Physiology of the Female Reproductive Cycle Flashcards
menarche
the very first menstrual flow
menses
regular monthly flow int he reproductive years
perimenopausal (what happens, begins/lasts)
a woman at the near end of her menstrual years
cycles become irregular, begins around late 40’s, last about ten years
menopause
when the menstrual cycle ceases altogether (1 year without period)
female menstrual cycle hormones (6)
GnRH
FSH
LH
estrogen
progesterone
relaxin
difference between GnRF and GnRH
none they are the same thing just different names
GnRH produced by
hypothalamus
the ______ is the control center for the menstrual cycle
hypothalamus
GnRH stimulates the ______ to produce its hormones
anterior pituitary
anterior pituitary releases
FSH and LH
FSH and LH are produced by the _____ of the ____
beta cells
anterior pituitary
FSH and LH are known as
gonadotropins
FSH and LH stimulate the
ovaries
FSH stimulates
the growth of follicles
many follicles will be stimulated by ____, but only one will ____ producing an ____ with each cycle
FSH
mature
egg
LH stimulates (in respect to follicles)
follicles but to a lesser extend to FSH
the surge of ___ is responsible for ovulation
LH
LH supports the growth of the ______ but does not _____
corpus luteum
maintain it
in pregnancy, ____ maintains the corpus luteum
hCG
dominant follicle after ovulation is referred to as the _____
corpus luteum
ovarian steroids (3)
estrogen
progesterone
relaxin
estrogen is secreted by the _____
granulosa cells lining the follicle
estrogen peak secretion occurs ______
just before ovulation
estrogen must hit a threshold in order for ____
LH to surge
estrogen is the cause for _______, and is also responsible for _____
proliferation of the endometrium
female secondary sex characteristics (breast, hips, hair)
progesterone is secreted by the
corpus luteum
peak concentration of progesterone is reached _____
about 7 days after ovulation
progesterone function (2)
induces secretory activity and hypertrophy of the endometrium
inhibits the secretion of LH
relaxin function (3)
relaxes pubic symphysis during fetal delivery
helps dilate the cervix to promote sperm mobility
also dilates the cervix in labour during fetal delivery
days of the cycle (28 days)
1-5 menstruation
6-14 proliferative (follicular phase for ovary which starts day 1)
day 14 ovulation
day 14-28 secretory (luteal phase for ovary)
Hypothalamus releases ______, which stimulates _____ to release ____ and _____. FSH stimulates the _____ to release ____ and ____, and LH stimulates the ____ to release ____
GnRH
anterior pituitary
FSH
LH
ovaries
estrogen
progesterone
ovaries
relaxin
Day 1 bleeding phase:
_____ hormones are low causing ____ to produce ______. This causes the _____ to produce _____. A _____ by day 13 and is accompanied by an increase in ______
ovarian
hypothalamus
GnRH
anterior pituitary
FSH and LH
graffian follicle matures
estrogen
what occurs during day one to 13 of the cycle
ovarian hormones low = hypothalamus releases GnRH -> stimulates ant pituitary = releases FSH/LH
Graffian follicle matures by day 13 = increase in estrogen
day 14 ovulation:
____ hits a threshold which causes ____ to surge causing ovulation. The ______ bursts and becomes the ______. _______ increase/_____ decreases a little
estrogen
LH
graffian follicle
corpus luteum
progesterone
estrogen
what occurs during day one to 14 of the cycle
estrogen hits threshold = LH surge = ovulation
graffian follicle becomes corpus luteum
progesterone increases/estrogen decreases a little
if fertilization does not occur after ovulation what happens
corpus luteum regresses = progesterone decreases
withdrawal of hormones = menstruation begins
Mittelschmerz
pain at ovulation
two symptoms during luteal (secretory) phase
fluid retention
weight gain
what is a symptom of ovulation (not mittelschmerz)
slight raise in body temp due to progesterone
proliferative phase endometrium on US
hypoechoic halo
hyperechoic out edge of endo
hypoechoic endo
hyperechoic endometrial canal
the proliferative phase endometrium is describe as having a ____ appearance
trilaminar
secretory phase endometrium on US
hypoechoic halo
hyperechoic endo
menstrual phase endometrium on US
very thin
may see some blood in canal
if you see blood in endometrial canal how do you measure the endometrium
measure each wall and add them together not including the fluid
______ phase: spiral aterioles undergo lengthening via _____ (so fast they coil)
proliferative
mitosis
after ovulation and with _____ influence, the endometrium becomes ______ (swollen with an excessive accumulation of fluid)
progesterone
edematous
without fertilization, the corpus luteum _____ and estrogen/progesterone ______. Endometrium shrinks = _______ = ____ of the tissue and its shed
degenerates
decrease
circulation cut off
necrosis
in early pregnancy, the endometrium thickens further due to the continued increase in ______ produced by the _____
progesterone
corpus luteum
in early pregnancy, the high levels of _____ and _____ supress the _____. Further menstrual cycles are stopped
estrogen
progesterone
hypothalamus
endometrium cycles before/after ovulation
vs
ovarian cycles before/after ovulation
endo: proliferative -> ovulation -> secretory
ovary: follicular -> luteal
when the ovum with its layers, the ______ and _____, protrudes from the wall of the follicle into the follicular fluid, it is termed the _____. It is a sign that ___
corona radiata
zona pellucida
cumulus oophorus
ovulation is about to occur
when does a corpus albicans form
when the corpus luteum degenerates
white scar forms
when does a corpus fibrosum occur
when a follicle does not rupture (didn’t mature)
no corpus luteum
liquid reabsorbed, follicle regresses, scar forms
proliferative phase looks like what on US
trilaminar appearance
secretory phase looks like what on US
really thick
the hormone that triggers ovulation
LH
a functional cyst on the ovary after ovulation has occurred is called the
corpus luteum
where is estrogen produced
from the granulosa cells lining the follicle
