Master the Biology Bash: 2025 MCAT Biological Systems Practice Challenge!

Luteinizing hormone (LH) plays a crucial role in the female reproductive system, and its primary function is to trigger ovulation. During the menstrual cycle, a surge in LH levels occurs mid-cycle, which leads to the release of an ovum from the ovary. This process, known as ovulation, is a key event that allows for potential fertilization and conception.

In addition to its role in ovulation, LH also stimulates the formation of the corpus luteum after the ovum has been released, which is essential for the production of progesterone. Progesterone helps to prepare the uterine lining for a possible pregnancy.

The other provided options do not pertain directly to the primary functions of LH in females. Testosterone production is primarily stimulated by luteinizing hormone in males, while blood sugar regulation is mainly influenced by hormones like insulin and glucagon. Muscle growth is associated with hormones like testosterone and growth hormone, rather than LH. Thus, the association of LH with the triggering of ovulation underscores its critical role in female fertility.