Physiology

Question 1

Female sex hormones? (5)

Answer 1

GnRH
LH
FSH
Oestrogen
Progesterone

Question 2

GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to release?

Answer 2

LH and FSH

Question 3

The stimulated theca granulosa cells around the follicle secrete?

Answer 3

Oestrogen

Question 4

Which hormone has negative feedback on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary?

Answer 4

Oestrogen

Question 5

What female secondary sexual characteristics does oestrogen promote? (3)

Answer 5

Breast tissue development
Growth and development of female sex organs at puberty
Development of blood vessels in the uterus and endometrial development

Question 6

If pregnancy occurs, what takes over progesterone production from the corpus luteum?

Answer 6

Placenta (after week 10)

Question 7

What are the effects of progesterone? (3)

Answer 7

Thickening and maintaining endometrium
Thickening the cervical mucus
Rise in body temperature

Question 8

Puberty starts in girls around age?

Answer 8

8-14

Question 9

Puberty starts in boys around?

Answer 9

9-15

Question 10

How long (roughly) does puberty last?

Answer 10

About 4 years

Question 11

What factor can induce early puberty?

Answer 11

Being overweight

Question 12

What enzyme is responsible for the creation of oestrogen and where is it found?

Answer 12

Aromatase, found in adipose tissue

Question 13

Stages of puberty in girls?

Answer 13

• Breast bud development
• Pubic hair
• Menarche (usually about 2 years from the start)

Question 14

Which sex has an earlier growth spurt?

Answer 14

Girls, rising GH levels in early puberty

Question 15

When is GnRH initially secreted in early puberty?

Answer 15

During sleep, throughout the day in later stages

Question 16

Rise in GnRH stimulates the release of?

Answer 16

FSH and LH

Question 17

FSH and LH stimulate ovarian production of?

Answer 17

Oestrogen

Question 18

Why do girls generally have a shorter stature than boys?

Answer 18

Oestrogen suppresses growth hormone and puberty starts earlier

Question 19

Menstrual cycle phases?

Answer 19

Follicular phase
Luteal phase
Menstruation

Question 20

When is the follicular phase?

Answer 20

From the start of menstruation to ovulation

Question 21

Which cells respond to FSH and LH, producing androstenedione and aromatase and as a result oestradiol?

Answer 21

Theca and granulosa cells

Question 22

What type of feedback does oestradiol have on the pituitary?

Answer 22

Negative feedback, until 1-2 days before ovulation where it switches to positive, inducing the LH surge and ovulation

Question 23

What happens in response to the LH surge?

Answer 23

Follicle release the mature ovum (unfertilised egg), ready for fertilisation to occur

Question 24

When does ovulation happen?

Answer 24

Day 14 of a 28 day cycle

Question 25

When is the luteal phase?

Answer 25

From the moment of ovulation to the start of menstruation

Question 26

The follicle that released the ovum collapses to become?

Answer 26

Corpus luteum

Question 27

What hormone does the corpus luteum produce high levels of?

Answer 27

Progesterone

Question 28

If fertilisation occurs, what hormone maintains the corpus luteum?

Answer 28

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)

Question 29

If fertilisation does not occur, what happens to the corpus luteum?

Answer 29

Regresses and becomes corpus albicans, no longer producing any hormones

Question 30

If oestrogen and progesterone levels fall after no fertilisation, what happens?

Answer 30

No hormonal maintenance of the endometrial lining, menstruation occurs

Question 31

How long does menstruation usually last in a 28 day cycle?

Answer 31

Between 1-8 days

Question 32

The dominant follicle is known as?

Answer 32

The Graafian follicle

Question 33

Around the time of ovulation, the primary oocyte undergoes?

Answer 33

Meiosis, creating a haploid cell and a polar body

Question 34

Where does fertilisation usually occur?

Answer 34

In the ampulla of the uterine tube

Question 35

The fertilised cell is called?

Answer 35

A zygote

Question 36

The zygote divides rapidly to form a mass of cells called?

Answer 36

The morula

Question 37

The morula travels down the uterine tube and gathers a fluid filled cavity within the group of cells and becomes a?

Answer 37

Blastocyst

Question 38

When the blastocyst arrives at the uterus, what cells adhere to the stroma of the endometrium?

Answer 38

Trophoblast cells

Question 39

The syncytiotrophoblast forms projections into the endometrium, converting it into?

Answer 39

Decidua, this provides nutrients for the trophoblast

Question 40

The growth of the syncytiotrophoblast cells stimulates the spiral arteries in the area to reduce their resistance. They become fragile and burst, leaving pools of blood called?

Answer 40

Lacunae (~week20)

Question 41

If the spiral arteries don't burst, what can the woman develop?

Answer 41

Pre-eclampsia

Question 42

The throphoblast continues to invade the endometrium forming?

Answer 42

Chorionic villi

Question 43

The chorionic villi closest to the connecting stalk contain mesoderm. this is known as the

Answer 43

Chorion frondosum

Question 44

The cells in the chorion frondosum proliferate and become?

Answer 44

The placenta

Question 45

The connecting stalk becomes?

Answer 45

The umbilical cord

Question 46

Placental development is usually complete by?

Answer 46

Week 10