Female Reproduction (ovulation, menstruation) Flashcards
Which cells bind LH?
Theca interna
Which cells bind FSH?
Granulosa cells
What is the effect of AMH on follicles?
Restraining negative feedback on the recruitment of primordial follicles.
Where is AMH produced?
From granulosa cells of growing pre-antral and small antral follicles
Follicular growth involves expression of members of the…
Transforming growth factor b (TGFb) super family
Once a sperm nucleus fuses with egg nucleus the ovum becomes a…
Zygote
When LH binds to theca cells they produce…
A hormone called androstenedione
How many eggs are lost per cycle to atresia?
15-25
If no fertilisation of the egg occurs what happens to the CL?
Degenerates by apoptosis
If the egg is fertilised what happens to the CL?
CL persists and continues producing oestrogen and progesterone to prepare the inner lining of the uterus for implantation.
What is the main cause of menopause?
Ovarian failure- ovaries fail to respond from signalling hormones from brain called gonadotropins (LH and FSH)
What are the phases of reproduction?
1) follicular phase
2) luteal phase
How does oestrogen work?
Made in ovaries, transported by blood stream, when gets to target, O crosses cell membrane, picked up by a carrier protein and transported into the nucleus. It then binds near to certain genes to change their expression and ultimately change behaviour of that target cell
Name two non-reproductive roles of oestrogen
Blood cholesterol levels- reduces LDL’s and increases HDL’s
Preserves the strength of bones- slows down cells involved with breakdown portion of bone renovations (skeleton stays denser for longer periods of time)
What is the average weight gain during pregnancy?
25-35lb
Which hormones prevent atresia?
FSH and LH
Early follicular growth is controlled by…
intraovarian growth factors or cytokines
What is parthenogenesis?
Asexual reproduction with the absence of a fertilising spermatozoon
What is the definition of sex?
A process whereby a genetically novel individual is formed as a result of mixing the genes from two individuals
The male gamete is called
The spermatozoon
The female gamete is called
The oocyte
All mammals are viviparous. What does this mean?
Produce eggs that develop in vivo and give birth to live young
Name two functions of the female tract.
Transports spermatozoa to site of fertilisation and nourishes the developing embryo
What is the somatic lifecycle?
The physical transmission of the germ cells across generations
What is the generative life cycle?
The pluripotent lineage
What differentiates germ cells from the somatic cells?
Germ cells are pluripotent and give rise to the many tissues of the next generation
Pluripotent cells are found in the soma of the germ cell lining
What is the epigenetic cycle in reproduction?
Only a restricted subset of genes is expressed in any one cell and that subset of a characteristic for each cell type at a particular time in its life cycle.
(This muscles, nerve, skin and gut cells each express different combinations of genes but when studies at molecular level are identical in their gene sequences).
What is parental imprinting?
In the embryo when pluripotent stem called give rise to germ cells their epigenetic marks are erased. Then during the packaging of the chromosomes in eggs or spermatozoa for transmission to the zygote, new epigenetic marks are placed on the genes. The sex of the environment in which the chromosomes are packed influences whether and how some of 100-200 genes are marked. These marks then affect the genes ability to become transcriptional active subsequently in the conceptus.
Anterior pituitary gland is also called the what? And contains what cells?
The adenohypophysis and contains gonadotrophs (gonadotropin production) and lactotrophs (prolactin production)
What is another name for the posterior pituitary and what does it secrete?
Neurohypophysis (neuro in origin) and secretes small neuropeptide hormones e.g. Oxytocin
What is the first part of the sacrum called?
Sacral promontory
What are the wings of the sacrum called?
Right alae and left alae
What does central component of sacrum contain?
Anterior sacral foramina (ventral rami of sacral nerves)
Describe the dorsal surface of the sacrum
Spines of vertebral bodies are fused together in the midline creating a continuous bone. Posterior sacral foramina containing dorsal rami of sacral nerves
Name the 3 bones that make up the pelvis
Ilium, ischium and pubis
When do the 3x pelvic bones fuse? And where?
Fuse around puberty (before have Y shaped sutures) in the acetabulum
What structures mark the pelvic brim?
Post = sacral promontory, alae of sacrum and sacroiliac joints
Iliopectineal line (arcuate line)
Ant = pubic symphysis and pubic crests
What is the pelvic brim known as?
Pelvic inlet- the structures are going into the pelvis from the abdominal cavities
Which ligaments create the diamond shape of the pelvic outlet?
Sacrotuberous ligaments complete diamond shaped pelvic outlet
Name the structural borders of the pelvic outlet
Anterior = Pubic symphysis
Anterolaterally = ischiopubic rami
Posterolateral = sacrotuberous ligaments (right and left)
Posterior = tip of coccyx
What are the attachment sites of inguinal ligament
ASIS and PT (Pubic tubercle)
What are the strongest joints of the body?
Sacroiliac joints
What ligaments are the sacroliliac joints supported by?
Sacrotuberous ligament
O= Lateral border of sacrum and coccyx
I= to ischial tuberosity
Underneath is sacrospinous ligament
O= sacrum and coccyx
I = spine of ischium
What are the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments converting the sciatic notches into…
Foramina- greater sciatic foramen and lesser sciatic foramen
Name the posterior pelvic ligaments
Sacroiliac ligaments
Sacrotuberous
Sacrospinous
What does the gap created by the inguinal ligament allow? (Inguinal region)
Passage of nerves and vessels to and from pelvic cavity
What covers the obturator foramen?
