Although affect men and women, testosterone plays a much bigger role in men than women.
Testosterone has many functions ranging from the formation of muscle mass, strengthen bones, up to the maturation of reproductive development and fetal growth.
hypothalamic
Testosterone production begins in the hypothalamus gland located in the brain area. Due to certain stimuli such as se'ual arousal, the body will activate the hypothalamus to secrete a substance called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
Pituitary gland
After GnRH released into the blood stream, the blood vessels that carry the hormone to the pituitary gland.
In the pituitary gland, GnRH activates ability of the pituitary gland to produce gonadotropins are called follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone and put it into the bloodstream.
testis
Once in the bloodstream, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, both traveling to the male testes or the female ovaries.
In the testis, the hormone activates cells called testicular Leydig cells to synthesize cholesterol as a base material forming the hormone testosterone.
Testosterone is then released into the bloodstream to perform tasks that have been set by the hypothalamus.
ovary
In women, a small amount of testosterone produced by the ovaries. In this process, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone activates ovarian thecal cells.
These cells are also capable of synthesizing cholesterol from the body into testosterone.
Adrenal glands
A small amount of testosterone is also produced in the adrenal glands. It can occur in both men and women.
This process is done by activating the cells reticularis zone of the adrenal gland to synthesize cholesterol to testosterone.
