A doctor measured the concentrations of two hormones in a woman's blood on two days of one menstrual cycle. The doctor also recorded whether a follicle was maturing in her ovaries.
| Day of cycle | Progesterone concentration (ng/mL) | FSH concentration (IU/L) | Follicle development |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 0.6 | 6.2 | A follicle containing an egg was maturing |
| 21 | 12.4 | 2.1 | No new follicle was maturing |
The egg released during this cycle was not fertilised. Her progesterone concentration falls between day 21 and day 28.
Predict how her FSH concentration and follicle development will change as her progesterone concentration falls.
Use the data and your knowledge of hormones to explain your prediction.
84 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Biology 3.2 Coordination and control – the endocrine system, covering 3.2.1 Principles of hormonal coordination and control, 3.2.2 Roles of thyroxine and adrenaline, 3.2.3 Hormones in human reproduction, 3.2.4 Interactions of reproductive hormones, 3.2.5 Hormones in contraception, 3.2.6 Hormones in reproductive technologies, 3.2.7 Plant hormones in growth and coordination, 3.2.8 Effects of plant hormones, and 3.2.9 Uses of plant hormones. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.