Lecture 10 - Female Reproductive System pt 2 Flashcards
what are the two cyclical events of the female reproductive cycle?
ovarian cycle
uterine (menstrual) cycle
what is the ovarian cycle?
events that occur during and after the maturation of an oocyte
what is the uterine (menstrual) cycle?
concurrent series of endometrial changes that are prepping for the arrival of the fertilized egg
what 2 areas does hormonal regulation of the female cycle occur?
within cranial cavity
in the ovary
where does hormonal regulation occur within the cranial cavity, at puberty?
the hypothalamus
at puberty, what hormone does the hypothalamus release?
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
what does GnRH stimulate the adenohypohysis to secrete?
FSH and LH
what are the main stimulating hormones, acting in the ovaries, for hormonal regulation of the reproductive cycle?
FSH and LH
what does FSH initiate in the ovaries?
several follicular growth
what 2 events does LH stimulate in the ovaries?
- further development of the follicles in the ovaries
- the theca cells of developing follicles to secrete androgens
What do LH and FSH simutaneously stimulate in the ovaries?
the developing follicles to secrete estrogen
when influenced by FSH, secreted androgens are converted to what? and by what cells?
estrogen
granulosa cells of the developing follicles
what hormone triggers ovulation, right in the middle of the cycle?
LH
in the middle of the cycle, once ovulation is triggered, what is formed?
corpus luteum
what does LH stimulate the corpus luteum to do?
secrete four female sexual hormones
what are the 4 female sexual hormones secreted by the corpus luteum?
estrogen
progesterone
relaxin
inhibin
what are the 3 most abundant estrogens in the plasma?
estradiol
estrone
estiol
what is the most abundant estrogen in non-pregnant women?
estradiol (synthesized from cholesterol in the ovary)
what are the 4 overarching phases of the female reproductive cycle?
menstrual phase
pre-ovulatory phase (could be combined with ovulation)
ovulation
post-ovulatory phase
(involve events in the ovaries and uterus simultaneously)
how many days does the female cycle typically last?
24-36 days (28 day duration is assumed)
by convention, what is the first day of menstruation indication?
the first day of a new reproductive cycle (about 5 days of whole cycle)
what happens during menstruation, in the ovaries when influenced by the FSH?
several primordial follicles develop into primary and secondary follicles - full development may take several months (may take some follicles several cycles to mature and ovulate).
