Chapter 9
This week in lab, students begin looking at reproductive physiology. Students look at simulated experiments discussing the importance of injected hormones such as testosterone, thyroxine, and cortisol, and their effects on the reproductive organs of rats.
We also discuss various types of birth control including: hormonal, barrier, rhythm/natural, and surgical.
In order to observe the effects of these hormonal changes, students analyze "rat" cards, control "rats" and "rats" with added hormones. After careful observation of the differences between the rats, students then turn to examining the human hormonal feedback system in females. Following that students turn to endocrinology in general, examining the relationship between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland as well as the hormonal response to stress. Finally, each group will investigate one common form of birth control before presenting their findings to the rest of the lab.
Topics to Review Before Lab:
- Sex differentiation (hormonal)
- Sex hormones feedback system
- Male and female anatomy
- Spermatogenesis
- Oogenesis
- Follicle development
- Hormonal control of the ovarian cycle
- Uterine and ovarian phases