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In addition to the uterus and the ovaries, what do the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle (luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone) affect?

(A) The breasts
(B) The pituitary gland
(C) The thyroid gland
(D) All of the above

User Dee Mon
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Final answer:

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) affect the breasts (A) in addition to the uterus and ovaries by stimulating the production of estrogen and progesterone, which are responsible for secondary sexual characteristics in females and preparation of the endometrium for a potential pregnancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

In addition to the uterus and the ovaries, the hormones luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) produced by the pituitary gland primarily regulate the reproductive system. Specifically, the correct answer is A) The breasts. While FSH and LH are intricately involved in the menstrual cycle and ovulation, they are not directly implicated in the function of other endocrine organs like the thyroid gland.

LH and FSH stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is responsible for breast development and other secondary sexual characteristics in females, whereas progesterone assists in the preparation of the endometrium for potential pregnancy. Both hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and have a role in the physiological changes that occur in the breasts. The secretion of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus stimulates the production of LH and FSH in the pituitary gland.

While prolactin (PRL), another hormone produced by the pituitary gland, does directly affect the breasts by stimulating milk production after childbirth, it is not involved in the regulation of the menstrual cycle in the same way as LH and FSH.

User Dypbrg
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