What earns the marks for Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis in Biology Pearson Edexcel GCSE?

FSH is secreted by the pituitary gland and stimulates maturation of a follicle in the ovary. Oestrogen from the developing follicle repairs and thickens (maintains) the uterus wall. High oestrogen concentration stimulates a surge of LH from the pituitary gland. LH triggers ovulation, the release of the egg from the ovary, at about the middle of the cycle. After ovulation the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which maintains the uterus wall. Progesterone inhibits FSH and LH, preventing further follicles maturing during that cycle.

What mistakes do students make with Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis?

Thinking oestrogen alone causes ovulation. Put it right by stating that the LH surge triggers ovulation, while oestrogen builds the wall and stimulates LH release. Believing progesterone builds up the uterus wall from the start of the cycle. Put it right by explaining that oestrogen repairs the wall first and progesterone maintains it after ovulation. Assuming FSH and LH are made by the ovary. Put it right by stating both are secreted by the pituitary gland, whereas oestrogen and progesterone come from the ovary.

Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · Biology

Course version: 1BI0 · Version from Sept 2016

Explain the interactions of oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH in the…

Full specification wording

Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis: 7.5 Explain the interactions of oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH in the control of the menstrual cycle, including the repair and maintenance of the uterus wall, ovulation and menstruation

The menstrual cycle is a roughly 28-day sequence driven by four hormones interacting by feedback.

Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1BI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on 2 November 2026.

Point 5 of 19

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

The menstrual cycle is a roughly 28-day sequence driven by four hormones interacting by feedback. FSH, released by the pituitary gland, matures a follicle in the ovary and stimulates oestrogen secretion. Rising oestrogen repairs and thickens the uterus wall and, at high concentration, triggers the pituitary to release LH. The LH surge causes ovulation, releasing the egg at about day 14. After ovulation the follicle becomes the corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone; progesterone maintains the uterus wall and inhibits FSH and LH so no new follicle matures. If no fertilisation occurs the corpus luteum breaks down, progesterone falls, the wall is shed as menstruation, and falling progesterone allows FSH to rise again and restart the cycle.

What earns the marks

FSH is secreted by the pituitary gland and stimulates maturation of a follicle in the ovary.
Oestrogen from the developing follicle repairs and thickens (maintains) the uterus wall.
High oestrogen concentration stimulates a surge of LH from the pituitary gland.
LH triggers ovulation, the release of the egg from the ovary, at about the middle of the cycle.
After ovulation the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which maintains the uterus wall.
Progesterone inhibits FSH and LH, preventing further follicles maturing during that cycle.
If no fertilisation occurs, progesterone falls, the uterus wall breaks down and is shed as menstruation, allowing FSH to rise again.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Thinking oestrogen alone causes ovulation.
Put it right by stating that the LH surge triggers ovulation, while oestrogen builds the wall and stimulates LH release.
Believing progesterone builds up the uterus wall from the start of the cycle.
Put it right by explaining that oestrogen repairs the wall first and progesterone maintains it after ovulation.
Assuming FSH and LH are made by the ovary.
Put it right by stating both are secreted by the pituitary gland, whereas oestrogen and progesterone come from the ovary.

Exam tips

Name the gland that secretes each hormone, since questions often award a mark for the source of FSH and LH.
Link each hormone to a named event (wall repair, ovulation, maintenance, menstruation) rather than describing hormones in isolation.
Use the idea of negative feedback to explain why high progesterone stops FSH and LH being released.

Try the lesson

The start of the Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis: 7.5 Explain the interactions of oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH in the control of the menstrual cycle, including the repair and maintenance of the uterus wall, ovulation and menstruation lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

Which hormone causes the uterus lining to thicken and repair after menstruation?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

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