Female Reproductive System Flashcards
The duration of cycle range is…..with average……
20-45 days
28 days
One 2ry follicle matures more rapidly on…….& becomes dominant
6th
What is the function of estrogen secreted from 2ry follicle on the follicle
Stimulates proliferation of granulosa cells resulting in antral formation & maturation forming mature follicle
Corpus luteum becomes fully function after…..of ovulation, in in size in…..& degenerates within…..
4 days
4-5 days
4-5 days
Describe the effect of rising moderate levels of estrogen on gonadotrophins
- Acts directly on hypothalamus to inhibit GnRH, thus dec FSH & LH release from ant pituitary
- Acts directly on ant pituitary to selectively inhibit FSH
…..hormone ALWAYS selectively inhibits FSH secretion
Inhibin
….&….stimulate granulosa cells to secrete estrogen
FSH & estrogen
……&…..are required for estrogen synthesis
Describe the role of each
- LH stimulates theca cells in the frwoing follicle to secrete inc amounts of androgen that diffuse to granulosa cells
- FSH stimukates granulosa cells to transform androgen to estrogen
Describe effect of high levels of estrogen on gonadtrophins
- Acts directly on hypothalamus inc GnRH & thus inc both FSH & LH
- Acts durectly on ant pituitary to selectively inc LH secretion
List effects of LH surge
- Stops estogen synthesis by ruptures follicle
- Results in conpletion of the arrested 1st meiotic divison & thus conversion of 1ry oocyte to 2ry oocyte
- Triggers ovulation by production of local prostaglandins & digesting enzymes resulting in follicle rupture
- Stimulates differentiation of follicular cells into luteak cells of corpus luteum
Describe the effect of progesterone on gonadotrophins
Strongly inhibit both LH & FSH, low LH levels cause degeneration of corpus luteum thus dec estrogen & progesterone
Menstrual phase coincides with…….thus its first day is considered…..
Terminationof ovarian luteal phase & onset of new follicular phase
Start of new ovarian cycle
Average blood loss in menstruation is…..
50-150 ml
Release of…..causes vasospasm of uterine vessels & myometrium contraction
Prostaglandin
Proliferative phase coincides with……., dominated by……whose effect is……
Last portion of follicular phase
Estrogen
Stimulated proliferation of blood vessels, epithelium & glands resulting in growth of endometrium
Secretory phase coincides with……dominated by……
Ovarian luteal phase
Progesterone (main) & estrogen
Describe effect of progesterone on endometrium
Converts endometrium to richly vascularized, glycogen filled glands capable of supporting an early embryo. This provides a quiet environment for implant of ovum & growth of embryo.
The constant interval in cycle is between……..about…..days
From ovulation to onset of new menstrual bleeding
14
Describe PMS
7-10 days before menstruation chct by edema (salt & water retent), emotional symptoms, headache & constipation. Unknown cause.
GR:
1. Blood in menstruation does not clot
2. Large number of leukocytes is found in menstrual blood
3. Occurrence of dysmenorrhea
4. Occurrence of anovulatory cycle
- Bec it has already clotted & the clot has been dissolved by fibrinolysin before it passes out of vagina
- Acts as a defense to protect raw endometrium from infection
- Due to excessive uterine contractions by excess uterine contractions
- Due to insufficient preovulatory LH common in first few yrs of life & for several months to yrs before menopause
List inficators of menopause
- Secretory changes in endometrium: glycogen filled glands by inc progesterone
- Chct changes in cervical mucus, before it is watery due to estrogen then becomes thick & sticky under effect of progesterone (no sperm passes/ pregnancy is protected from bacteria)
- Rise of basal body temp in morning due to thermogenic effect of progesterone as it affects thermoregulatory center in hypthalamus
Function of activin is…..
Stimulates FSH secretion
Describe source & func of relaxin hormone
-It is secreted by ovary (corpus luteum) & placenta
-Its function in non-pregnant women is unkown
-In pregnant women it facilitates delivery as it:
1. Relaxes symphsis pubis & other pelvic joints
2. Softens & dilates the uterine cervix
Female hormones are derived mainly from…….& slightly from……
Cholesterol
Acetyl CoA
Female hormones are transported in plasma mainly bound to…….
