Hormones and Sex

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes on Hormones and Sex.

Men-Are-Men-And-Women-Are-Women Assumption (MAMAWAWA)

An incorrect assumption that femaleness and maleness are discrete, mutually exclusive, opposite categories.

Developmental (Organizational) Effects

Influence the development from conception to sexual maturity of the anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics that distinguish one as female or male.

Activational Effects

Activate reproduction-related behavior in sexually mature adults.

Exocrine glands

Release their chemicals into ducts, which carry them to their targets, mostly on the surface of the body (e.g., sweat glands).

Endocrine glands

Ductless glands that release their chemicals (hormones) directly into the circulatory system.

Gonads

Primary function is the production of sperm cells (testes) and ova (ovaries).

Zygote

A single sperm cell fertilizes an ovum to form a zygote, which contains all information for growth.

Sex chromosomes

Females: XX; Males: XY

Amino acid derivatives

Hormones synthesized in a few simple steps from an amino acid (e.g., epinephrine from tyrosine).

Peptides and proteins

Hormones composed of chains of amino acids (peptides = short; proteins = long).

Steroids

Hormones synthesized from cholesterol; can penetrate cell membranes and directly influence gene expression.

Androgens

A class of sex steroids, examples include testosterone.

Estrogens

A class of sex steroids, examples include estradiol.

Progestins

A class of sex steroids, examples include progesterone; prepares the uterus and breasts for pregnancy in females

Adrenal cortex

Regulation of glucose and salt levels in blood; releases small amounts of all sex steroids released by the gonads

Pituitary Gland

Known as the Master Gland, most of its hormones are tropic hormones (primary function is to influence the release of hormones from other glands)

Gonadotropin

Pituitary tropic hormone that travels through the circulatory system and signals gonads to release sex hormones

Posterior pituitary

Develops from hypothalamic tissue; stores/releases oxytocin and vasopressin.

Anterior pituitary

Develops from embryonic mouth tissue; releases tropic hormones.

Oxytocin

Stimulates uterine contractions and milk ejection; influences social responses.

Vasopressin

Facilitates kidney water reabsorption.

Hypothalamopituitary portal system

A vascular network carrying hypothalamic hormones to the anterior pituitary.

Release-inhibiting hormone

Hormone that inhibits the release of an anterior pituitary hormone

Releasing hormones

Hypothalamic hormone that stimulates the release of an anterior pituitary hormone.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)

Stimulates thyrotropin release.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Stimulates FSH and LH release.

Pulsatile release

Hormones are released in brief surges, causing minute-to-minute fluctuations.

Sexual Dimorphism

The condition where behaviors fall into two distinct classes (male/female), usually applies only to reproduction-related behaviors, prenatal testosterone is a major factor

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

A syndrome caused by a mutation of the androgen receptor gene that renders tissues insensitive to androgenic hormones like testosterone.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

A condition in which individuals lack an enzyme that the adrenal glands need to make cortisol, resulting in excessive androgen production.

Anabolic steroids

Steroids, such as testosterone, that have anabolic (growth-promoting) effects.

Gynecomastia

Breast growth in males, can occur due to aromatization of anabolic steroids to estrogen

Amenorrhea

Cessation of menstruation.

Hirsutism

Excessive growth of body hair.

Cortex

The cortex mediates complex aspects of sexual behavior (e.g., feelings of release, loss of control, altered self-awareness, love).

Sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN)

Located in the medial preoptic area of the rat hypothalamus, it is several times larger in males than in females. It is thought to control male sexual behavior, although other areas of the hypothalamus are also involved

Medial preoptic area (MPOA)

Brain area that plays a key role in male sexual behavior.

Ventromedial nuclei (VMN)

The ventromedial nucleus (VMN) of the hypothalamus contains circuits critical for female sexual behavior.

Fraternal Birth Order Effect

Probability of a male being gay increases 33.3% per older brother.

Gender Identity

The gender a person identifies with (man, woman, transgender, etc.).

Gender dysphoria

Conflict when gender identity does not match anatomical sex.