Reproductive Physiology Basics- Female Flashcards
Female reproductive organs?
Ovaries
Uterus
Fallopian tube
Cervix
Where does implantation of an egg occur?
Uterus
What are the two parts of the uterus?
Body of uterus
Cervix (opening into uterus).
->uterus communicates externally through the vagina
Ovaries have two parts: the surface and the inner part of the ovary.
What are the two divisions of the inner part of the ovary?
Cortex
Medulla
->like the kidney :o (I think…)
What type of tissue makes up the surface of the ovary?
Connective tissue
(covered with a layer of simple cuboidal epithelium).
What does the connective tissue in the peripheral part of the cortex contain?
Ovarian follicles
What makes up an ovarian follicle?
One oocyte (egg) surrounded by a single layer of cells
What is found in the medulla of the ovaries?
Blood vessels which supply the ovary
->the medulla is the central bit so it makes sense that the blood vessels come through here :)
Two functions of the ovary?
Oocyte production
Steroid hormone production
How many oocytes/eggs mature per menstrual cycle?
1
What happens to the number of eggs with increasing age?
Number of eggs decreases with increasing age
->women have a finite number of eggs
Which steroid hormones are produced by the ovaries?
Oestrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone (but not as important as the other two!)
What is the function of oestrogen, a type of steroid hormone produced by the ovaries?
Develops and maintains female secondary sexual characters (breast and hair development, bone development).
What is the function of progesterone, a type of steroid hormone produced by the ovaries?
Prepares the endometrium for implantation in every menstrual cycle
When is the only time that primordial germ cell mitosis occurs?
Foetal life
->primordial follicles are then arrested in the first stages of meiotic division until puberty.
These primordial follicles make up the ovarian reserve
What happens to the primordial follicle in puberty when the myotic process resumes?
Converted into primary and secondary follicle
Diploid chromosome number?
46
Haploid chromosome number?
23
Before birth, how many chromosomes does the primary oocyte have?
46
->oogonium undergoes mitosis to form primary oocyte but this is direct duplication of cell so 46 chromosomes remain
After puberty, how many chromosomes does the secondary oocyte have?
23
->oocyte undergoes meiosis so chromosomes are halved
this lecture has good diagrams if you are wanting a more visual timeline :)
After fertilization of the secondary oocyte into a fertilized egg, how many chromosomes will there be?
46- half from egg and half from sperm :)
Which hormone does the hypothalamus release which plays a role in female reproduction?
GnRH
->gonadotropin releasing hormone
Which two hormones are produced by the anterior pituitary which play a role in female reproduction?
FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
LH (luteinising hormone)
->GnRH released from the hypothalamus then triggers the releases of these hormones
Where do FSH and LH act on?
Ovaries
After LH and FSH act on the ovaries, which hormones do the ovaries produce?
Oestrogen
Progesterone
Briefly describe how negative feedback loops play a role in the control of hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (previously discussed).
If levels of oestrogen/progesterone get too high, feedbacks to anterior pituitary to stop releasing FSH and LH and for the hypothalamus to stop producing GnRH
RECAP- which type of hormone are oestrogen and progestone?
Steroid hormones
Name the four stages on the ovarian cycle.
Follicular phase
Ovulation
Luteal phase
Menstruation
What happens in the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle?
FSH causes follicle to mature and produce oestrogen
->this production of oestrogen then inhibits the development of other follciles
What happens in the ovulation phase of the ovarian cycle?
Surge in LH causes ovulation in which follicle ruptures and releases a secondary oocyte
What happens in the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle?
Ruptured follicle forms a corpus luteum and secretes progesterone (and some oestrogen)
What happens in the menstruation phase of the ovarian cycle?
Degeneration of the corpus luteum, now a new ovarian cycle can begin
What happens to the thickness of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle as the level of oestrogen increase?
As oestrogen levels increase, endometrial thickness increases
At what stage of the cycle are oestrogen levels predominant?
First half- follicular phase
At what stage of the cycle are progesterone levels predominant?
Second half-luteal phase
->idk if this helps but the first female hormone which comes to mind is oestrogen so that is predominant in the first half :)
As previously discussed, oestrogen increases thickness of the endometrium. However, so does progesterone. Why?
Causes vascular changes which adds to the thickness
Amenorrhoea?
No periods
Primary amenorrhoea?
Never had periods
Secondary amenorrhoea?
Started periods in puberty but later in life stopped having periods for six months or more
What are three potential physiological problems which could cause amenorrhoea?
- Problems with regulating hormones
- Problem with ovarian function
- Problem with uterus or outflow tract
What are some of the functional problems which can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?
Excessive weight loss/gain, over-exercise, stress
What are some of the chronic medical conditions which can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?
Diabetes
Sarcoidosis
Renal disease
TB
What else could cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?
Intracranial space occupying lesions
Infection/trauma e.g. meningitis, intracranial bleed
Drugs
Genetics- Kallmann’s syndrome
Which drugs can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?
Glucocorticoids
Anabolic steroids
Opiates
->I feel like an exam question could be like ‘a women presents with amenorrhoea. Which drug should be stopped?’
If amenorrhoea was caused due to hormone issues, would FSH and LH levels be low or high?
Low
->this cause of amenorrhoea is known as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
If amenorrhoea was caused due to hormone issues, which hormone level may be high?
Prolactin, if due to prolactinoma
If amenorrhoea was caused due to ovary function, which hormone level may be high?
FSH, LH
->levels may be normal however
Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism
What are some of the causes of amenorrhoea due to ovarian function?
Genetic- Turner’s syndrome
Ageing
Autoimmune disease
Radiotherapy/chemotherapy
Infection- TB, mumps
What are some of the causes of amenorrhoea due to uterus/outflow tract function?
Congenital: absent uterus/vagina, transverse vaginal septum, androgen insensitivity syndrome
Uterine adhesions
Radiotherapy: pelvic or cervical
Management of amorrheoa?
Lifestyle changes
Optimise control of medical illness
Stop any drugs which may be cause
Sometimes surgical treatment if intracranial SOL or vaginal anomalies or uterine adhesions
