Q 6: Female Physiology

Question 1

What hormones does the anterior pituitary gland release?

Answer 1

LH (leutinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)

Question 2

What are trophic factors/hormones?

Answer 2

FSH and LH

Question 3

Estradiol is the predominant estrogen except????

Answer 3

in pregnancy and after menopause

Question 4

What estrogen hormone is predominant after menopause?

Answer 4

estrone

Question 5

What estrogen hormone is predominant during pregnancy?

Answer 5

Estriol

Question 6

What estrogen hormone is predominant during reproductive years?

Answer 6

estradiol

Question 7

What are the different types of estrogen hormones?

Answer 7

estriol, estradiol, estrone

Question 8

What are the physiological functions of estrogen?

Answer 8

maturation/development of secondary sex characteristics

increases CNS excitability (proconvulsant)

endometrial proliferation and uterine growth

maintenance of healthy blood vessels & skin

reduce rate of bone readsorption

alter plasma lipids (increase HDL/TG and decrease LDL)

enhances blood coagulability

Question 9

First 7 days of cycle

Answer 9

called menses

low estrogen lvls

–>GnRH stimulates anterior pituitar

–>anterior pituitary secrete FSH & LH

shedding endometrial lining

Question 10

follicular phase

Answer 10

first 14 days

Question 11

luteal phase

Answer 11

last 14 days (day 14-28)

begins at ovulations

Question 12

What causes the LH to surge?

Answer 12

estradiol (E2) stimulates the hypothalamus to release MORE GnRH which stimulates the Ant. Pituitary to release a surge of already stored LH (and a little FSH)

Question 13

What happens if the egg is not fertilized?

Answer 13

circulating lvls of hormones decline

degeneration of corpus luteum to corpus albicans

shedding of lining of uterus (endometrium)

bleeding results (menses) ~ 14-15 days after ovulation

Question 14

When does most fertilization take place?

Answer 14

10-15 days after menses starts

Question 15

What hormone in the cycle dominates after ovulation?

Answer 15

progesterone

Question 16

What hormone in the cycle dominates before ovulation?

Answer 16

estrogen

Question 17

Where are progestins synthesized?

Answer 17

ovary, testes, and adrenal cortex from cholesterol

Question 18

What is the carbon chain size of a progestin?

Answer 18

always a 21-carbon backbone/skeleton

Question 19

What is the carbon chain size of a estrogen?

Answer 19

always a 18-carbon backbone/skeleton

Question 20

What is the carbon chain size of a androgen?

Answer 20

always a 19-carbon backbone/skeleton

Question 21

What are all steroid hormones derived from?

Answer 21

cholesterol

however, progesterones serve as a precursor to synthesis of all estrogens, androgens, and adrenocortical steroids

Question 22

What are the physiological fx/effects of progesterone?

Answer 22

increases fat deposition

decreases CNS excitability (anticonvulsant)

increases body temperature (thermogenic)

increases aldosterone secretion (cause body to hold onto water/Na –> this is why pregancy + swelling)

increases insulin lvls and insulin response to glucose

promotes ketogenesis

decreases PCO2 during pregnancy

Question 23

When is the total supply of female gametes (eggs) determined?

Answer 23

at birth

Question 24

What is the primary positive feedback mechanism that facilitates childbirth?

Answer 24

oxytocin

Question 25

What is prolactin inhibitory factor (PIF aka dopamine) continuously produced and secreted by?

Answer 25

hypothalamus

Question 26

what is the first fluid that is released after birth from the mammary glands?

Answer 26

colostrum

Question 27

What hormone promotes milk ejection?

Answer 27

oxytocin

Question 28

what hormone promotes/stimulates milk production?

Answer 28

prolactin