Biology 12

202 MHR • Unit 2 Homeostasis

SECTION REVIEW

1. Describe the difference between the primary
   and secondary sex characteristics in males and
   females.


2. Define the term “sex hormone.”


3. Identify the organs that produce sex hormones
   in males and females. List the hormones produced
   by each structure.


4. Use Appendix 4 to compare spermatogenesis
   to oogenesis. Identify reasons for the difference in
   cell size between a mature sperm cell and a mature
   egg cell.


5. Describe the role of the adrenal cortex in
   prompting the development of secondary sex
   characteristics in males.


6. Describe the difference between hormones
   produced prior to the onset of puberty and after
   puberty in males and females.


7. Some women suffer from the painful disorder
   endometriosis, which is a condition in which some

of the endometrium is found outside the uterus,

trapped during menstruation. One treatment for

this condition is hormone therapy. Explain how

testosterone can affect the natural cycle of hormones

and help this condition.

8. Describe how the hypothalamus and pituitary
   gland regulate the changes that occur in the female
   reproductive system during a typical menstrual cycle.


9. Describe how female sex hormones prepare the
   reproductive system for a possible pregnancy during
   a normal menstrual cycle.


10. While osteoporosis is a bone disease that can
    afflict both males and females, it is generally
    associated with post-menopausal women. Research
    how hormones are sometimes used to help prevent
    the onset of osteoporosis. Identify the criteria used to
    develop treatment protocols for patients diagnosed
    with this problem. If possible, research the
    occurrence of osteoporosis in your family.

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THINKING LAB

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Background

For many years, estrogen has been the preferred form of

medication for hormone replacement therapy. However,

estrogen is a potent medication that has been associated

with increased risk of adverse reactions and various forms

of cancer and other health problems.

You Try It

Compare the effectiveness of two types of drugs used in

hormone replacement therapy, a treatment program

designed to alleviate post-menopausal symptoms in women.

In the search for a safer alternative to estrogen,

pharmaceutical companies recently developed a new

class of prescription medications referred to as “Selective

Estrogen Receptor Modulators,” or SERMs. Two examples

of these medications are “tamoxifen” and “raloxifene.”

Find out more about how estrogen and SERMs are used in

hormone replacement therapy by researching sources on

the Internet (see the McGraw-Hill Biology 12 web site for

specific web site references). Then answer the following

questions about these two medications.

1.Describe the physiological action of SERMs on cells

and tissues.

2.Why are SERMs referred to as “estrogen antagonists”?

3.Make a chart in your notebook similar to the one below

and compare the health benefits and risks associated

with estrogen and SERMs.

4.Based upon your analysis, is it possible to claim that

one of these medications is safer than the other?

5.If you were a doctor who was developing a hormone

replacement program for a post-menopausal patient,

would you prescribe estrogen, a SERM, or, perhaps,

some combination of both medications? What criteria

would you use to decide which drugs to use for an

individual patient?

Effectivness

Side effects Estrogen SERMs

Symptoms of Menopause

Bone Density

Uterine Cancer Risk

Breast Cancer Risk

Heart Disease Risk

Other Side Effects

Comparing effectiveness and side effects of estrogen

and SERM medications

Post-Menopausal Medication