Hormones of the female reproductive system Flashcards

1
Q

what are the female gonads?

A

the ovaries

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2
Q

what do the overaries produce?

A

haploid oocytes

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3
Q

what 3 hormones are produced and released by the ovaries?

A
  • oestrogen
  • progesterone
  • inhibin
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4
Q

how many oocytes does a female have at birth?

A

1,000,000 +

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5
Q

how many oocytes does a female have once they reach puberty?

A

300,000

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6
Q

what do the developing follicles secrete?

A

oestrogen

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7
Q

what is the function of the outer cortex?

A

storage and maturation of the female gametes (oocytes)

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8
Q

what are the 2 reproductive cycles in women?

A
  • ovarian cycle
  • uterine cycle
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9
Q

how does the female body prepare for the first menstual cycle?

A
  1. hypothalamus releases pulses of goadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in pulses
  2. this stimulates the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH
  3. variations in FSH and LH produce the ovarian cycle
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10
Q

what is the term that means first mentrual cycle?

A

menarche

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11
Q

when does the typical person in the UK have their first period?

A

11-12 years old

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12
Q

what age does the typical woman reach menopause in the UK?

A

51 years

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13
Q

what are the 7 stages of follicle development?

A
  1. primordial follicle
  2. primary follicle
  3. secondary follicle
  4. antral follicle
  5. mature follicle
  6. corpus luteum
  7. corpus albicans
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14
Q

what are the 4 primary oocytes?

A
  • primordial follicle
  • primary follicle
  • secondary follicle
  • antral follicle
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15
Q

what is the 1 secondary oocyte?

A

mature follicle

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16
Q

which follicle first appears in the fetal period?

A

primordial

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17
Q

what are the characteristics of the primordial follicle?

A

single layer of flattened follicuular cells surround an oocyte

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18
Q

what are the characteristics of the primary follicle?

A

single layer of cuboidal granulose cells surround an oocyte

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19
Q

what are the characteristics of the secondary follicle?

A

many layers of granulosa cells + small antrum in layers of granulosa cells

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20
Q

what are the characteristics of the antral follicle?

A

many layers of granulosa cells surround the oocyte and a very large antrum

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21
Q

what are the characteristics of the mature follicle?

A

multiple layers of granulosa cells surround the oocyte

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22
Q

what are the characteristics of the corpus luteum?

A

yellowish, collapsed folds of granulosa cells

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23
Q

what are the characteristics of the corpus albicans?

A

whitish connective tissue scar: degenerated corpus luteum

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24
Q

how many primordial oocytes are there at birth?

A

1,000,000

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25
Q

how are primordial follicles changed into mature follicles?

A
  • FSH promotes the development of a few primordial to form primary
  • begin to increase in size
  • supporting cells produce oestrogen becoming secondary follicles
  • secondary follicles produce more oestrogen and become antral follicles
  • one follicle will continue to a mature follicle
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26
Q

when is the mature follicle released?

A

ovulation

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27
Q

what are the 3 phases in the ovarian cycle?

A
  • follicular phase
  • ovulation
  • luteal phase
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28
Q

how long is the follicular phase?

A

13 days (approx.)
day 1-day 13

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29
Q

where are FSH and LH released from? what is there function?

A
  • released from anterior pituitary
  • stimulate up to 20 primordial follicles into primary follicles
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30
Q

what hormone is released by the follicles as they develop? what is its function?

A
  • inhibin
  • helps futher FSH secretion by anterior pituitary
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31
Q

what happens after the primary follicles are matured?

A

some primary follicle mature into secondary follicles

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32
Q

what happens in the follicular phase?

A

typically only one secondary follicle in an ovary matures into a vesicular follicle

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33
Q

what does the influence of LH cause to the vesicular follicle?

A
  • the volume of fluid increases within the antrum of this follicle
  • the oocyte is forced toward one side of the follicle, where it is surrounded by the cumulus oophorus.
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34
Q

what is the innermost layer of the cumulus oophorus cells called?

A

corona radiata

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35
Q

as the secondary follicle matures into a vesicular follicle, its primary oocyte finishes what?

A

finishes meiosis I: so two cells form….

36
Q

what is the functions of the 2 cells from meiosis I

A
  • One of these cells receives a minimal amount of cytoplasm and forms a polar body, which is a non-functional cell that later regresses.
  • The other cell receives the bulk of the cytoplasm and becomes the secondary oocyte
37
Q

what happens to the secondary oocyte after it is formed?

A
  • Continues to develop and reaches metaphase II of meiosis.
  • This secondary oocyte will not complete meiosis unless it is fertilized by a mature sperm.
  • If the oocyte is not fertilized, it breaks down about 24 hours later.
38
Q

what day does ovulation occur?

A

approx. day 14

39
Q

what happens at ovulation?

A

At Ovulation, the secondary oocyte is released from a vesicular follicle

40
Q

what is needed to induce ovulation?

A

a peak in LH secretion

41
Q

how is the secondary oocyte released from the vesicular follicle?

A
  • As the time of ovulation approaches, the follicle cells in the vesicular follicle increase their rate of fluid secretion, forming a larger antrum and causing further swelling within the follicle.
  • The edge of the follicle that continues to expand at the ovarian surface becomes thin and eventually ruptures, expelling the secondary oocyte.
42
Q

when does the luteal phase occur?

