Female Flashcards
How does an ovarian follicle develop?
- Starts as promordial follicle
- Starts do build up the proteins around it and the nucleus gets bigger
- more and more protein
- As a graffian follicle, the egg has a large nucleus and is surrounded by the fluid filled antrium
- must store lots of proteins b/c it will not receive any nutrients for about a week after it ovulates until it becomes implanted

What surrounds the antrum?Why?
- Granulosa layer- convert the androgen steroids into estrogen
- Theca interna- where androgen steroids are made
- it has the white blobs
- Theca externa- connective tissue

How does the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Axis affect males and females?
- Male
- GnRH causes the release of LH and FSH
- LH goes to the Leydig cell and increases testosterone synthesis
- FSH goes to the sertoli cell and increases androgen binding protein which works with the testosterone formed in the leydig cell
- this supports sperm development
- Female
- GnRH causes the release of LH and FSH
- LH goes to the thecal cell to increase androgen synthesis
- FSH goes to the granulosa cell and increases aromatase which turns the androgen into estrogen
- this supports egg development

How do you diagnose amenhorrhea?
(chart)

Compare the three pituitary glycoprotein hormones and HCG.
- TSH, FH, LH, HCG
- All have the same alpha subunit.
- Specificity for each hormone is found at the beta subunit and protein structure
- HCG differs from LH only b/c it has 32 additional amino acids in its Beta-subunit
- TSH and HCG also look very similar and can bind to the same receptors
- cannot measure TSH during pregnancy, must look at free T3 and T4

What causes cervical cancer?
What part of cervix is at greatest risk?
- HPV is responsible for almost 100% of cervical cancer and can also cause cancer at other sites
- The cervic transforms over the lifespan and is at greater risk during some stages than others
-
squamocolumnar junction is at greatest risk
- at birth it is inside and is protected
- as a young adult it is exposed
- as an adult it is inside again and more protected

Does the HPV vaccine prevent all cervical cancers?
No, pap smears are still required.
What causes endometriosis?
- Endometrial cells back flow into the pelvis
- through falopian tube, into lymph, or into blood

What is a Leiomyoma?
- Uterine fibroid- not a cancer, but a smooth muscle tumor; does not metastasize
- occur in 30-50% of women
- can be asymptomatic or very painful

Stats about endometrial cancer
- Most common cancer of the femal reproductive system but least deadly
- about 40,000 cases/year
- about 7,000 deaths
- commonly affects post-menopausal women and one of the first symptoms is bleeding
- they get this checked out b/c they havent had a period in many years and know something must be wrong
What are the different degrees of uterine prolapse?
- A= normal uterus
- B= first degree prolaps- descent of uterus within the vagina
- C= second degree prolapse- the cervix protrudes through the introitus
- D= third degree prolaps- the vagina is completely everted

What is cystocele?
Rectocele?
- Cystocele- the bulging of the bladder through the vagina
- Rectocele- the bulging of the rectum through the vagina
- Ex. the chick on the cruise ship
What is salpingitis?
- Inflammation of the fallopian tubes
- almost always seen as a component of pelvic inflammatory disease
- often caused by an infection (chlamydia, gonorrhea, tuberculosous) or endometriosis
- also can be seen after ectopic pregnancy that has damaged the fallopian tubes
What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
- inflammation of the fallopian tube or the ovary or both
- usually caused by infection or endometriosis
What is polycystic ovarian syndrome?
- Leading cause of infertility
- High LH and low FSH
- LH- makes lots of androstendione
- FSH- converts androstendione into estrogen
- Without the FSH you have a bunch of androstendione building up, it goes into circulation
- causes excess androgens-
- fat will convert androstendione into estrogen and now the pituitary will think that everything is ok, plenty of estrogen
- problem is that it is not in the ovary where it needs to be
What are the symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome?
Treatment?
- Symptoms:
- Irregular or no menstruation
- excess androgen
- enlarged ovaries with multiple cysts
- Treatment:
- Medications to regulate menstrual cycle (oral contraceptives)
- meds to reduce excessive hair growth
- meds to achieve pregnancy
- surgery
What is the surgery for Polycystic ovarian syndrome?
- laparoscopic ovarian drilling
- popping the cysts
- the goal is to stimulate ovulation by reducing levels of LH and androgen hormones
Ovarian tumors:
Which one is most common and most deadly? Why?
- Surface epithelial cells tumors are most common of the ovarian tumors, but overall arent that common
- Most deadly because they go unnoticed for a really long time before they are detected
- by then they have already metastasized
- poor prognosis (~23,000 cases/year with about ~14,000 deaths/year)
- Women with BRCA1 mucation have risk of 30% compared to other women with risk of 2%
Where do teratomas come from?
Mature teratomas arise from germ cells and are seldom malignant
What are the cardiovascular and hematologic changes seen in pregnancy?
- Increased blood volume, RBCs
- increased SV, HR, CO
- decreased HCT
- BP stays about the same but with increased venous pressure in legs
What are the respiratory changes seen in pregnancy?
- increased RR, TV, MV, PaO2, and O2 consumption
- decreased PaCO2 (slight alkalosis), airway resistance, ERV, FRC, TLC
- no change in VC
What are the GI changes seen in pregnancy?
- increased bile secretion, bile stasis, and gallstones
- decreased LES tone (frequent heartburn), bilirubin (normally, unless they have cholestasis)
What are the endocrine changes seen in pregnancy?
- Increased estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, growth hormone, placental lactogen, prolactin
- decreased bs, TSH (but normal T3/T4
What other changes do you see druing pregnancy?
- Increased GFR, pain threshold, CSF



