Psych 241 - Chapter 14

Front 1

adrenal glands

Back 1

Two glands, located above the kidneys, that produce hormones (including the "stress hormones" epinephrine and norepinephrine).

Front 2

circadian rhythm

Back 2

A day-night cycle of biological activity that occurs approximately every 24 hours

Front 3

estradiol

Back 3

A sex hormone, considered the chief estrogen. Females produce much more _________ than males do.

Front 4

gonads

Back 4

The paired sex glands (ovaries in females, testicles in males). The __________ produce hormones and gametes.

Front 5

hormone

Back 5

An organic chemical substance that is produced by one body tissue and conveyed via the bloodstream to another to affect some physiological function.

Front 6

HPA (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal) axis

Back 6

A sequence of hormone production originating in the hypothalamus and moving to the pituitary and then to the adrenal glands.

Front 7

HPG (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad) axis

Back 7

A sequence of hormone production originating in the hypothalamus and moving to the pituitary and then to the gonads.

Front 8

leptin

Back 8

A hormone that affects appetite and is believed to affect the onset of puberty. _________ levels increase during childhood and peak at around age 12.

Front 9

menarche

Back 9

A girl's first menstrual period, signaling that she has begun ovulation. Pregnancy is biologically possible, but ovulation and menstruation are often irregular for years after ____________.

Front 10

pituitary

Back 10

A gland in the brain that responds to a signal from the hypothalamus by producing many hormones, including those that regulate growth and that control other glands, among them the adrenal and sex glands.

Front 11

puberty

Back 11

The time between the first onrush of hormones and full adult physical development. _________ usually lasts three to five years. Many more years are required to achieve psychosocial maturity.

Front 12

secular trend

Back 12

The long-term upward or downward direction of a certain set of statistical measurements, as opposed to a smaller, shorter cyclical variation. As an example, over the last two centuries, because of improved nutrition and medical care, children have tended to reach their adult height earlier and their adult height has increased.

Front 13

spermarche

Back 13

A boy's first ejaculation of sperm. Erections can occur as early as infancy, but ejaculation signals sperm production. _____________ may occur during sleep (in a "wet dream") or via direct stimulation.

Front 14

testosterone

Back 14

A sex hormone, the best known of the androgens (male hormones); secreted in far greater amounts by males than by females.

Front 15

anorexia nervosa

Back 15

An eating disorder characterized by self-starvation. Affected individuals voluntarily undereat and often overexercise, depriving their vital organs of nutrition.____________ can be fatal.

Front 16

body image

Back 16

A person's idea of how his or her body looks.

Front 17

bulimia nervosa

Back 17

An eating disorder characterized by binge eating and subsequent purging, usually by induced vomiting and/or use of laxatives.

Front 18

growth spurt

Back 18

The relatively sudden and rapid physical growth that occurs during puberty. Each body part increases in size on a schedule: Weight usually precedes height, and growth of the limbs precedes growth of the torso.

Front 19

child sexual abuse

Back 19

Any erotic activity that arouses an adult and excites, shames, or confuses a child, whether or not the victim protests and whether or not genital contact is involved.

Front 20

primary sex characteristics

Back 20

The parts of the body that are directly involved in reproduction, including the vagina, uterus, ovaries, testicles, and penis.

Front 21

secondary sex characteristics

Back 21

Physical traits that are not directly involved in reproduction but that indicate sexual maturity, such as a man's beard and a woman's breasts.