3.1 Puberty and Menopause

Question 1

What is thelarche?

Answer 1

Development of the breast

Question 2

What is puberarche?

Answer 2

Development of axillary and pubic hair

Question 3

What is menarche?

Answer 3

First period

Question 4

What is adrenarche?

Answer 4

Increase of a secretion of androgens

Question 5

What is puberty?

Answer 5

Stage of human development where sexual maturation and growth occurs. Results in the ability to reproduce

Question 6

What initiates puberty?

Answer 6

Rise in GnRH from the hypothalamus and a subsequent rise in LH and FSH

Question 7

Why do men grow more than women?

Answer 7

Growth spurt is longer and faster

Question 8

What ends the pubertal growth spurt?

Answer 8

Fusion of the epiphyseal plates

Question 9

What is the critical weight for menarche?

Answer 9

47kg

Question 10

What effects does growth hormone have on the body?

Answer 10

Increases insulin

Increases IGF-1 from the liver for somatic growth

Question 11

Give some pubertal changes that occur in males

Answer 11

Spermatogenesis
Growth of accessory sex structures (prostate)
Secondary sex characteristics (facial hair, growth of larynx)
Increased metabolic rate
Increased tissue growth
Secrete androgens

Question 12

Give some pubertal changes that occur in females

Answer 12

Growth of pelvis
Deposition of subcutaneous fat
Growth of external genitalia 
Growth of internal reproductive organs
Lowered voice
Increased metabolic rate
Growth of pubic and axillary hair

Question 13

How can puberty be staged?

Answer 13

Tanner standard

Question 14

Why may the first menstrual cycle not cause ovulation?

Answer 14

Initial LH surge is not high enough

Question 15

What is precocious puberty?

Answer 15

Puberty occurring younger than 2 standard deviations below the average age. Girls

Question 16

Give 2 causes of gonadotrophic dependent precocious puberty?

Answer 16

CNS damage
Arachnoid cysts
Hydrocephalus

Question 17

Give 2 causes of gonadotrophic independent precocious puberty?

Answer 17

Precocious pseudo-puberty
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Testotoxicosis
Exogenous oestrogen exposure

Question 18

What is delayed puberty?

Answer 18

Initial physical changes of puberty are not present by >13 years in girls and >14 years in boys
OR
Interval in initial signs (menarche) and complete genital growth is >5 years

Question 19

What is Turner’s Syndrome?

Answer 19

(45, X)

No gonads, short, dysmorphic face, kidney malformation

Question 20

Give 2 ways puberty can become delayed

Answer 20

Failure of the gonads

Deficiency of the gonads

Question 21

What happens in pre-menopausal women?

Answer 21

Follicular phase shortens
Ovulation is early or absent
Reduced fertility

Question 22

What is the clinical definition of menopause?

Answer 22

12 months with no menstrual bleeding

Question 23

What hormonal changes are seen after the menopause?

Answer 23

Oestrogen decreases dramatically
No inhibin produced
LH rises
FSH rises dramatically

Question 24

What physical symptoms may occur in a post-menopausal woman (related to the menopause)?

Answer 24

Hot flushes 
Urinary incontinence
Osteoporosis
Involution of breast tissue
Thinning of cervix