Plasma albumin & with specific estrogen- & progesterone-binding globulins
Estrogen & progesterone are degraded by…..
Liver
Compare different estrogens present in plasma
- B-estradiol: is the principle estrogen secreted by the ovaries & is the most potent
- Estrone: mostly formed in peripheral tissues
- Estriol: is weak estrogen derives from 1&2 in liver, also the orimary form secreted by placenta
List effects if estrogen on external genitalia, oviducts & uterus
- Induces enlargement of esternal genitalia & fat deposition
- Make cervical secretions watery before ovulation
- Stimulates growth of endometrium & myometrium at puberty
- Stimulates proliferation of the endometrium during ovarian follicular phase
- Induces synthesis of progesterone receptors in endometrium
- Inc excitability & motility of uterus
- Enhances transport of sperm from vagina to oviduct by upward contraction of uterus & oviduct
- Inc uterine responsiveness to oxytocin during kate gestation by inc myometrial oxytocin receptors & inc myometrial gap junctions
List effects of estrogen on ovaries & breast
- Stimulates granulosa cell proliferation & thus follicle maturation
- Is essential for ova maturation & release by LH surge
- Control LH, FSH, GnRH
On breast: - Development if breast stoma, griwth of ducts
- Deopsition of fat
List non-reproductive functions of estrogen
- Inc bone density at puberty & for several yrs
- Causes early union of epiphyses with shaft of lone bones
- Inc total body proteins (+ve nitrogen balance), but estrogen is less effective than testosetrone
- Promotes fat deposition in subcutaneous tissue
- Reduces blood cholestrol thus dec atherosclerosis & MI in premenopausal women
- Produces salt & water retention just before menses (also elevated aldosterone in luteal phase)
- Promotes VD by inc NO production in arterioles, it has cardioprotective effect
- Makes sebaceous gland secretion more fluid so, it counteracts effect of testosterone in production of black heads & acne
List effects of progesterone on uterus/cervix & breast
Uterus/cervix:
1. Inc endometrial thickness, blood vessels & glands that secrete glycogen. This makes endometrium suitable to implant
2. Dec excitability & motility of uterine smooth muscles thus prevent abortion
3. Promotes formation of thick mucus plug
Breast:
1. Promotes development of lobules & alveoli of the mammary glands
2. It causes swelling of the breast due to development of lobular alveoli & fluid retention in subcutaneous tissue
Define the following:
1. Hypomenorrhea
2. Oligomenorrhea
3. Amenorrhea
4. Menorrhagia
5. Metrorrhagia
- Scanty flow
- Reduced frequency of the period
- Absence of menstrual periods
- Excessive bleeding
- Irregular acyclic bleeding between periods
List causes of 2ry amenorrhea
- Pregnancy
- Emotional stimuli, changes in environment, excess exercise, weight liss
- Hypothalamic, pituitary or ovarian disorders
The pubertal rise in GnRH is related to……&……
Dec melatonin
Inc leptin
1ry effect of dec melatonin is.l…
Inc hypothalamuc GnRH
Define delayed puberty & list its causes
If menache failed to occur by age 17 (primary amenorrhea), or if testicular function failed to develop by age 20 (eunuchoidism)
Caused by chromosomal abnormalities, gonadal dysgenesis, hypopituitarism
Age of puberty in girls is……& in boys is…..
8-13
9-14
Compare precocious pseudo & true puberty
Pseudo: appearance of 2ry sexual chct without gametogenesis, caused by abnormal high estrogen in immatue female or androgen in male, due to Leydig cell tumors of testes or granulosa cells tumors of ovary
True: caused by early but normal pubertal pattern of gonadotrophin secretion, it is due to hypothalamic disorders
Menopause occrs at…..
45-55
GR: Onset of menstruation
- Depletion of limited reservoir of ovarian follicles present at birth, leading to cessation of estrogen secretion & thus ovarian & menstrual cycles stop
- Midlife hypothalamic changes
List postmenopausal changes
Cessation of ovarian estrogen:
1. Cessation of ovarian & uterine cycles
2. Gradual atrophy of genital organs, but sex drive still present
3. Dec bone thickness & inc fractures
4. Inc risk of heart attach & chilesterol
5. Hot flashes
6. Emotional symptoms
