Pathophysiology of Female Reproduction Flashcards
What happens in the ovaries?
Site of ovum/egg production and release
What happens in the uterine or Fallopian tubes?
Transport and site of fertilization for ovum
What happens in the uterus?
Site of implantation and growth of developing embryo
Fundus, body and cervix
What happen in the vagina?
Site of delivery of sperm
Puberty in Females
8: hypothalamus releases GnRH which leads to production of LH and FSH which causes growth of ovaries and follicles and induces the first menarche
Ovaries also start secreting estrogen and progesterone
Estrogen is responsible for?
secondary sex characteristics (enlargement of breast, fat and skin changes)
Follicular Phase
Increased FSH and LH leading to maturation of follicles (ultimately just one)
Granulosa and theca cells cause a high concentration of estrogen
Positive Feedback Effect
Estrogen increases the amount of LH and LH increases the amount of estrogen
Surge of LH leads to?
Ovulation
Ovarian Cycle
Mid-cycle surge of LH stimulates follicular rupture and ovulation
Ovum is picked up by the fimbriae at the end of the uterine tubes and carried to the fallopian tubes
Why does the follicule rupture?
Because the LH and FSH cause rapid swelling due to increased fluid accumulation
Luteal phase if pregnant
Corpus luteum forms via lutenization (needs LH) which secretes progesterone
hCG maintains the corpus luteum and keeps the progesterone secretion
Luteal phase in the absence of pregnancy
The LH levels drop and the corpus luteum cannot survive
It becomes scar tissue and leads to NO estrogen or progesterone leading to menstruation
Estrogen and progesterone do what when secreted by the corpus luteum?
Feedback inhibit AP and decrease FSH and LH secretion
Another hormone released by the corpus luteum?
Inhibin
What does Inhibin do?
Further decreases FSH
Low levels of FSH and LH leads to?
Involution of the corpus luteum
So what happens when there is no more estrogen, progesterone, and corpus luteum?
Feedback inhibition disappears and FSH and LH will begin and the initiate of the growth of new follicles
What is the most potent estrogen?
Beta estradiol from testosterone/androstenedione
What enzyme helps form estrogens?
Aromatase
FSH and LH increase the activity and import of cholesterol
Estrogen function
PROLIFERATION
Increase the size of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina
Growth of the breast and milk-apparatus
Early uniting of opiphyses
What is a function of estrogen that causes problems in menopausal women?
It inhibits osteoclast and stimulate bone growth and since menopausal women have decreased or no estrogen this doesn’t occur
Progesterone functions
SECRETION
Promotes changes in secretion in the uterus and decrease uterine contractions
Promotes increased secretion in the fallopian tubes
Causes alveolar cells of the breast to become secretory
Monthly Cycle Phases
Proliferative phase
Secretory phase
Menses
