Physiology Flashcards
Which event occurs 1 day after LH surge?
Ovulation
What is the site of ovulation?
Ovary
Where is the site of fertilisation?
Fallopian tube
At which day does the blastocyst enter the uterine cavity?
Where does this occur?
Day 3-5
Uterus
What day does implantation occur?
Day 6-7
Which day does hCG get released?
Where does this occur?
9-10
Trophoblastic cells
State the order of potency regarding stem cells.
Totipotent
Pluripotent
Multipotent
Omnipotent
What is puberty?
developmental phase between childhood and adulthood whereby functional maturation of reproductive glands and external genitalia mediated by changes in sex hormones (GnRH, FSH, LH)
What are the two stages of Female Puberty?
Adrenarche (6-8) - adrenal production
Menarche (10-16)
Describe adrenarche.
Process of adrenal gland secreting androgens (DHEA) which is pre-programmed with an unknown trigger. This occurs at age 6-8 years. Androgens stimulate a growth spurt. Breast development begins.
Describe Menarche.
Onset of menstrual cycle occurring aged 10-16, to produce mature ova and endometrium to potentially support a fertilised cell (zygote). The HPO axis begins: GnRH (Hyp.) released binds to Anterior Pituitary which releases FSH and LH, travelling in the blood. LSH binds to theca cells to produce androgens and oestrogen.
Where is GnRH released from?
Hypothalamus
What does GnRH cause and where?
Release of FSH and LH from the Anterior Pituitary
Where does LH bind to in the female body? What effect does it exert?
Theca cells
Production of testosterone
Release of ovum (ovulation)
State 3 female phenotypic changes.
- Somatic growth
- Pubic hair
- Growth and maturation of reproductive tract
- Fat deposition: breast, buttocks, thighs
- Closure of epiphyseal plates: Stop growing
• Somatic growth occurs
At what age do males undergo puberty?
8-12 years old
Which cells to FSH bind to?
Sertoli
What effect does FSH have?
Spermatogenesis
What effect does LH have in males and where/
Binds Leydig cells to produce Testosterone
State 5 male phenotypic changes.
- Somatic growth
- Testicular enlargement
- Pubic hair growth
- Growth of larynx
- Deepening voice
Define fertilisation.
Process of male + female gametes fusing ≈ zygote
Sperm cells attach to which part of the ovum?
Corona radiata, entering the zona pellucida
What cellular change occurs to reduce further sperm entry?
1º block: Egg depolarises
2º block: Zona pellucida changes
Which reaction allows entry of sperm cell to the zona pellucida?
Capacitance then Acrosome reaction (exocytic reaction of enzymes)
Outline cleavage and compaction.
Process of conceptus held in fallopian tube and zygote undergoes successive divisions to become a morula (16-cell)
Outline blastocyst formation.
Process of 16-cell morula becoming a blastocyst at days 3-5.
Blastocyst has ICM (embryo) and trophoblasts (placenta)
What process allows the blastocyst into the uterus?
Progesterone levels rise, with SMC and conceptus goes into uterus
What does the blastocyst do to avoid immune rejection?
Secretion of immunosuppressive agents and ßhCG
Which organ maintains secretion of progesterone until the placenta takes over?
Corpus luteum
When detecting ßhCG, which cell produce this?
Syncytiotrophoblasts at day 7-8
Describe implantation.
Blastocyst adheres to endometrium wall via:
Embryo hatching - lytic factors from endometrial cavity digest zona pellucida
Apposition - contact between blastocyst and endometrium epithelium form a crypt of endometrium
Adhesion - trophoblast and uterine epithelium bind via microvilli of trophoblast
Invasion - syncytiotrophoblasts flow into endometrium in decidualisation
What is decidualisation?
Final stage of implantation whereby syncitiotrophoblasts flow into the endometrium causing oedema and vascularisation
Outline the formation of the placenta.
Syncytiotrophoblast cells erode through endometrial capillaries which bleed into space to give primitive placental circulation.
Cytotrophoblasts proliferate to produce primary chorionic villi. Mesenchyme from extramebryonic coelom invades to produce secondary. Finally mesenchymal cells form foetal capillaries to form tertiary chorionic villus.
How many layers are produced through decidualisation. State them.
3, giving a specialised endometrium of pregnancy
• Decidua basalis = underneath implanting embryo
• Decidua capsularis = overlies embryo
• Decidua parietalis = covers remainder of uterine surface
Outline the maternal and foetal blood at the placenta.
- 120 spiral arteries entering via uterus wall into intervillous space through pulsatile bursts
- Blood flow towards chorionic plate for adequate for exchange
- Blood drains through venous vessels in basal plate (no capillaries between arterioles and venules – placenta is essentially the capillary bed)
- 2 umbilical arteries (deoxygenated blood) -> branch beneath amnion -> penetrate chorionic plate + branch in chorionic villi to form capillary network
- 1 umbilical vein returns blood
Describe the blood-placental barrier in humans.
• Syncytiotrophoblasts regulate substance transport
State the main functions of the placenta.
- Endocrine: Steroids + Proteins
- Foetal lung: Gaseous exchange
- Foetal gut: Supplies nutrients
- Foetal kidney: Regulate fluid volume + Excretion
State the two main products of the placenta.
