Module 3: Physiology of the Female Reproductive Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

What does menarche mean?

A

Very first menstrual flow

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2
Q

What does menses mean?

A

Regular monthly flow in the reproductive years

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3
Q

What does perimenopausal mean:

A

A women at the near end of her mentrual years

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4
Q

When does perimenopausal happen?

A

Begins around the late 40’s

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5
Q

How long does the perimenopausal years happen?

A

Around 10 years in duration

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6
Q

What is menopause?

A

When menstrual cycle ceases altogether

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7
Q

When is a women officially in menopause?

A

1 year without a menstrual period

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8
Q

What are female menstrual cycle hormones? 6

A
  1. GnRH
  2. FSH
  3. LH
  4. Estrogen
  5. Progesterone
  6. Relaxin
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9
Q

What are the three key areas to consider in the menstrual cycle?

A
  1. Hormones
  2. Ovaries and follicles
  3. Endometrium
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10
Q

What does FSH and LH do?

A

Stimulate the ovaries

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11
Q

Where are gonadotropins produced?

A

Hormones produced by the anterior pituitary

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12
Q

What does FSH do?

A

Stimulates the growth of follicles

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13
Q

Many follicles will be stimulated but how many will mature?

A

Only one will mature and produce a egg

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14
Q

What does LH do?

A

Stimulates the follicles also but to a lesser extend compared to FSH

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15
Q

A surge in LH is responsible for what?

A

Ovulation

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16
Q

LH supports the growth of what?

A

Corpus luteum but does not maintain it

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17
Q

In pregnancy HCG does what?

A

Maintains the corpus luteum

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18
Q

Dominant follicle after ovulation is referred to as what?

A

Corpus luteum

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19
Q

What are some ovarian steroids? 3

A
  1. Estrogen
  2. Progesterone
  3. Relaxin
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20
Q

Estrogen is secreted from what?

A

Granulosa cells lining the follicle

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21
Q

Peak secretion of estrogen occurs when?

A

Just before ovulation

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22
Q

What must happen for LH to surge?

A

Estrogen must hit a threshold

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23
Q

What is the cause for proliferation of endometrium?

A

Estrogen

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24
Q

Estrogen is responsible for what?

A

Secondary sex characteristics

25
Q

Progesterone is secreted by what?

A

Corpus luteum

26
Q

Peak concentration of progesterone happens when?

A

about 7 days after ovulation

27
Q

Progesterone induces what?

A

Secretory activity and hypertrophy of the endometrium

28
Q

Progesterone inhibits the secretion of what?

A

LH

29
Q

What does relaxin do?

A
  1. Relaxes the symphysis pubis during fetal delivery
  2. Helps dilate the cervix to promote sperm mobility
  3. Also dilates the cervix in labor during fetal delivery
30
Q

The menstrual cycle is assumed to be how long?

A

28 days

31
Q

What is the stages of the menstrual cycle?

A
  1. Menstruation day 1-5
  2. Proliferation phase day 6-14
  3. Ovulation day 14
  4. Secretory day 14-28
32
Q

The proliferative phase is also known as what?

A

Follicular phase

33
Q

The secretory phase is also known as what?

A

Luteal phase

34
Q

What does the hypothalamus do for menstruation?

A

It releases GnRH to stimulate the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH

35
Q

What does the FSH do besides stimulating the follicles?

A

It stimulates the ovaries to release estrogen and progesterone

36
Q

What does the LH stimulate?

A

It stimulates the ovaries to release relaxin

37
Q

What happens during the bleeding phase? 2

A
  1. Ovarian hormone levels are low causing hypothalamus to produce GnRF
  2. This causes pituitary to produce FSH and LH
38
Q

A Graafian follicle matures by what day? And is accompanied by what?

A

Day 13 and is accompanied by an increase in estrogen

39
Q

What happens during the physiology day of the menstrual cycle? 3

A
  1. Estrogen hits a threshold which causes LH to surge causing ovulation
  2. The Graafian follicle bursts and becomes the corpus luteum
  3. Progesterone increases and estrogen decreases a little
40
Q

What happens if fertilization does not occur after ovulation? 2

A
  1. corpus luteum regresses and progesterone decreases
  2. Withdrawal of the hormones causes menstruation to begin, and the cycle reinitiates again
41
Q

What is mittelschmerz?

A

Pain at ovulation

42
Q

What are some symptoms of menstruation?

A
  1. Fluid retention or weight gain in the luteal phase
  2. Rise in body temperature at ovulation due to progesterone
43
Q

What does the endometrium look like during the menstrual phase?

A

It is thin

44
Q

What can we see during the menstrual phase on the ultrasound? 3 (in the canal)

A
  1. potential blood in the canal
  2. Anechoic areas within canal
  3. Thin endometrium
45
Q

During postmenopause what is the endometrium thickness?

A

1-3 mm

46
Q

What is the cumulus oophorus?

A

When the ovum with its layers, the corona radiata and zona pellucida protrudes from the wall of the follicle into the follicular fluid

47
Q

What is the cumulus oophorus a sign of?

A

Ovulation is about to occur

48
Q

What happens to the spiral arterioles during the proliferative phase?

A

They undergo lengthening via mitosis (so fast they coil)

49
Q

What happens to the endometrium post ovulation with progesterone influence?

A

It becomes edematous

50
Q

Without fertilization, the corpus luteum does what? 3

A
  1. Degenerates and estrogen and progesterone decrease
  2. Endometrium shrinks causing the circulation to be cut off
  3. Necrosis of the tissue occurs and then it is shed
51
Q

What happens to the endometrium with early pregnancy?

A

The endometrium thickens further due to the continued increase in progesterone produced by the corpus luteum

52
Q

During early pregnancy with high levels of estrogen and progesterone what happens?

A

They hypothalamus is suppressed causing further menstrual cycles to stop

53
Q

What forms when the corpus luteum degenerates? 2

A
  1. A corpus albicans
  2. A white scar forms which we can see with EV
54
Q

A corpus fibrosum occurs when?

A

A follicle does not rupture

55
Q

If a corpus fibrosum occurs when a follicle does not rupture what happens? 2

A
  1. Corpus luteum does not form
  2. The liquid is gradually absorbed and the follicle regresses, forming a scar
56
Q

The hormone that triggers ovulation is what?

A

LH

57
Q

A functional cyst on the ovary after ovulation has occurred is called what?

A

Corpus luteum

58
Q

Where is estrogen produced?

A

From the granulosa cells lining the follicle