AQA · GCSE · Biology

    Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

    (HT only) Students should be able to explain the interactions of FSH,…

    Full specification wording

    Hormones in human reproduction: (HT only) Students should be able to explain the interactions of FSH, oestrogen, LH and progesterone, in the control of the menstrual cycle.

    The menstrual cycle is controlled by a sequence of hormonal interactions involving negative and positive feedback.

    Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 9 of 10
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    The menstrual cycle is controlled by a sequence of hormonal interactions involving negative and positive feedback. FSH from the pituitary gland stimulates an egg to mature and also stimulates the ovary to secrete oestrogen. Rising oestrogen thickens the uterus lining and, at high concentration, stimulates the pituitary gland to release a surge of LH. This LH surge triggers ovulation. After ovulation, the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which maintains the uterus lining and inhibits FSH and LH release so that no further eggs mature during that cycle. If fertilisation does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates, progesterone falls, and the pituitary can secrete FSH again, restarting the cycle. Explaining these interactions means linking each hormone to the next in a cause-and-effect chain and identifying where feedback inhibits or stimulates secretion.

    What earns the marks

    • Explain that FSH stimulates the ovary to produce oestrogen as well as maturing the egg.
    • Explain that high oestrogen levels stimulate an LH surge from the pituitary gland.
    • Explain that LH triggers ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum.
    • Explain that progesterone from the corpus luteum maintains the uterus lining and inhibits FSH and LH secretion.
    • Explain that falling progesterone when no fertilisation occurs allows FSH to rise and restart the cycle.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Describing the hormones as acting independently.

      Put it right by showing cause-and-effect links, such as FSH causing oestrogen secretion.

    • Omitting feedback control; correct this by stating that progesterone inhibits FSH and LH, and that high oestrogen stimulates LH.

    • Confusing positive and negative feedback.

      Put it right by explaining that oestrogen stimulates LH release while progesterone inhibits FSH and LH release.

    Exam tips

    • Use arrows or a flow diagram in your answer to make the sequence of interactions clear.
    • Name the gland or organ that responds at each step, such as the pituitary gland or ovary.
    • Include the word inhibits when describing how progesterone prevents further eggs maturing in the same cycle.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Hormones in human reproduction: (HT only) Students should be able to explain the interactions of FSH, oestrogen, LH and progesterone, in the control of the menstrual cycle. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    During the menstrual cycle, how does an increasing concentration of oestrogen affect the release of other hormones from the pituitary gland?

    Listen

    The menstrual cycle is controlled by a sequence of hormonal interactions involving negative and positive feedback. FSH from the pituitary gland stimulates an egg to mature and also stimulates the ovary to secrete oestrogen. Rising oestrogen thickens the uterus lining and, at high concentration, stimulates the pituitary gland to release a surge of LH. This LH surge triggers ovulation. After ovulation, the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which maintains the uterus lining and inhibits FSH and LH release so that no further eggs mature during that cycle. If fertilisation does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates, progesterone falls, and the pituitary can secrete FSH again, restarting the cycle. Explaining these interactions means linking each hormone to the next in a cause-and-effect chain and identifying where feedback inhibits or stimulates secretion. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain that FSH stimulates the ovary to produce oestrogen as well as maturing the egg. Explain that high oestrogen levels stimulate an LH surge from the pituitary gland. Explain that LH triggers ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum. Explain that progesterone from the corpus luteum maintains the uterus lining and inhibits FSH and LH secretion. A common slip: Describing the hormones as acting independently. Instead, showing cause-and-effect links, such as FSH causing oestrogen secretion. Exam tip: Use arrows or a flow diagram in your answer to make the sequence of interactions clear.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. FSH from the pituitary gland leads to two outcomes: the egg matures, and the ovary secretes oestrogen. Oestrogen leads to the uterus lining thickening, and high oestrogen stimulates the pituitary gland. That stimulation produces an LH surge, which triggers ovulation. Ovulation leads to the corpus luteum secreting progesterone. Progesterone maintains the uterus lining and inhibits FSH and LH. When no fertilisation occurs, the corpus luteum degenerates and progesterone falls, which leads back to FSH from the pituitary gland, restarting the cycle.
    This shows the cause-and-effect chain of FSH, oestrogen, LH and progesterone in the menstrual cycle, including where progesterone inhibits FSH and LH and how falling progesterone restarts the cycle.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Feedback control

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Hormonal interactions

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Cause and effect

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Cycle regulation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Feedback control
    Where feedback inhibits or stimulates secretion, such as progesterone inhibiting FSH and LH and high oestrogen stimulating LH.
    Hormonal interactions
    The sequence of hormonal interactions in which each hormone is linked to the next in a cause-and-effect chain.
    Cause and effect
    Linking each hormone to the next, such as FSH causing oestrogen secretion, rather than describing the hormones as acting independently.
    Cycle regulation
    Progesterone provides negative feedback on FSH and LH, and falling progesterone when no fertilisation occurs allows FSH to rise and restart the cycle.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. FSH from the pituitary gland leads to two outcomes: the egg matures, and the ovary secretes oestrogen. Oestrogen leads to the uterus lining thickening, and high oestrogen stimulates the pituitary gland. That stimulation produces an LH surge, which triggers ovulation. Ovulation leads to the corpus luteum secreting progesterone. Progesterone maintains the uterus lining and inhibits FSH and LH. When no fertilisation occurs, the corpus luteum degenerates and progesterone falls, which leads back to FSH from the pituitary gland, restarting the cycle.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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