A

approx. days 15-28

43
Q

what is the most consistant phase in duration?

A

the luteal phase (14 days duration)

44
Q

what forms the corpus luteum?

A

The remaining follicle cells in the ruptured vesicular follicle within the ovary become an important endocrine structure: the corpus luteum

45
Q

how is the corpus luteum a temporary endocrine gland?

A

secretes progesterone and oestrogen that stabilize and build up the uterine lining and prepare for possible implantation of a fertilized oocyte.

46
Q

what is the lifespan of the corpus luteum?

A

10-13 days (if the oocyte is not fertillised)

47
Q

what does the corpus luteum regress into?

A

corpus albican

48
Q

what causes menstruation?

A
  • the corpus luteum regresses
  • its levels of secreted progesterone and oestrogen drop
  • causing the uterine lining to be shed in a process called menstruation.
49
Q

what marks the end of the luteal phase?

A

menstruation

50
Q

what is the primary source of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)?

A

hypothalmus

51
Q

what are the effects from gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH)?

A

stimulates anterior pituitary to produce and secrete FSH and LH

52
Q

what is the primary source of FSH?

A

anterior pituitary

53
Q

what are the effects of FSH?

A

stimulates growth of ovarian follicles

54
Q

what is the primary source of LH?

A

anterior pituitary

55
Q

what are the effects of LH?

A

stimulates ovulation (where there is a peak in LH)

56
Q

what are the 3 primary sources of oestrogen?

A
  • ovarian follicles (before ovulation)
  • corpus luteum (after ovulation)
  • placenta (during pregnancy)
57
Q

what are the 2 primary sources of progesterone?

A
  • corpus luteum
  • placenta (during pregnancy)
58
Q

what are the effects of oestrogen?

A

initiates and maintains growth of the functional layer of the endometrium

59
Q

what are the effects of progesterone?

A

primary hormone responsible for functional layer growth after ovulation; causes increases in:
- uterine blood vessel distribution
- uterine gland size
- nutrient production

60
Q

what is the primary source of inhibin?

A

ovarian follicles

61
Q

what are the effects of inibin?

A

inhibits FSH secretion to prevent excessive follicular development

62
Q

what hormone is released from the hypothalamus?

63
Q

what 2 hormones are released from the anterior pituitary?

64
Q

what 3 hormones are released from the ovaries?

A
  • oestrogen
  • progesterone
  • inhibin
65
Q

how is GnRH released from the hypothalumus?

A

in pulses
- the size and frequency of pulses regulate LH & FSH secretion

66
Q

what increases the frequency of GnRH pulses pre-ovulation?

67
Q

what decreases the frequency of GnRH pulses post-ovulation?

A

oestrogen and progesterone together

68
Q

what is an alternative name for GnRH?

A

Luteinising Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH)

69
Q

when is FSH most active?

A

pre-ovulation phase (follicular phase)

70
Q

what 2 things does FSH stimulate?

A
  • stimulates maturation of ovarian follicle
  • stimulates follicles to secrete oestrogen
71
Q

why is FSH inhibited after ovulation?

A

to prevent futher follicles maturing

72
Q

what 3 hormones are increased by oestrogen via a positive feedback system?

A

FSH, LH & GnRH

73
Q

when does the peak of LH occur? what is it’s alternative name?

A
  • once the oestrogen threshold is reached
  • LH burst
74
Q

what does the LH burst trigger?

75
Q

LH burst converts the __________ in the ovary into a ________________

A

LH burst converts the now empty follicle in the ovary into a corpus luteum

76
Q

what happens to the hormones post-ovulation?

A
  • Corpus luteum secretes progesterone, a little oestrogen & inhibin
  • Oestrogen and progesterone together suppress FSH and LH, preventing further follicles maturing
  • Inhibin also supresses the release of FSH from the anterior pituitary
78
Q

what happens if the oocyte is fertilised?

A

it travels to the uterus and implants

79
Q

what hormone does the embryo produce?

A

human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)

80
Q

what is the basis of hCG?

A

mimics LH and acts on the corpus luteum to maintain progesterone (and oestrogen) levels for 3-4 months (morning sickness?) until the placenta takes over hCG production

81
Q

why are there high progesterone and oestrogen levels during pregnancy?

A

inhibits the hypothalamus to prevent FSH rising and prevent further follicles maturing

82
Q

what are the 3 phases of the uterine cycle?

A
  1. Menstrual phase: (d1-d5)
  2. Proliferative phase: (d5-d14)
  3. Secretory phase: (d14-d28)
83
Q

what happens in the menstrual phase of the uterine cycle?

A

If no pregnancy occurs the thickened lining of endometrium is shed, due to the drop in progesterone levels

84
Q

what happens in the proliferation phase of the uterine cycle?

A
  • Oestrogen [from developing follicles in the ovary] stimulates proliferation of the endometrium (thickening) pre-ovulation, ready for fertilised ovum.
  • Uterine lining becomes highly vascular and rich in mucus-secreting glands.
85
Q

what happens in the secretory phase of the uterine cycle?

A
  • Corpus luteum (empty follicle within the ovary) secretes progesterone to thicken the endometrium further - ready for possible pregnancy
  • Uterus becomes oedematous with watery secretions
  • Corpus luteum degrades after ~10 -16 days leading to drop in progesterone and subsequent endometrium degradation (starts menstrual phase again)