Female Repro Flashcards
the female reproductive tract consists of 5 things
ovaries oviduct uterus cervix vagina
the ovaries are responsible for
the development of gametes and synthesis and secretion of hormones
the oviduct is responsible for
the transport fo the oocyte + associated cells from ovary to uterus
uterus consits of what 2 things
myometrium and enodmetrium
the uterus does what ?
provides the appropriate environment for the development of the fertilized egg
the cervix provides a
strong, collagenous boundary between the uterus and vagina
the vagina is known as the
birth canal
the female gamete is known as the
oocyte
when do oocytes first start to develop?
prior to birth
two major types of estrogen
17 beta estradiol
estrone
another major hormoen from the ovary is
progesterone
where is progesterone mainly produced?
the corpus luteum
the ovaries produce 2 peptide hormones
inhibin
relaxin
inhibin is produced by what cell type?
granulosa cells
the development of a follicle from the primordial state to pre-ovulatory stage takes how long?
14 days
how long does ovulation take?
about 1 day
the corpus luteum functions for about how long?
14 days
FSH acts in what cells? and cause secretion of what?
granulosa cells and cause secretion of estradiol
FSH and estradiol causes granulosa cells to what?
proliferate
granulosa cells need what 4 things to actually proliferate?
FSH, estradiol LH and theca cells
why is LH and theca cells needed for granulosa cells?
they create the precursers for estradiol synthesis
the signal for ovulation is what?
large increase in LH secretion
what receptor is necessary for ovulation
progesterone
the formation of the corpus luteum is initiated by what
LH
estrogens stimulates growth of the
endometrium
estrogen acts on the myometrium to increase 3 things
contractile proteins, muscular activity and the number of gap junctions
progesterone inhibits the _____ of the uterus
contractility
when the corpus luteum degenerates what else happens?
the endometrium degenerates and is sloughed
within mammary glands, estrogen promotes 3 things
duct development, stromal proliferation and fat deposition
within mammary glands, progesterone is necessary for
lobuloalveolar development
many tumors, when estrogen is removed
stop growing
progesterone has a ______ effect
thermogenic effect
progesterone in combination with estrogen and prolactin is involved with the
development and differentiation of the breast and maintenance of pregnancy
estrogens effects on cardiovascular system (good things) (2)
improves lipid profile and increases the release of nitric oxide
estrogens effects on cardiovascular system (bad things) (2)
increases blood clotting so it increases the chance of venous thrombosus
estrogen maintains
bone density, closure of epiphyses
estrogen also alters the pattern of fat
deposition
one major action of estrogen is to increase the synthesis of what receptor?
progesterone!!
at the beginning of the cycle are LH levels low or high?
low
LH levels stay constant until late in what phase?
follicular phase
FSH levels are low or high at the beginning of the cycle?
low
FSH follows a similar pattern as
LH
estrogen is low/high at the beginning of the cycle?
low
estrogen increaes and increases throughout the _____ phase until about ___ hours before the LH surge
follicular phase, 12 hours
there is a 2nd estrogen increase during the ____ phase
luteal
estrogen levels fall again as the ________ degenerates
corpus luteum
low doses of estradiol exert what kind of feedback on GnRH and LH
a negative feedback
estrogen and progesterone together exert a _____ feedback on GnRH and LH
a negative feedback
levels of estrogen progesterone FSH LH day 1-5
low
low
low
low
levels of estrogen progesterone LH FSH day 6-10
increases
low
slight decrease
constant (low)
levels of estrogen progesterone LH FSH day 11-13
increases A LOT
nothing
rises
rises
DAY 14
LH surge
levels of estrogen progesterone LH FSH day 15-25
increases
increases
drop
drop
levels of estrogen progesterone LH FSH day 26-28
decrease (if not pregnant)
decrease (if not pregnant)
decrease
decrease
