Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

GI/GU Exam > Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation > Flashcards

Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Flashcards

(58 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What two organs are primarily involved in the menstrual cycle?

A
  • uterus

- ovary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the stages of development of the ovarian follicle? (4)

A
  • primordial follicle
  • primary follicle
  • secondary follicle
  • graafian (mature) follicle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How does the primordial follicle differentiate from the primary follicle? (4)

A
  • simple squamous becomes cuboidal
  • follicle begins to produce glycoproteins (ZP1, 2, 3, 4)
  • vascular wreath forms (cuz angiogenic factors)
  • zona pellucida develops
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are granulosa cells analogous to? What receptors do they express?

A
  • sertoli cells

- FSH receptors AND LH receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are thecal cells analogous to? What receptor do they express? What is their major product?

A
  • Leydig cells
  • LH receptors
  • Androstenedione
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What happens during the antral phase of follicle development? (3)

A
  • oocyte becomes suspended in fluid
  • cumulus oophorus appears
  • granulosa cells multiply exponentially
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the two populations of granulosa cells during the antral phase? What do they do?

A
  • Mural granulosa = make steroid hormones

- cumulus cells = maintain gap/adhesion junctions with oocyte

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the role of the theca interna during the antral stage?

A

synthesizes androgens from acetate and cholesterol, mostly androstenedione

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the role of the granulosa cells during the antral stage?

A

Convert androgens from thecal cells to estrogens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

At what point do large antral follicles go through meiosis a second time?

A

after the LH surge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How is meiosis arrest achieved?

A

By maintained elevated cAMP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How does sensitivity to FSH aid in selection of a follicle?

A

Only the biggest follicle with the most FSH receptor will become dominant, the others atrophy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What happens during the preovulatory period? (3)

A
  • the corpus luteum is formed
  • more progesterone is produced
  • there are structural changes to the follicle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What effect does luteinization have on theca and granulosa cells?

A
  • granulosa cells become granulosa lutein cells

- theca cells become theca lutein cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What structural changes does the LH surge induce in the ovary/oocyte? (4)

A
  • release of cytokines and hydrolytic enzymes break down follicle wall, tuniga albuginea and surface epithelium
  • cumulus-oocyte complex detaches (frees egg)
  • basal lamina of mural granulosa degrades
  • oocyte progresses to metaphase II
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What happens during the luteal phase in regards to the ovary?

A
  • antral cavity fills with blood/cell debris

- granulosa lutein cells collapse into antral cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How long does the corpus luteum remain?

A
  • 14 days approximately unless rescued by hCG
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does the corpus luteum do?

A
  • Produces increasing progesterone, which transforms uterine lining into adhesive and supportive structure
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What effect does estrogen and progesterone have on LH?

A

They inhibit it to basal levels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What do lutein cells secrete? What does it do?

A
  • inhibin A

- suppress FSH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is follicular atresia?

A

When the ovarian follicle apoptoses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are thecal cells also referred to as? Why?

A
  • The interstitial gland of the ovary

- because they repopulate the cellular stroma of the ovary after follicular atresia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What stage of the follicular phase are gonadotrophs more sensitive to GnRH during? Why?

A
  • the late follicular phase

- because high levels of estradiol in late phase enhance sensitivity of gonadotrophs to GnRH

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What specifically stimulates granulosa cells to produce inhibins?

25
What do inhibins do? What cells are they released from?
- Inhibit FSH production by gonadotrophs | - released from sertoli and granulosa cells
26
What do activins do? Where are they secreted from?
- Stimulate FSH release from pituitary cells | - granulosa cells
27
What level of estrogens stimulate negative feedback?
low and high levels
28
What effect do estrogens and progestins have on hypothalamus and pituitary?
a negative feedback effect
29
What level of progestins stimulate negative feedback?
High levels
30
When does the switch to positive feedback occur? What does it cause?
- Near the end of the follicular phase | - the LH surge
31
What two hormones promote the LH surge?
Estrodiol, progesterone
32
What is unique about the stimulatory effect of activins on FSH?
it is INDEPENDENT of GnRH action
33
What peaks during the follicular phase? (3)
- estradiol - LH - FSH
34
What peaks during the luteal phase? (3)
- progesterone - estradiol - inhibin
35
What leads to decrease in hormonal levels during late luteal phase?
degradation of the corpus luteum
36
What is the major product of the follicle during the follicular phase?
estradiol
37
What synthesizes estrogen during the luteal phase?
corpus luteum
38
What causes lowered BBT during follicular phase?
higher levels of estrogen
39
What causes higher BBT during luteal phase?
higher levels of progesterone
40
What causes drop of BBT during onset of menstruation?
degradation of the corpus luteum
41
What happens to the endometrium when the corpus luteum degrades?
The tissue breaks down, leading to bleeding (was maintained by corpus luteum)
42
What happens to the endometrium during the proliferative phase? (2)
- proliferation of the basal stromal cells in zona basalis | - proliferation of epithelial cells from other parts of uterus
43
What hormone is proliferation and differentiation of endometrium stimulated by?
estrogen from developing follicles
44
What does estrogen induce synthesis of in endometrial tissue?
progestin receptors
45
What happens to the endometrium during the secretory phase? (4)
- vascularization of endometrium increases - glycogen content increases - endometrial glands become engorged with secretions - stromal cells differentiate into predecidual cells
46
What hormone promotes the differentiation of stromal cells into predecidual cells?
PROGESTERONE
47
What physiological symptoms does PCOS cause? (4)
- hyperandrogenism - anovulation - polycystic ovaries - infertility
48
What hormonal changes do individuals with PCOS experience? (3)
- elevated LH - lowered FSH - elevated testosterone
49
What is the classic presentation of a patient with PCOS?
Young, obese, hirsute females of reproductive age with oligomenorrhea or secondary amenorrhea, possibly infertility
50
What is Turner syndrome the most common cause of?
congenital hypogonadism
51
What is Turner syndrome often caused by?
complete absence of second X chromosome
52
How do individuals with Turner syndrome typically appear, genitalia-wise?
- external and internal genitalia are female
53
What is the common presentation of a patient with Turner syndrome? (7)
- short - delayed puberty - webbed neck - nonfunctional ovaries - skeletal abnormalities - learning disabilities - lymphedema of hands/feet
54
What is menopause defined as?
Occurs 12 months after last menstrual period
55
What is menopause caused by?
- reduced estrogen | - low levels of inhibin
56
What are the levels of LH and FSH? Why?
Elevated LH and FSH caused by lack of negative feedback from inhibin, estrogen
57
What are the signs and symptoms of menopause? (9)
- irregular periods - vaginal dryness - hot flashes - night sweats - sleep problems - mood changes - weight gain, slowed metabolism - thinning hair/ dry skin - loss of breast fullness
58
What are some treatments to manage the symptoms of menopause? (4)
- estrogen therapy - vaginal estrogen - low-dose antidepressants - gabapentin

GI/GU Exam (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions