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GCSE Biology · key term
A hormone released by the pituitary gland that stimulates the release of a mature egg from an ovary.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.5.3.4, 4.5.3.6 · Paper 2
A pituitary hormone whose surge stimulates the release of an egg from an ovary.
Revise: The Menstrual Cycle and Hormonal ControlLH stimulates the release of the mature egg. This is ovulation.
A hormone that stimulates the release of an egg from an ovary.
Specification 7.8 · Paper 2
Revise: Assisted Reproductive TechnologyTwo pituitary hormones are especially important here: FSH stimulates an egg to mature in a follicle in an ovary, while LH stimulates the mature egg to be released. This release is called ovulation.
Specification B3.2d · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher)
A hormone released by the pituitary gland whose surge triggers ovulation and stimulates formation of the corpus luteum.
Revise: Interactions of menstrual hormonesAs its level rises, it inhibits FSH release, reducing the chance that more follicles will begin maturing. However, when oestrogen reaches a sufficiently high level, it stimulates a rapid release of luteinising hormone (LH). This produces the sharp LH surge seen on hormone graphs.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
A hormone released by the pituitary gland that causes a mature follicle to release its egg.
Revise: Hormone InteractionsFSH and LH come from the pituitary gland; oestrogen and progesterone are produced in the ovaries. What matters is not just what each hormone does, but how one hormone changes the release of another.
On a hormone graph, identify the hormone from the shape and timing of its peak: the sharp LH surge occurs at about ovulation, whereas progesterone rises mainly after ovulation.
When explaining hormonal control, use linked statements such as “FSH stimulates…”, “oestrogen inhibits…” and “LH triggers…”. Simply listing the four hormone functions does not explain their interactions.
Do not call clomifene a hormone. It is a fertility drug that causes the pituitary gland to release more FSH and LH.
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