Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Flashcards

1
Q

What cycles make up the menstrual cycle?

A

Ovarian cycle + Uterine/endometrial cycle

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2
Q

What are the phases of the ovarian follicle cycle?

A
  1. Follicular phase
  2. Ovulatory phase
  3. Luteal phase
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3
Q

A primordial follicle contains what type of oocyte and what structure of granulosa cells surrounding it?

A

Primary oocyte

Surrounded by a single layer of pregranulosa cells

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4
Q

What does the primordial follicle release?

A

Paracrine factors

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5
Q

What type of follicle represents most of the ovarian reserve?

A

Primordial follicles

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6
Q

What happens to a majority of the primordial follicles?

A

Follicular atresia

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7
Q

A primary follicle contains what type of oocyte and what structure of granulosa cells surrounding it?

A

Primary oocyte

Surrounded by a single layer of granulosa cells - simple cuboidal

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8
Q

At what follicle stage are the glycoproteins for the zona pellucida beginning to be produced? - (ZP1,2,3,4)

A

Primary follicle

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9
Q

A secondary follicle contains what type of oocyte and what structure of granulosa cells surrounding it?

A

Primary oocyte

Surrounded by layers of granulosa cells - stratified cuboidal

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10
Q

What do secondary follicles release to stromal cells and what does that do?

A

Release paracrine factors to stromal cells so they differentiate into thecal cells (interna and externa)

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11
Q

As the follicle matures towards the secondary follicle, what is increased?

A

Vascularization

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12
Q

The follicle can release ______ to promote the development of 1-2 arterioles for vascularization on its way to the secondary follicle

A

Angiogenic factors

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13
Q

The zona pellucida has binding sites for?

A

Sperm

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14
Q

Preantral follicles have _____ endocrine function

A

Minimal

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15
Q

Are granulosa cells or thecal cells producing hormones during the preantral phase?

A

NO

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16
Q

Even during the preantral phase, granulosa cells do have a ____ receptor

A

FSH

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17
Q

Even during the preantral phase, thecal cells do have a ____ receptor

A

LH

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18
Q

As the antrum develops and fills with follicular fluid, the antral phase begins. What cell types increase during the antral phase?

A

Granulosa cells with subpopulations

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19
Q

As the follicle continues to grow and so does the antrum, growth at this stage becomes responsive to what?

A

Gonadotropins! - LH and FSH

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20
Q

LH will stimulate the theca interna cells to release?

A

Androstenedione

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21
Q

FSH will stimulate the granulosa cells to do what?

A

Convert the theca interna produced androstenedione into estrogen and progesterone

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22
Q

At the antral stage, the follicle is competent to eventually complete meiosis 1 at ovulation. When will the oocyte come out of cell arrest and continue the cell cycle?

A

With the LH surge at mid-cycle

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23
Q

How is cell cycle arrest achieved in the oocyte at the antral stage?

A

Elevated cAMP levels in the oocyte

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24
Q

What does a follicle need to become the dominant follicle for that particular cycle?

A

Largest follicle with the MOST FSH receptors

- highest FSH sensitivity

25
Q

What is the periovulatory period and how long is it?

A

Time between the LH surge and ovulation

- 32-36 hours

26
Q

What 3 things occur in the theca and mural granulosa cells during the periovulatory period?

A
  1. Prepare for luteinization
  2. Formation of corpus luteum
  3. Increased production of progesterone
27
Q

The LH surge induces?

A

Luteinization = granulosa cells –> granulosa lutein cells

28
Q

LH surge induces a shift in steriodogenic activity and increases ____ availability to produce progesterone

A

Cholesterol

29
Q

List 4 LH surge induced structural changes

A
  1. Breakdown of follicle wall, tunica albuginea, ovarian surface epithelium
  2. Cumulus-oocyte complex detaches
  3. Basal lamina of mural granulosa cells degraded to increase blood flow
  4. Oocyte progresses to metaphase 2
30
Q

During the luteal phase, what does the antral cavity fill with?

A

Blood and cell debris

31
Q

During the luteal phase, what collapses into the antral cavity?

A

Granulosa lutein cells filled with cholesterol esters, theca interna cells, etc.

32
Q

The corpus luteum will remain viable if ____ is present

A

hCG

33
Q

The corpus luteum will become ____ if no pregnancy occurs

A

Corpus albicans - CT scar tissue

34
Q

If pregnant, the corpus luteum will secrete?

A

Progesterone

35
Q

Transient decrease in estrogen following the LH surge rebounds when?

A

Midluteal phase

36
Q

What will return the LH levels back down to normal?

A

Progesterone and estrogen

37
Q

Lutein cells secrete _____ to inhibit _____

A

Inhibin A to inhibit FSH

38
Q

What is the predominant process in the ovary?

A

Follicular atresia

39
Q

With follicular atresia, what cells undergo apoptosis?

A

Granulosa cells and oocytes

40
Q

With follicular atresia, what cells do NOT undergo apoptosis?

A

Theca cells

41
Q

When does follicular atresia occur?

A

Anytime during development

42
Q

Describe the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis

A
Hypothalamus - GnRH
Anterior pituitary 
- LH to theca and granulosa cells
- FSH to granulosa cells
Theca - androgens and progestins
Granulosa cells - progestins, estrogens, inhibins, activins
43
Q

The granulosa cell releases inhibins that do what?

A

INHIBIT FSH release from the anterior pituitary

44
Q

The granulosa cell releases activins that do what?

A

ACTIVATE FSH release from the anterior pituitary

45
Q

What can have negative or positive feedback on the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus?

A

Progestins and Estrogens

46
Q

What has a greater negative feedback, progestins or estrogens?

A

Estrogens

47
Q

When is negative feedback by estrogens and progestins the greatest?

A

At luteal phase

48
Q

When is positive feedback by the estrogens and progestins the greatest?

A

At end of follicular phase to promote LH surge

49
Q

In the follicular phase, what cells are producing estrogens?

A

Theca and granulosa

50
Q

In the luteal phase, what cells are producing estrogens and progestins?

A

Corpus luteum = theca lutein and granulosa lutein

51
Q

What and when is the basal body temperature decreased during the menstrual cycle?

A

Increased estrogen at the follicular phase = DECREASED BBT

52
Q

What and when is the basal body temperature increased during the menstrual cycle?

A

Increased progesterone at the luteal phase = INCREASED BBT

53
Q

If no pregnancy, the corpus luteum disintegrates and does what to the BBT?

A

Decreases it

54
Q

Menopause

A

12 months after last period

55
Q

When does LH surge?

A

After follicular phase and before luteal phase of ovarian cycle

56
Q

When does FSH increase?

A

At ovulatory phase as well

57
Q

When does progesterone increase?

A

Luteal phase

58
Q

When does estradiol increase?

A

At the end of the follicular phase and during the luteal phase