A sex steroid  functions for endometrial development (inner membrane of the uterus) and ovulation.

• Synthesized primarily by the ovary but secondarily by adipocytes (fat cells)
• Most estrogen is bound to sex hormond-binding globulin (SHBG), little is free/"active".
• GnrH  stimulates LH/FSH which stimulates the production of estrogen in the ovary.

Estrogen is produced primarily in the ovary. The second source are adipocytes.

MOst estrogen is also bound to SHBG, little is free.

GnRH stimulates LH/FSH which stimulates production of estrogen in the ovary.

Nerve impulses stimulate certain glands in the endocrine system to release hormones.

• The nervous system can override normal endocrine controls.
• Ex: Control of blood glucose levels. Normally the endocrine system maintains blood glucose levels. Under stress, however, the body needs from glucose so the hypothalamus and the sympathetic nervous system are activated to supply ample glucose.

• Mutations in the glucocorticoid, androgen, thyroid hormone, and vitamin D receptors have been identified.
• These mutations cause  physiological problems due to problems with either:
• Ability to make hormone (non-receptor mutation)
• Ability of hormone to bind to receptor.
• Ability of HR complex to adequately interact with the Hormone Response Element (HRE) in promoter region of of regulated genes (recruit coregulatory proteins such as corepressors or coactivators to the promoter region of regulated regions). 
• No mutatiosn for the estrogen receptor have been reported, suggeting that a mutation it in would be letha, perhaps by effecting embryo implantation.

Genomic nucleur receptor. Function is to activate trsancription and the modulation of estrogen target gene expression. A slow process.

• Estrogen Receptor-α has genomic effects on the epiphyses of long bone.

1. When appropriately stimulate, hypothalamic neurons secrete releasing and inhibiting hormones into the primary capillary plexus.
2. Hypothalamic hormones travel through the portal veins to the anterior pituitary where they either stimulate or inhibit the release of hormones from the gland.
3. Anterior pituitar hormones are then secreted into the secondary capillary plexus.

A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland under the stimulation of GnRH. 

In females a rise of LH triggers ovulation and development of the corpus luteum.

In males it stimulates the production of testosterone.

Functions with the hormone FSH.

A hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland under the stimulation of GnRH.

In both males and females FSH stimulates the maturation of germ cells (sperm & eggs respectively)

A hormone synthesized and released from neurons within the hypothalamus.

It stimulates the release of LH and FSH.

A protein that binds to sex hormones, specifically testosteron. Most sex hormones are bound to SHBG's.

Produced mostly by the liver but also by the brain, uterus, testes, adn plancenta.

Manufactured and secreted in the anterior pituitary gland.

Produced from a magnocellular neruon.

The adrenal cortex produces androstenedione which can be coverted into either testosterone (using 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme) or estrogen (using aromatase enzyme)  in the skin, muscle, adipose tissue, and bone.

• Peripheral conversion of androstendione from the adrenal cortex into estrogen takes place in many tissues including: skin, muscle, adipose tissue, and bone.
• Production of adrenal androstenedione is governed by ACTH
• Production of gonadal androstenedione is governed by gonadotropins (LH, FSH)