Female Hormones HW Questions Flashcards
What is menarche?
onset of menstruation
How long is the average menstrual cycle (female sexual cycle)?
28 days
What is the normal range of a menstrual cycle?
21-35 days
What is polymenorrhea?
menstrual flow less than 21 days apart
What is oligomenorrhea?
menstrual flow greater than 35 days apart
What is amenorrhea?
absent menstrual flow not associated with pregnancy
What are the 2 primary cycles associated with the female sexual cycle?
ovarian cycle and uterine cycle
Which female organs play a role in the menstrual cycle?
ovary and uterus
Which organ controls the female sexual cycle?
ovary
What is oogenesis?
production of an ovum (egg)
When does oogenesis begin in the female?
in utero, before birth, around 5th week of development
What is the name of the female stem (germ) cell?
oogonia
What happens to the primary oocyte until menarche?
stays suspended in that phase (arrested in prophase 1)
What happens to the primary oocyte during the monthly menstrual cycle?
divides into a secondary oocyte and polar body
What type of oocyte is released during ovulation?
secondary oocyte
How many chromosomes does a secondary oocyte contain?
23
What meiotic phase does the secondary oocyte stay in until a sperm enters the egg?
metaphase 2
Approx how many oocytes are viable at puberty?
about 300,000 (just remember that it is a small fraction of the amount initially produced)
What is the hypothalamic pituitary axis for female reproductive physiology?
hypothalamus releases GnRH> anterior pituitary releases FSH and LH> FSH is primarily responsible for estrogen production and LH is primarily responsible for progesterone production
Follicular phase, ovulation and luteal phase are which part of the menstrual (female sexual) cycle?
ovarian
Which hormone initiates the follicular phase?
FSH
A few days after the follicular phase has begun this hormone is released
LH
What is the overall function of the follicular phase?
develop a primary oocyte into a mature ovum (egg) and produce estrogen
What is the 1st type of cell to proliferate around the primary follicle in the follicular phase?
granulosa
What is the 2nd type of cell mass to develop around the basement membrane of the primary follicle?
theca
Theca cells are stimulated by _____ to produce ___________
LH, androgens
Granulosa cells are stimulated by FSH to convert androgens into _____________
estrogen
Which hormone does the follicular fluid produced by granulosa cells contain?
estrogen
Follicular fluid produced by granulosa cells creates a cavity called?
antrum
What is the initial effect of estrogen in follicular fluid on granulosa cells?
increase number of FSH receptors
What type of feedback mechanism does estrogen have on granulosa cell’s estrogen production?
positive feedback
How does increased estrogen in follicular fluid and increased FSH stimulation affect granulosa cells?
stimulates them to produce LH receptors
How does LH affect granulosa cells?
stimulates them to produce progesterone
What effect does increased progesterone have on basal body temp?
increases
How many follicles typically grow to the vesicular phase during a cycle?
1
What is happening to the oocyte as the follicle grows?
it grows as well
What is atresia?
shrinkage of the follicles that did not mature during a follicular cycle
When does ovulation occur?
midpoint of the menstrual (female sexual) cycle
What is the primary hormone required for ovulation to occur?
LH
Which hormones increase during ovulation?
LH and FSH
Which hormone must spike higher than any other hormone to facilitate ovulation?
LH
How does the increase in LH affect granulosa and theca cells just before ovulation?
stimulates them both to produce progesterone
How does the LH surge affect a mature follicle?
it causes the follicle to move to the surface of the ovary and rupture releasing the ovum/egg
What happens to the follicle after it has ruptured?
all cells become luteinize and it becomes the corpus luteum
How does luteinization affect granulosa and theca cells?
allows them to produce large quantities of progesterone and estrogen without the influence of FSH and LH (more progesterone than estrogen)
What is the primary goal of the luteal phase?
have the corpus luteum secrete large amounts of estrogen and progesterone (more progesterone than estrogen) to prepare the uterus for implantation
How do luteinize cells affect FSH secretion?
they produce a hormone called inhibin that inhibits the anterior pituitary from releasing FSH
What happens to the corpus luteum if implantation does not occur?
approx 10 days after ovulation it will degenerate into a structure called the corpus albicans if implantation does not occur
What happens to the corpus luteum if pregnancy does occur?
it will continue to produce large quantity of estrogen and progesterone until the placenta takes over
What prevents the corpus luteum from degenerating?
human chorionic gonadotropin
Which process of the menstrual (female sexual) cycle directly affects the uterine cycle?
the ovarian cycle
What are the 3 phases of the uterine cycle?
proliferative, secretory, and menstrual
What happened to the endometrium during the menstrual phase?
sheds, sloughs off
Which hormone rises during the proliferative phase?
estrogen
What happens to the endometrium during the proliferative phase?
rebuilds
How does estrogen affect the uterine mucus plug?
thins it
What event signals the end of the proliferative phase?
ovulation
Which uterine phase begins immediately after ovulation?
secretory
What is progesterone’s job during the secretory phase?
stimulate formation of spiral arteries, thicken the uterine mucus plug and inhibit LH
What happens to the spiral arteries if implantation does not occur?
first they vasoconstrict, then they vasodilate which causes them to rupture
What is the main type of estrogen produced by the ovaries?
beta estradiol
What is the primary function of ovarian estrogens?
growth and development of female sex organs
What is the primary function of ovarian progestins?
prepare uterus for pregnancy and breast for lactation
What effect does estrogen have on vaginal epithelial tissue?
increases thickness
What is the role of estrogen in oogenesis?
follicular growth
How does estrogen effect the uterus?
promotes regrowth of endometrium
How does estrogen affect the female breast?
initiates growth of stromal breast tissue and milk ducts
How does estrogen affect bone density?
promotes absorption of calcium and inhibits osteoclast activity
How does estrogen affect a female’s height?
determines when the epiphyseal plates close
How does estrogen affect the skin?
increases thickness and vascularity
How does progesterone effect the endometrium during the luteal phase?
promotes secretory changes in preparation for implantation
How does progesterone prevent expelling an embryo?
decreases frequency of uterine contractions
How does progesterone affect the fallopian tubes after ovulation?
increases secretion of nutritive mucus
How does progesterone prepare the breast for lactation?
develops lobules and alveoli
How does menopause effect production of ovarian estrogen and progesterone?
it stops
Which placental hormone facilitates thyroid hormone secretion?
human chorionic gonadotropin
Which placental hormone is responsible for enlarging a female’s reproductive organs and external genitalia?
estrogen
How does placental estrogen effect pelvic ligaments?
relaxes them
Which placental hormone stimulates endometrial decidual cell development?
progesterone
Which placental hormone decreases contractility of the pregnant uterus?
progesterone
Which placental hormone makes more glucose available to the fetus?
human chorionic somatomammotropin
How does pregnancy effect the anterior pituitary?
increases size
What is the function of relaxin hormone?
relaxes symphysis pubis ligament and softens cervix
Which placental hormone has vasodilator properties?
relaxin
Which hormone stimulates breast milk production?
prolactin
What type of secretion do breasts produce just prior to parturition and a few days after?
colostrum
What type of mechanism regulates prolactin secretion?
positive feedback