- ßhCG: Syncytiotrophoblast cells produce under direction of progesterone and oestrogens
- HCS1 + HCS2 (hPL): Polypeptide hormones related to GH and prolactin playing role in conversion of glucose to fatty acids and ketones + promote development of maternal mammary glands
Describe the effect foetal RBCs have on the O2 dissociation curve.
• HbF has 2 alpha and 2 gamma chains. Gamma chain has reduced 2,3-DPG affinity = higher O2 affinity -> dissociation curve shifts to left
Therefore at a lower ppO2, O2 saturation is higher
Describe how the following substances are transported across the placenta:
- Glucose
- Amino acids
- FAs
- Iron
GLUT1
AATs
FATP; pFABP
State 3 hormones the placenta produces
- hCG
- Oestrogens
- Progesterone
- hCS (hPL)
Which cells secrete hCG?
Syncytioblasts
Placenta (after 7 weeks)
What is the function of hCG?
• Prevent breakdown of corpus luteum at end of monthly female sexual cycle
By producing hCG, what do the syncytioblasts indirectly facilitate?
Production of hCG allows the maintenance of the corpus luteum which produces progesterone to prevent menstruation and help endometrium grow and store nutrients cf shed.
What are the functions of oestrogen generally?
- Enlargement of uterus
- Enlargement of breast ductal structure and growth
- Enlargement of female external genitalia
- Relax pelvic ligaments -> SI joint and pubic symphysis ≈ passage of foetus thorugh birth canal
How is oestrogen produced by the placenta?
Syncytioblasts do not produce oestrogen de novo. Adrenal glands produce DHEAS and 16-OH-DHEAS which is converted by trophoblasts into estradiol, estrone and estriol.
State the functions of progesterone.
- Development of decidua -> nutrition
- Reduced contractility of uterus ≈ reduce spontaneous abortion
- Conceptus development prior to implantation ≈ secretions and dilatation of fallopian tubes
- Aids oestrogen prepare breasts for lactation
Where is hCS produced?
• Protein hormone secreted by placenta at about 5th week of pregnancy
What is the highest amount of protein produced by the placenta?
hCS
What are the postulated functions of hCS?
• Partial development of breasts + lactation
During pregnancy, what is the output of the anterior pituitary like? State some hormones and which go up and which go down.
- Increased production of ACTH, TSH, PL
* Reduced production of FSH and LH
Which of the following go up or down during pregnancy:
- Glucocorticoids
- Aldosterone
- Thyroid hormone (T3/T4)
- PTH
- Relaxin
All increased
Which placental hormone increases thyroxine production?
hCG
Which hormone induces secretion of relaxin?
hCG
Which two effects does relaxin have?
Vasodilation
Ligament laxity
State which of the following metabolic and nutritional changes increase or decrease in pregnancy and how:
- Metabolism
- Nutrition
• BMR increases in latter half of pregnancy
- Require store prior to last 2 months of pregnancy when foetus requires however reserve required
- If not adequate reserve, nutritional deficiencies may occur: Ca, PO4, Fe, Vitamins DEAK
Describe the changes in maternal circulatory system in pregnancy.
- Blood flow through placenta + maternal cardiac output increased: Increased metabolism and blood flowing in maternal circulation increases cardiac output h/e falls in last 8 weeks of pregnancy
- Maternal blood volume increases during pregnancy: fluid retention (aldosterone + renal mechanisms) + hemopoiesis ≈ increased blood volume
- Maternal respiration increases during pregnancy: Increased oxygen requirement to meet increased BMR thus minute ventilation increases
What happens to maternal blood volume during pregnancy and why?
• Maternal blood volume increases during pregnancy: fluid retention (aldosterone + renal mechanisms) + hemopoiesis ≈ increased blood volume
What happens to maternal respiration during pregnancy and why?
• Maternal respiration increases during pregnancy: Increased oxygen requirement to meet increased BMR thus minute ventilation increases
Which three factors cause an increase in respiration rate during pregnancy?
Increased CO2 demands
Progesterone (sensitivity)
Foetus mechanical pressure upwards in abdominopelvic cavity
Outline the changes in kidney function during pregnancy?
Why is this?
• Urine output increased: Increased fluid intake + excretory
- Reabsorption increased: Sodium, chloride and water reabsorbed by steroid hormones of placenta and adrenal cortex
- Renal blood flow and GFR increased due to vasodilation (relaxin + progesterone)
Define Sex.
physical, biological appearance determined by anatomy, as a result of interactions of chromosomes and hormones
Does Sex equal Gender?
Sex ≠ Gender
State the two primitive duct systems all embryos have.
Wolffian (male) + Mullerian ducts (female)
In males, which primitive duct predominated?
Wolffian
In females, which primitive duct predominated?
Mullerian
Outline the process of male sex differentiation in utero.
Sex determining region of Y (SRY) chromosome codes testis determining factor (TDF) which causes differentiation of gonads to testes.
Testes secrete MIF and T which causes Wolffian ducts into reproductive tract whilst degenerating mullerian ducts.
Outline the process of female sex differentiation in utero.
No SRY chromosome thus no TDF which results in ovaries. No Testes production of T or MIF thus Mullerian ducts develop into female reproductive tract whilst degeneration of Wolffian ducts occurs
What is the standard EDD from last LMP?
40/40
Why may actual foetal age be EDD - 14 days?
• Ovulation will not be known thus actual foetal age can be EDD - 14 days (assuming 28 day cycle)
What is the week range for a delivery at term?
37-42
What is a pre-term birth?
< 37 weeks