Texas FFA Livestock Judging PracticeTest

The hormone primarily responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics is?

1. Prolactin

2. Estrogen

3. Testosterone

4. Luteinizing hormone

The correct answer is: Estrogen

Estrogen is the hormone primarily responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics. These characteristics include features such as breast development, wider hips, and the regulation of the menstrual cycle, which all occur during puberty and are critical in female sexual development. Estrogen plays a vital role in the growth and maturation of the female reproductive system and supports various functions throughout a female’s life, particularly during puberty and pregnancy. In contrast, the other hormones listed have different primary functions. Prolactin is mainly involved in milk production after childbirth. Testosterone is predominantly known as the male hormone responsible for male secondary sexual characteristics but is also present in females in smaller amounts, influencing muscle mass and bone density. Luteinizing hormone's primary role involves regulating the menstrual cycle and ovulation but is not directly responsible for the characteristics themselves. Thus, the prominent role of estrogen in female sexual development establishes it as the correct answer.