Obturator membrane- completely fills opening apart from one spot where nerves and vessels can pass through (obturator canal = gap in membrane)
What is the difference in shape between male and female pelvic inlet?
Male = heart shaped Female = oval (larger diameter)
Pelvis above the pelvic brim is also knows as…
The false pelvis (doesn’t hold any pelvis organs, contains lower part of GI tract and messentaries)
Region below pelvic brim is know as the…
Lesser pelvis or true pelvis (smaller) - all reproductive organs and urinary system are located here
Which muscles constitute the lateral walls of the pelvis?
2x muscles (not true pelvis muscles but lower limb muscles)
Obturator internus- fan shaped O=obturator membrane, bony margins of obturator rim I= forms tendon, passes through lesser sciatic foramen into thigh region
Piriformis- Pyramid shaped O= lateral masses of sacrum, I= forms tendon insertion over greater trochanter of femur
What is the significance of the piriformis muscle?
Divides the greater sciatic foramen into upper and lower compartment (for passage of nerves and vessels)
Over piriformis muscle lies the sacral plexus
Name the pelvis floor muscles
Levator ani, coccygeus = true muscles of the pelvic cavity making a hammock shaped floor
Name the bony element making the anterior part of the hip bone
Pubis
The sacroiliac joint is formed between which two bony elements?
The ala of the sacrum and auricular surface of ilium
What do you call the body of the 1st sacral vertebra
Sacral promontory
Symphysis pubis is what type of joint?
Secondary cartilaginous
What is the clinical significance of sacral hiatus
A caudal anaesthesia can be given through this hiatus during the last stage of labour
The true pelvis can also be known as…
The obstetricians pelvis
Define the true pelvis
The space lying between the pelvic inlet and outlet holding the reproductive organs as well as the terminal parts of the GI and urinary system
List down the major differentiating bony feature of male and female pelvis
- Pelvic inlet shape- narrower and heart shaped in males, oval and wider in females
- Ischial spines- medially facing in males, laterally facing in females
- Subpubic arch narrow in males, broad in females
What are the boundaries of the pelvic inlet?
Post = sacral promontory and alae of sacrum Laterally = iliopectineal line Anteriorly = pubic symphysis
What are the boundaries of the pelvic outlet?
Post = tip of coccyx Posterolaterally = sacrotuberous ligaments Anterolaterally = ischiopubic rami Ant = pubic symphysis
The perineal body receives the insertion of which element of the levator ani?
Sphincter vaginalis in females and levator prostaticus in males
What is the name of the fibromuscular structure lying between the anal opening and the tip of the coccyx?
The anococcygeal raphe
Name the important neurovascular structures passing through the inferior compartment of the greater sciatic foramen
- inferior gluteal nerve and vessels
- sciatic nerve
- nerve to obturator internus
- nerve to quadratic femoris
- internal pudendal nerve and vessels
Define the course of the internal pudendal nerve…
Exits pelvic cavity through the lower compartment of sciatic foramen and enters the perineal region by passing through the lesser sciatic foramen
Name the three components of the levator ani
1) pubococcygeus (sphincter vaginalis and puborectalis)
2) iliococcygeus
3) ischiococcygeus
Origin of the levator ani muscle
From the tendinitis arc over the obturator internus membrane
What is the General relationship between the pelvic nerves and vessels and the pelvic fascia?
The nerves are lying beneath the fascia and the vessels are lying over the fascia
What is the main support to the pelvic organs?
Levator ani/pelvic diaphragm
What happens in case of damage to the levator ani muscle/pelvic diaphragm?
There could be urinary or faecal incontinence as well as vaginal prolapse
Sources of nerve supply of pelvic diaphragm?
Sacral plexus (S2,S3,S4) Coccygeal plexus (S5, Co nerve)
Which vessel is the main source of blood supply to the pelvic cavity?
Internal iliac artery (a branch of common iliac artery)
What is the point of origin of the internal iliac artery?
Sacroiliac joint
Which pelvic organ is closely related to the Obturator nerve?
Ovaries
Define the perineum
Region below the pelvic diaphragm mainly holding the terminal ends of the urogenital and GI system as well as the external genitalia in both sexes
Define the deep perineal pouch
The space lying between the levator ani/pelvic diaphragm and the perineal membrane
Define the superficial perineal pouch
The space lying between the perineal membrane and the superficial/Colle’s fascia
Define the ischiorectal fossae?
These are the fat filled, wedge-shaped spaces lying on either side of the anal canal
What is the significance of ischiorectal fossae?
They provide dead space for the expansion of the anal canal during defecation
What is the main nerve and blood supply to the perineum
Internal pudendal nerve and artery supply the muscles and other structures of this region
What is the venous drainage of the right testicle?
Right testicular vein drains into the IVC
What is the venous drainage of the left testes?
Left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein
What may a tight piriformis muscle compress?
The sciatic nerve
What ligament is found within the inguinal canal?
Round ligament of the uterus
Tearing of the pelvic diaphragm during childbirth leads to paralysis of which muscle?
Levator ani
In which part of the uterine tube does fertilisation take place?
Infundibulum/ampulla
Where is the glans clitoris derived from?
Corpora cavernosa
Ejaculation is mediated by which nerve?
Sympathetic nerve
Erection of the penis is caused by what stimulation?
Parasympathetic
