Female Reproductive Anatomy - Not Done

Question 1

What cell type secretes estrogen?

Answer 1

Granulosa cells (thecal cells involved)

Question 2

What hormones trigger estrogen release?

Answer 2

FSH acts on granulosa cells

LH acts on thecal cells

Question 3

What are 3 sources of progesterone?

Answer 3

Placenta

Adrenal Cortex

Ovary

Question 4

Which cell type secretes progesterone?

Answer 4

Granulosa cells

Question 5

What special protein binds progesterone while in the blood?

Answer 5

Transcortin

Question 6

Which cell types secrete inhibin?

Answer 6

Sertoli cells in male

Granulosa cells in female

Question 7

What hormone stimulates inhibin release?

Answer 7

FSH

Question 8

What hormone does ihibin inhibit?

Answer 8

FSH

Question 9

Describe the process of oogenesis

Answer 9

Primordial germ cells give rise to oogonia in early fetus

Oogonia go through Meiosis I to become primary oocytes

Oocytes go through process of attrition - from 7 million down to few hundred thousand

Oocytes mature continuously

Only some mature and avoid atresia (cyclically) to be released into the uterus

Question 10

What is an ovarian follicle comprised of?

Answer 10

Oocyte surround by granulosa cells

Question 11

Describe the primary phase of follicular development

Answer 11

Is occuring consistently without cyclical nature or stimulus from gonadotropins

Takes about 120 days for follicles to go from primary to secondary

Question 12

Describe follicular development of secondary follicles into antral follicles

Answer 12

Stage independent of gonadatropins, non-cyclical

Division of theca to theca interna and externa

Any cells that reach this point before puberty undergo apoptosis

This phase lasts about 65 days

Question 13

Describe progression after antral stage

Answer 13

This is beginning of cyclical pattern, must be after puberty

Ovum attaches to the follicle

A dense mass of granulosa cells (cumulus oophorus) surround the follicle

LH promotes androgen secretion

Androgens turned to estrogen with FSH stimulation

Takes 5-7 days

Question 14

Describe selection of dominant follicle

Answer 14

Having most FSH receptors allows selection of dominant follicle from its cohort

Everyone else dies

Grows until ovulation

Question 15

Describe ovulation.

Answer 15

Requires LH surge

Remainder of Meiosis I is completed

Prostoglandin helps follicle increase in size

Follicle bursts and the ovum is released

Fimbria sweep up the egg

Takes about 1.5 days

Question 16

Describe what happens to follicle after it ruptures

Answer 16

The follicle transforms into the corpus luteum

It secretes Progesterone and Estrogen

When implantation does not occur, corpus luteum regresses