenarche (AD-ren-ar-key)

Question 41

A combination of severe physical and psychological symptoms, such as depression and irritability, occurring just before menstruation.

Answer 41

premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Question 42

A diagnostic category in the DSM-V, characterized by symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, and irritability in the week before menstruation

Answer 42

premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)