Human development

Homeostasis

Maintaining internal balance in the body to keep stable conditions even if the environment changes, also known as "dynamic equilibrium."

Regulation

The process of maintaining homeostasis through the nervous system using nerve signals and the endocrine system using hormones as chemical signals to control body functions.

Hormones

Chemical messages that communicate from one body part to cells in other parts, necessary for coordinating with the whole body and maintaining homeostasis.

Endocrine system

System that releases hormones, consisting of glands that secrete chemical signals into the blood to cause changes in other parts of the body, including growth hormones, sex hormones, response hormones, and metabolism hormones.

Responding to hormones

The lock and key system where hormones fit receptors on "target" cells to initiate a response.

Negative feedback

A response mechanism to bring the body back to normal levels when conditions deviate, turning off the signal once the balance is restored.

Sex and growth hormones

Hormones that induce large-scale body changes by turning on genes and starting new processes in the body.

Reproductive hormones

Testosterone from testes for sperm production and secondary sexual characteristics, and estrogen from ovaries for egg production, preparing the uterus, and secondary sexual characteristics.

Male reproductive system

Involves sperm production in the testes and epididymis, seminal fluid production by glands like seminal vesicles, prostate, and bulbourethral glands, and structures like testicles, scrotum, epididymis, vas deferens for sperm transport.

Female reproductive system

Includes ovaries for egg and hormone production, uterus for nurturing the fetus, fallopian tubes for egg transport, cervix as the opening to the uterus, and vagina as the birth canal.

Menstrual cycle

Controlled by the interaction of hormones like FSH, LH, estrogen, and progesterone, regulating the female reproductive system and leading to menstruation.