Lecture 10 - Female Reproductive System pt 2

Question 1

what are the two cyclical events of the female reproductive cycle?

Answer 1

ovarian cycle

uterine (menstrual) cycle

Question 2

what is the ovarian cycle?

Answer 2

events that occur during and after the maturation of an oocyte

Question 3

what is the uterine (menstrual) cycle?

Answer 3

concurrent series of endometrial changes that are prepping for the arrival of the fertilized egg

Question 4

what 2 areas does hormonal regulation of the female cycle occur?

Answer 4

within cranial cavity

in the ovary

Question 5

where does hormonal regulation occur within the cranial cavity, at puberty?

Answer 5

the hypothalamus

Question 6

at puberty, what hormone does the hypothalamus release?

Answer 6

gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Question 7

what does GnRH stimulate the adenohypohysis to secrete?

Answer 7

FSH and LH

Question 8

what are the main stimulating hormones, acting in the ovaries, for hormonal regulation of the reproductive cycle?

Answer 8

FSH and LH

Question 9

what does FSH initiate in the ovaries?

Answer 9

several follicular growth

Question 10

what 2 events does LH stimulate in the ovaries?

Answer 10

• further development of the follicles in the ovaries

- the theca cells of developing follicles to secrete androgens

Question 11

What do LH and FSH simutaneously stimulate in the ovaries?

Answer 11

the developing follicles to secrete estrogen

Question 12

when influenced by FSH, secreted androgens are converted to what? and by what cells?

Answer 12

estrogen

granulosa cells of the developing follicles

Question 13

what hormone triggers ovulation, right in the middle of the cycle?

Answer 13

LH

Question 14

in the middle of the cycle, once ovulation is triggered, what is formed?

Answer 14

corpus luteum

Question 15

what does LH stimulate the corpus luteum to do?

Answer 15

secrete four female sexual hormones

Question 16

what are the 4 female sexual hormones secreted by the corpus luteum?

Answer 16

estrogen
progesterone
relaxin
inhibin

Question 17

what are the 3 most abundant estrogens in the plasma?

Answer 17

estradiol
estrone
estiol

Question 18

what is the most abundant estrogen in non-pregnant women?

Answer 18

estradiol (synthesized from cholesterol in the ovary)

Question 19

what are the 4 overarching phases of the female reproductive cycle?

Answer 19

menstrual phase
pre-ovulatory phase (could be combined with ovulation)
ovulation
post-ovulatory phase
(involve events in the ovaries and uterus simultaneously)

Question 20

how many days does the female cycle typically last?

Answer 20

24-36 days (28 day duration is assumed)

Question 21

by convention, what is the first day of menstruation indication?

Answer 21

the first day of a new reproductive cycle (about 5 days of whole cycle)

Question 22

what happens during menstruation, in the ovaries when influenced by the FSH?

Answer 22

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).