Physiology- basic reproductive

Question 1

Label:

• antrum
• corpus albicans (regressed CL)
• growing follicle
• mature CL
• mature Grafiaan follicle
• oocyte (egg)
• ovarian blood vessels
• ovulation
• primordial follicle
• stroma
• vesicular follicle
• young corpus luteum (CL)

Answer 1

Question 2

Describe the process of ovulation.

Answer 2

• oocyte released from mature Grafiaan follicle
• follicle develops into corpus luteum
• corpus luteum releases hormones in 2nd half of cycle

Question 3

Describe the effects of Gonadotrophine Releasing Hormone (GnRH) during the uterine cycle.

Answer 3

• middle of cycle- small increase in FSH
• middle of cycle- large increase in LH- to produce egg + cause ovulation

Question 4

Decribe estrogen and progesterone levels during the uterine cycle.

Answer 4

• growing follicle produces E
• after ovulation E decreases
• after ovulation P increases- causing secretory phase- makes endometrium more effective for egg plantation
• if not pregnant E + P decrease- return to day 0
• endometrial cavity breaks down -> shedding of endometrial material, exudates, blood

Question 5

What happens to body temperature during the uterine cycle?

Answer 5

It increases during ovulation

Question 6

What are the roles of the folling hormones;

GnRH,
FSH,
LH
oestradiol,
progesterone?

Answer 6

• GnRH- stimulates LH + FSH secretion from ant. pituitary
• FSH- follicular recruitment
• development
• LH- maintain dominent follicle
• incude follicaular maturation + ovulation
• stimulate CL function
• oestradiol- support female 2ndary sexual characteristics and reproductive organs
• -ve feedback control of LH, FSH + GnRH
• +ve control of LH surge
• stimulate proliferative endometrium
• progesterone- maintain secretory endometrium
• -ve feedback control of HPO (Hypothalmic-Pituitary-Ovarian)

Question 7

Describe development off oocytes.

Answer 7

• in utero- germline stem cells proliferate to around 7 million oocytes
• by birth- only around 2 million immature follicles remain
• in puberty- immature follicles matures with each menstual cycle + release of E
• oocytes can ovulate from ruptured follicle and be fertilised
• by menopause- too few imature follicle to support ovulation cycle

* only 5% original eggs left by age 35

Question 8

When and how is sperm produced?

Answer 8

• sperm production begins during puberty and continues throughout life
• about 30 million produce/day
• 60-75 days for production
• 10-14 days for transport to epididymis
• sperm lasts 40-70 days
• around 20-200 million sperm/mL
• spermatgonium undergoes 2 rounds of miosis -> spermatids
• spermatids -> spermatozoa at Seminiferous Tubule (ST) lumen

* when E levels are high- uterus is more receptive to sperm
* when P levels are high- uterus is more hostile to sperm