20. Puberty Disorders of Development Flashcards
Menstrual cycle occurs with the maturation of what _______.
Hypothalamic - pituitary - ovarian axis
[Arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus] => __________ => [AP] => ____________ => acts on ________.
[Arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus] => GnRH => [AP] => LH/FSH => acts on theca cells/ granulosa cells .
FSH and LH are stored in what cells?
Gonadotrophs in the AP.
LH => _____ cells => releases _____
- LH => theca cells => androgens (androstenedione and testosterone)
FSH => ______ cells => releases _____
FSH => granulosa cells => converts androgens to estrogens (estrone = E1 and estradiol = E2)
Phases of the NL Ovarian Cycle
-What phases of the endometrium do they respond to?-
-
Follicular phase: [1st day of menstruation => preovulatory stage of LH surge]
- Corresponds to: menstrual and proliferative phase of endometrium
-
Luteal phase: [preovulatory stage of LH surge => 1st day of menstruation]
- Corresponds to: secretory phase of the endometrium
Describe the Ovarian Cycle
[1st day of period => pre-ovulatory stage of the LH surge]
- If conception does NOT occur, levels of progesterone/estradiol decrease as the corpus luteum from the previous cycle regresses.
- Initiates increase in FSH to cause follicles to grow: => granulosa cells => increase estrogens (estron/estradiol) => Large # of large antral follicle grows :)
- As follicle grows, increase estrogen negatively feedbacks and tells AP to decrease FSH secretion => all but ONE of the developing follicles will stop growing and die off
- Follicle with most FSH receptors becomes the dominant follicle that will secrete estrogen.
- Increase estrogren from dominant follicle will become more responsive to pulsatile action of GnRH
- Estrogen from dominant follicle become a positive feedback => Increases the amount of FSH/LH (LH surge) release from hypothalamus 1-2 days before ovulation => meitotic maturation, ovulation and luteinization.
- Corpus luteum produces high [progesterone and estradiol]
- High progesterone and estradoil negatively feedback on LH/FSH, to return to baseline levels
- If ovulation does not occur (hCG does not increase), CL will regress.
_____ enhances the hypothalamic release of GnRH and induce the midcycle LH surge.
Estradiol
_____ have an inhibitory effect on GnRH release.
Gonadotropins
When are estradiol levels low and when do they begin to rise?
- Low = early follicular development
- Rise = 1 week before ovulation bc will cause LH surge
Course of estrogen: when does it peak, what occurs after and during luteal plase?
- Estrogen peaks 1 day before LH surge.
- After peak and before ovulation => marked fall
- During luteal phase => estradiol rises to a max 5-7 days after ovulation d/t release from CL => returns to BL before menstruation.
Describe levels of progesterone during the ovarian cycle.
- Follicular phase: ovary secretes SMALL amounts. The bulk of it mainly comes from peripheral conversion.
- Before ovulation: Unruptured luteinzing graafian follicle begins to secrete increasing amounts of progresterone
- CL: secretes progesterone, which reaches max 5-7 days AFTER ovulation and returns to BL before menstruation.
What is the outcome of a mature graafian follicle (made from primordial follicle) ?
- Innermost 3-4 layers of granulosa cells become cuboidal and form cumulus oophorus.
- Fluid filled antrum forms amount granulosa cells => enlarges and pushes primary oocyte to wall.
- Innermost layer of granulosa cells of cumulus oophorus become elongated and form corona radiata.
- Ruptures => releases ovum + corona radiata
- Luteinization produces corpus luteum.
How does the LH surge result in ovulation?
- Degenerates cells on the wall of the follicle => forming a stigma.
- BM of follicle then bulges through stigma => ruptures => oocyte is expelled => ovulation.
What happens to the follicle AFTER ovulation?
- Granulosa cells under luteinization => luteinizing granulosa cells, theca cells, CT and capillaries => corpus leutum (lives 9-10 days).
What happens to the corpus luteum if pregnancy does NOT occur?
Menses happens and CL is replaced by avascular scar (corpus albicans)
Zones of the endometrium
- Outer portion = functionalis
- Contains spiral arteries and undergoes cyclic changes, sloughing off during menstruation
- Inner portion = basalis
- Contains basal arteries and stem cells to renew endometrium; remains unchanged
Phases of the Endometrial Cycle
*which is the only phase seen visually*
- Menstrual phase (sloughing) *****
- Proliferative/estrogenic phase (grows)
- Secretory/progestational phase
Endometrial lining of a post-menopausal women should be HOW thick?
Less than 4mm
Describe the menstrual phase of the endometrial cycle
-
Begins at Cycle Day 1 = first day of menstruation
- Conception did not occur by day 23 => CL regresses and progesterone/estradoil decline.
- Cycle day 1: Functionalis layer sloughs off and compression of basalis layer: disruption of endometrial glands, stroma, leukocytes infiltrate and RBC extravasation
What hormones stimulates the proliferative phase of the endometrial cycle?
Estrogen => increase length of spiral arteries and mitosis
What hormone stimulates the secretory phase of the endometrial cycle?
How are the glands, stroma and mitosis affected?
-
After ovulation, CL releases progesterone => + secretory phase (stimulates glandular cells to secrete mucus, glycogen and substances)
- Glands= tortous
- Stroma = edematous
- Mitosis = rare
- Endometrial lining reaches MAX thickness
When must conception occur by, otherwise CL will regress and endometrium will undergo involution?
