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Reproductive Physiology > Female Reproductive Function > Flashcards

Female Reproductive Function Flashcards

1
Q

what are the three phases of the ovarian cycle?

A

follicular, ovulatory and luteal

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2
Q

what are the two functions of the ovaries?

A

to produce ova and hormones

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3
Q

describe the follicular phase and trigger.

A

FSH stimulates development of follicles

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4
Q

describe the ovulatory phase and trigger

A

LH surge causes rupture of one of the follicles

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5
Q

describe the luteal phase

A

LH converts the ruptured follicle to the corpus luteum

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6
Q

what happens to the corpus luteum if fertilization does not occur?

A

it degenerates into a corpus albicans

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7
Q

what do primordial follicles consist of and when are they developed?

A

they contain a primary oocyte and are formed by 6 months of age

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8
Q

what three cells are contained within a follicle?

A

ovum, thecal and granulosa cells

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9
Q

what is the final stage of a follicle before release?

A

the graafian follicle

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10
Q

what are the three phases of the endometrium?

A

proliferative, secretory and menstrual

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11
Q

what does estradiol do to the endometrium and what ovulatory phase does this correspond with?

A

promotes proliferative phase of the endometrium increasing thickness
follicular phase

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12
Q

what phase corresponds with the variability of menstrual cycle length?

A

the proliferative phase can vary in length

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13
Q

what does progesterone do in the uterus and what ovulatory phase does this correspond with?

A

triggers the secretory phase

luteal phase

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14
Q

what is the secretory phase in the endometrium?

A

accumulation of glycogen, increased glandular secretion and increased vascularity in the endometrium

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15
Q

what mediates the menstrual phase? describe it.

A

prostaglandin

vasoconstriction of arteries causes local ischemia

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16
Q

what part of the ovarian cycle corresponds with the menstrual phase?

A

regression of the corpus luteum

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17
Q

describe the positive feedback on the ovarian cycle.

A

estradiol reaches high levels in late follicular phase causing LH and FSH release

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18
Q

describe the negative feedback on the ovarian cycle.

A

early follicular phase: estrogen has negative feedback

luteal phase: estradiol, progesterone and inhibin produced by the corpus luteum decrease gonadotropin release

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19
Q

which axis is responsible for the ovarian cycle?

A

the hypothalamic-pituitary- ovarian axis

GnRH-> LH and FSH-> androgen, progestin andestrogens

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20
Q

describe the characteristics of the release of GnRH and LH

A

they are pulsatile and increase in amplitude during the follicular phase

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21
Q

what causes the increase in amplitude of LH in the follicular phase?

A

high circulating estrogen sensitizes the gonadotrophs of the anterior pituitary to stimulation by GnRH

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22
Q

where is GnRH secreted?

A

from small neurons in the arcuate nucleus and preoptic area of the hypothalamus

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23
Q

what are the two effects of GnRH?

A

to increase secretion of FSH in the follicular phase and LH during the luteal phase

24
Q

what cells does FSH bind to and what does it cause?

A

granulosa cells

stimulates transcription of enzymes, activins and inhibins

25
Q

what cells does LH bind to and what does it cause?

A 
theca cells (granulosa cells also have receptors) 
stimulates synthesis of progestins and androgens
26
Q

what do granulosa cells do to androgens secreted by theca cells?

A

they turn them into estrogens

27
Q

where do actins and inhibins act? what do they do?

A

on the anterior pituitary

activate/inhibit gonadotropin release

28
Q

where do estrogens and progestins work as feedback?

A

on both the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary

29
Q

describe the signaling pathway of GnRH

A

binds to GPCR and triggers the IP3/DAG signaling pathway
DAG->PKC-> gene transcription alteration
IP3-> intracellular calcium release-> exocytosis of gonadotropin

30
Q

what types of hormones are estradiol and progesterone? how do they travel in the blood?

A

steroid hormones

bound to sex hormone binding globulins

31
Q

what 6 tissues do female gonadotropins act upon?

A

breast, bone, vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes and uterus

32
Q

how are estrogen and progesterone removed from the body?

A

estrogen: inactivated in liver by conjugation and excreted in urine
progesterone: degraded to other steroids in liver and urinated

33
Q

what are the major products of the follicle and corpus luteum?

A

estradiol (follicle) and progestins (corpus luteum) although there is still estradiol production

34
Q

what enzyme does the theca cell lack?

A

aromatase

35
Q

what hormone promotes the conversion of cholesterol to androstenedione? the conversion of androstenedione to estradiol?

A

LH

FSH

36
Q

which cells produce progesterone?

A

both granulosa and theca cells

37
Q

which cell converts progesterone to 17alpha-OH progesterone?

A

theca cell (granulosa cell does not contain the enzyme)

38
Q

what are 4 effects of estrogens?

A

proliferation of the uterus and development of endometrial glands, development of fallopian tube mucosa, stimulation of bone growth by inhibiting osteoclasts, and increase subcutaneous fat deposition

39
Q

what are three effects of progesterone?

A

secretory changes in uterine endometrium, decreasing uterine contractions and increased fallopian tube secretions

40
Q

what is thelarche? what are the roles of estrogen and progesterone?

A

when breast development occurs
estrogens- deposition of fat, stromal tissue development and ductile growth in breasts
progesterone- promotes development of lobules and alveoli

41
Q

what is adrenarche?

A

increased secretion of adrenal androgens

42
Q

what is menarche?

A

when the menstrual cycles begin

43
Q

what about the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis changes at puberty? what causes the development of secondary sex characteristics?

A

the link that activates the hypothalamus
pulsatile secretion of GnRH occurs at the beginning
production of steroid hormones causes transition

44
Q

what inhibits the release of gonadotropins before puberty?

A

the negative feedback sensitivity is high so low levels of steroid hormones block gonadotropin release

45
Q

what is the average age of menopause? how many ovarian follicles are left?

A

51

virtually none

46
Q

describe the levels of sex steroids and gonadotrophins in menopause.

A

sex steroid levels decrease and gonadotrophins increase

47
Q

what physical and mental changes occur in menopause?

A

vasomotor instibility, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, short term memory loss, sleep disturbance, lack of libedo and headaches

48
Q

what physical changes occur to the female reproductive system in menopause?

A

atrophy of vaginal epithelium, changes in pH, decrease in secretions, loss of tone, decrease in circulation to vagina and uterus and pelvic relaxation

49
Q

how does the amount of germ cells in a fetus compare to the follicle number at birth?

A

about 4 times the amount as a fetus compared to at birth

50
Q

how many oocytes are ovulated during a lifetime? how many follicles are there at puberty?

A

about 400

400,000

51
Q

what causes the decrease in steroid hormone production in menopausal women? how does this effect gonadotropins?

A

there are no more follicles to produce it

there is no more negative feedback so gonadotropin levels rise

52
Q

what causes most of the loss of follicle?

A

atresia of cells throughout the reproductive lifetime

53
Q

how can a woman’s menopausal status be determined?

A

with immunoassays of FSH and LH (10-20x more production in menopause)

54
Q

what is the postmenopausal source of estrogens? how do they compare to estradiol?

A

muscle and adipose tissue produce esterone derived from androstenedione from the adrenal gland and ovary
15-25% as potent as estradiol

55
Q

what accounts for the severity of menopausal symptoms?

A

amount of esterone produced in other tissues because symptoms are a result of estrogen deficiency

56
Q

why are postmenopausal women more prone to fracture?

A

because estrogen preserves bone mass

Reproductive Physiology (6 decks)

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