Final answer:
The hormones secreted by the corpus luteum are both estrogen and progesterone. The corpus luteum is important in the female reproductive cycle for the production of these hormones, which help prepare the endometrium for potential pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hormones secreted by the corpus luteum are progesterone and estrogen. The corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine structure in female ovaries that is involved in the production of relatively high levels of progesterone, moderate levels of estrogen, and inhibin A. This occurs after ovulation and lasts until either pregnancy occurs or it degenerates, usually about two weeks into the menstrual cycle.
Answering the original question, it is both estrogen and progesterone that are secreted by the corpus luteum, making the correct answer to the question (c) Both a and b.
As for the regulation of the female reproductive cycle, the following statements are correct:
- LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) are produced by the pituitary gland.
- Estradiol and progesterone are produced in the ovaries, specifically by the corpus luteum and the follicles.
- The secretion of these hormones causes the endometrium to thicken, preparing it for the possibility of pregnancy.
It is also important to note the role of the hypothalamus. Secretion of GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone) is actually inhibited by high levels of estrogen, contrary to a false statement that might suggest otherwise.