Basics of Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
What are the main female reproductive hormones?
Gonadotrophin releasing hormone Follicle stimulating hormone Luteinizing hormone Oestradiol Progesterone
What is the role of gonadtrophin releasing hormone in the female reproductive system?
Released from hypothalamus, to stimulate release of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary
What is the role of oestradiol in the female reproductive system?
Released from granulosa cells
Supports female secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive organs
Supports negative feedback control of LH and GnRH except for late follicular phase - positive control of LH surge.
Stimulates proliferative endometrium and negative control of FSH
What is the role of follicle stimulating hormone in the female reproductive system?
Released from anterior pituitary gland, stimulates follicular recruitment and development
What is the role of luteinizing hormone in the female reproductive system?
Released from anterior pituitary
Maintains a dominant follicle
Induces follicular maturation and ovulation
Stimulates corpus luteum function
What is the role of progesterone in the female reproductive system?
Released from corpus luteum, maintenance of secondary endometrium, negative feedback control of hypothalamus
What name is given to the first half of the menstrual cycle?
The follicular phase
What are the targets for oestrogens?
Ovaries Cervix/uterus Central nervous system Anterior pituitary Fat distribution Mammary glands Bone maturation and turnover
What are the systemic effects of oestrogen?
Protein metabolism Carbohydrate metabolism Lipid metabolism Water and electrolyte balance Blood clotting
What are the target organs for testosterone?
Skin Brain Muscle Liver Bone Kidneys Male sexual organs
Describe the processes involved in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle
FSH stimulates maturation of follicles from within the ovaries. Each follicle recruited contains an egg but only the dominant follicle will release an egg at the time of ovulation
Increasing amounts of oestrogen stimulate a thickening of the endometrium in preparation of a fertilised egg implanting
Describe the processes involved in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle
Oestrogen levels decline and progesterone levels increase, reaching their peak ~7 days after the LH surge, which coincides with the embryo implantation if the egg has been fertilised
The remnant of the follicle that releases the egg during ovulation is known as the corpus luteum and is responsible for the increasing progesterone levels
What happens to the corpus luteum if the egg is fertilised?
The corpus luteum persists and becomes the corpus luteum graviditatis
What happens to the corpus luteum if the egg is not fertilised?
The corpus luteum degenerates to become the corpus albicans
