Female reproductive Endocrinology Flashcards
what is the role of the ovaries
maturation and release of the ova
what is the role of oviducts (fallopian tubes)
site of fertilisation
what is the role of the uterus
maintains foetus development during gestation
expels foetus at end of gestation
what is the role of the cervix
has small opening to allow sperm through to uterus
expands greatly during birth
what is the role of the vagina
receptacle for sperm
birth canal - uterus to be outside
what is the role of the vaginal opening
allows penis in/baby out
oogenesis has identical meiotic and mitotic divisions as what
male sperm production
when does oogenesis begin
in utero
when is oogenesis completed
completed at fertilisation
when does oogenesis cease
at menopause
what are some 2 degree sexual characteristics at puberty
pubic hair
growth/maturation of repro tract (including uterus) and external genitalia
fat deposition - breasts, buttocks, thighs
closure of epiphseal plates (stops growing)
somatic growth is induced by what (puberty)
gonadal sex steroids, GH, and (ILG-1)
when does the menopause occur
5th decade
what hormones increase during menopause
FSH levels
what hormones decrease during menopause
ovarian oestrogen
progesterone
inhibin
how many days does the ovarian cycle last (average)
28 days
how many phases does the ovarian cycle have
2
what are then names of the ovarian cycle phases
Follicular phase
Luteal phase
what happens in the follicular phase
maturation of egg
ready for ovulation (midcycle)
ovulation signals end of follicular phase
what happens in the luteal phase
development of corpus luteum
induces preparation of reproductive tract for pregnancy (if fertilisation occurs)
in the ovarian cycle what phase occurs first
follicular phase
then luteal phase
in the follicular phase what are the names of the follicles
primary and secondary
what is the structure of a primary follicle
primary oocyte is surrounded by a single layer of granulosa cells
until puberty all 1 degree follicles degenerate to what
scar tissue
After puberty, what develops cyclically
2 degree follicles
Secondary follicle grows and follicle expands and becomes what
differentiated under hormonal influence
when does follicular phase end
with ovulation
what hormones does the corpus luteum secerete
progesterone and oestrogen
what hormone is secreted in the follicular phase
oestrogen
what hormone is released in the luteal phase
progesterone
after ovulation what structure grows and for how long
corpus luteum (8-9 days)
what is formed if fertilisation has not occured
corpus albicans
degeneration of ______ signals the start of a new ________ phase
corpus luteum
follicular
if fertilisation occurs what happens to the corpus luteum and what hormones does it produce
and until when
it persists and produces increasing quantities of progesterone and oestrogen till after pregnancy
What does oestrogen inhibit during follicular phase (0-12 days)
LH and FSH release
during days 12-14 what does oestrogen do
stimulate LH and FSH release
after day 14 what does oestrogen do
inhibits LH and FSH release
what marks the beginning of the uterine and ovarian cycles
menstration
A few days before menstruation, ________ beings to increase secretion of _____ and _______
anterior pituitary
FSH and LH
when the follicle matures what happens to the production of ________
increases production of oestrogen
when there is increasing amounts of oestrogen being produced what happens to the uterus
stimulates the growth of the uterus
during the first 12 days of the ovarian cycle Oestrogen exerts what kind of feedback and to where
negative feedback on gonadotropin release
on days 12-14, oestrogen exerts what kind of feedback to where
positive on the pituitary
what does the surge of LH trigger
ovulation
stimulates the follicle cells to develop into the corpus luteum
when the follicle cells develop into the corpus luteum what hormones are secreted
progesterone and oestrogen
what are oestrogen and progesterone crucial for
maintenance of uterine lining
sends negative feedback to the anterior pituitary to inhibit gonadotropin release
if the egg is not fertilised what happens on day 26 of the cycle
corpus luteum degenerates
without progesterone, what happens to the uterine lining
it sloughs off and menstruation occurs
a decrease in oestrogen and progesterone relieves what feedback on the anterior pituitary
negative feedback
GnRH, FSH & LH all ↑