Day 23
What occurs in the secretory phase that prepares the endometrium for menstrauation?
- Conception did not occur by 23 => endometrium undergoes involution
- 1 day before => spiral arteries are constrictioned => endometrium undergoes ischemia and necrosis
What is IMPORTANT in regulation menstruation and why?
Intact coagulation pathway because with NL hemostasis, injured vesses are repaired quicky.
What is responsible for causing atresia of all but 1 follicle during the follicular phase - leading to selection of the dominant follicle; what does the dominant follicle produce?
- ↓ FSH levels progressively cause atresia of all but 1 follicle
- The dominant follicle produces high levels of estradiol
Diagnosis of menopause is made by looking at levels of what?
↑ FSH: since ovary is no longer receptive to FSH, there is no negative feedback on the AP
Menopause = ↑ FSH bc no (-) feedback
- What is the median age of menarche (onset of period)?
- When when does it occur in respect to Thelarche?
- 12.43 years
- 2-3 AFTER thelarche (breast budding) at Tanner stage IV.
Define primary amernorrhea.
- No menstruation by 13 y/o WITHOUT secondary sexual development.
OR
- No menstruation by 15 y/o WITH secondary sexual characteristics
What is the length of most normal menstrual cycles during the first gynecologic year and how does this change as more cycles occur?
- Often irregular in adolescents, most normal cycles range from 21-45 days
- By the 3rd year after menarche => cycles are 21-35 days
- What is the mean blood loss per menstrual period?
- How much loss is associated with anemia
- What is a normal and abnormal amount of pad changes per day?
- Mean blood loss is 30cc; changing pads/tampons 3-6x per day
- Anemia = >80cc; changing pad q 1-2 hrs is considered excessive
How does obesity vs. a malnourished adolescent affect the onset of puberty?
- Obese children have earlier onset of puberty
- Malnourished, chronically ill w/ weight loss will have later onset
What is the invariant mean weight an adolescent needs to be or above to start menarche?
48 kg (106 lbs.)
Low levels of gonadotropin and sex steroids BEFORE puberty are due to what?
- Low estradiol (-) feedbacks gondastat (relates gonadotropin release)
- CNS inhibit secretion of GnRH
What are the initial endocrine changes assoc. w/ puberty?
- Production of adrenal androgen/sex steroids (DHEA, DHEA-S, and androstenedione) production
- Differentiation of the zona reticularis of the adenal cortex
- ====> Growth of axillary and pubic hair (adrenarche or pubarche)
Once puberty begins, what changes do we see in GnRH release?
Loss of CNS inhibition of GnRH release => released in pulsatile manner
Which hormones are required for thelarche (breast development) vs. pubarche/andrenarche (pubic/axillary hair developement)?
- Thelarche requires estrogen
- Pubarche/adrenarche requires androgens
What is the 1st physical sign of puberty and what is common in first 6 months?
-
Thelarche = breast development
- unilateral breast development “one boob is growing bigger than the other”
What 4 factors does mecharche require?
- [Pulsatile GnRH] from hypothalamus
- [FSH/LH] from AP
- [Estrogen and progesterone] from ovaries
- NL outflow tract
What are the stages of normal pubertal development from earliest to latest?
*** TAG ME ***
- Thelarche
- Adrenarche
- Peak Growth/height velocity
- Menarche
- Mature sexual hair and breasts
*** TAG ME ***
Briefly describe the 5 Tanner stages of breast development.
- Stage 1: preadolescent elevation of papilla only
- Stage 2: breast bud stage; small mound w/ enlargement of areolar region
- Stage 3: more enlargement of breast + areola w/o separation of their contours
- Stage 4: [secondary mound] = projection of areola and papilla
- Stage 5: mature stage; projection of papilla only, recession of areola to general contour of breast
Briefly describe the 5 Tanner stages of pubic hair development.
- Stage 1: NO pubic hair
- Stage 2: Sparse, lightly pigmented hair along labia
- Stage 3: hair spreads sparsely over jct. of pubes; hair is darker + coarser
- Stage 4: adult-type hair, there is no spread to medial thigh
- Stage 5: spread to medial thighs assuming inverted triangle pattern
What is precious puberty and who is it more common in?
- Development of secondary sex characteristics at an age 2.5 SD earlier than expected age of puberty.
- F
What are the 2 major subgroups of precocious puberty?
- Heterosexual precious puberty: development of OPPOSITE secondary sex characteristics –> virilizing neoplasms, CAH, exposure to exogenous androgens
- Isosexual: premature sexual maturation that is APPROPRIATE for the phenotype of the affected individual –> constituional/organic brain disease
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
What type of precious puberty can it lead to?
And which type is less severe and occurs later, in adolescents?
- CAH defect in 21-hydroxylase => make excessive androgens
- Heterosexual precocious puberty
- Types
- Classical = most severe and causes birth of F w/ ambigous genitalia
- Nonclassical (late onset adrenal hyperplasia) => premature pubarche and an adult disorder the resembles PCOS
Which test can be administered clinically to diagnose true isosexual precocious puberty; what are you looking for?
- Give exogenous GnRH (stimulation test)
- See if ↑ in LH levels consistent w/ older girls who are undergoing normal puberty