Reproductive Physiology Basics- Female Flashcards

1
Q

Female reproductive organs?

A

Ovaries
Uterus
Fallopian tube
Cervix

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2
Q

Where does implantation of an egg occur?

A

Uterus

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3
Q

What are the two parts of the uterus?

A

Body of uterus
Cervix (opening into uterus).

->uterus communicates externally through the vagina

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4
Q

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?

A

Cortex
Medulla

->like the kidney :o (I think…)

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5
Q

What type of tissue makes up the surface of the ovary?

A

Connective tissue

(covered with a layer of simple cuboidal epithelium).

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6
Q

What does the connective tissue in the peripheral part of the cortex contain?

A

Ovarian follicles

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7
Q

What makes up an ovarian follicle?

A

One oocyte (egg) surrounded by a single layer of cells

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8
Q

What is found in the medulla of the ovaries?

A

Blood vessels which supply the ovary

->the medulla is the central bit so it makes sense that the blood vessels come through here :)

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9
Q

Two functions of the ovary?

A

Oocyte production
Steroid hormone production

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10
Q

How many oocytes/eggs mature per menstrual cycle?

A

1

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11
Q

What happens to the number of eggs with increasing age?

A

Number of eggs decreases with increasing age

->women have a finite number of eggs

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12
Q

Which steroid hormones are produced by the ovaries?

A

Oestrogen
Progesterone

Testosterone (but not as important as the other two!)

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13
Q

What is the function of oestrogen, a type of steroid hormone produced by the ovaries?

A

Develops and maintains female secondary sexual characters (breast and hair development, bone development).

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14
Q

What is the function of progesterone, a type of steroid hormone produced by the ovaries?

A

Prepares the endometrium for implantation in every menstrual cycle

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15
Q

When is the only time that primordial germ cell mitosis occurs?

A

Foetal life

->primordial follicles are then arrested in the first stages of meiotic division until puberty.
These primordial follicles make up the ovarian reserve

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16
Q

What happens to the primordial follicle in puberty when the myotic process resumes?

A

Converted into primary and secondary follicle

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17
Q

Diploid chromosome number?

A

46

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18
Q

Haploid chromosome number?

A

23

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19
Q

Before birth, how many chromosomes does the primary oocyte have?

A

46

->oogonium undergoes mitosis to form primary oocyte but this is direct duplication of cell so 46 chromosomes remain

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20
Q

After puberty, how many chromosomes does the secondary oocyte have?

A

23

->oocyte undergoes meiosis so chromosomes are halved

this lecture has good diagrams if you are wanting a more visual timeline :)

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21
Q

After fertilization of the secondary oocyte into a fertilized egg, how many chromosomes will there be?

A

46- half from egg and half from sperm :)

22
Q

Which hormone does the hypothalamus release which plays a role in female reproduction?

A

GnRH

->gonadotropin releasing hormone

23
Q

Which two hormones are produced by the anterior pituitary which play a role in female reproduction?

A

FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
LH (luteinising hormone)

->GnRH released from the hypothalamus then triggers the releases of these hormones

24
Q

Where do FSH and LH act on?

A

Ovaries

25
Q

After LH and FSH act on the ovaries, which hormones do the ovaries produce?

A

Oestrogen
Progesterone

26
Q

Briefly describe how negative feedback loops play a role in the control of hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (previously discussed).

A

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

27
Q

RECAP- which type of hormone are oestrogen and progestone?

A

Steroid hormones

28
Q

Name the four stages on the ovarian cycle.

A

Follicular phase
Ovulation
Luteal phase
Menstruation

29
Q

What happens in the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle?

A

FSH causes follicle to mature and produce oestrogen

->this production of oestrogen then inhibits the development of other follciles

30
Q

What happens in the ovulation phase of the ovarian cycle?

A

Surge in LH causes ovulation in which follicle ruptures and releases a secondary oocyte

31
Q

What happens in the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle?

A

Ruptured follicle forms a corpus luteum and secretes progesterone (and some oestrogen)

32
Q

What happens in the menstruation phase of the ovarian cycle?

A

Degeneration of the corpus luteum, now a new ovarian cycle can begin

33
Q

What happens to the thickness of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle as the level of oestrogen increase?

A

As oestrogen levels increase, endometrial thickness increases

34
Q

At what stage of the cycle are oestrogen levels predominant?

A

First half- follicular phase

35
Q

At what stage of the cycle are progesterone levels predominant?

A

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 :)

36
Q

As previously discussed, oestrogen increases thickness of the endometrium. However, so does progesterone. Why?

A

Causes vascular changes which adds to the thickness

37
Q

Amenorrhoea?

A

No periods

38
Q

Primary amenorrhoea?

A

Never had periods

39
Q

Secondary amenorrhoea?

A

Started periods in puberty but later in life stopped having periods for six months or more

40
Q

What are three potential physiological problems which could cause amenorrhoea?

A
  1. Problems with regulating hormones
  2. Problem with ovarian function
  3. Problem with uterus or outflow tract
41
Q

What are some of the functional problems which can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

A

Excessive weight loss/gain, over-exercise, stress

42
Q

What are some of the chronic medical conditions which can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

A

Diabetes
Sarcoidosis
Renal disease
TB

43
Q

What else could cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

A

Intracranial space occupying lesions
Infection/trauma e.g. meningitis, intracranial bleed
Drugs
Genetics- Kallmann’s syndrome

44
Q

Which drugs can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

A

Glucocorticoids
Anabolic steroids
Opiates

->I feel like an exam question could be like ‘a women presents with amenorrhoea. Which drug should be stopped?’

45
Q

If amenorrhoea was caused due to hormone issues, would FSH and LH levels be low or high?

A

Low

->this cause of amenorrhoea is known as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

46
Q

If amenorrhoea was caused due to hormone issues, which hormone level may be high?

A

Prolactin, if due to prolactinoma

47
Q

If amenorrhoea was caused due to ovary function, which hormone level may be high?

A

FSH, LH

->levels may be normal however

Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism

48
Q

What are some of the causes of amenorrhoea due to ovarian function?

A

Genetic- Turner’s syndrome
Ageing
Autoimmune disease
Radiotherapy/chemotherapy
Infection- TB, mumps

49
Q

What are some of the causes of amenorrhoea due to uterus/outflow tract function?

A

Congenital: absent uterus/vagina, transverse vaginal septum, androgen insensitivity syndrome

Uterine adhesions
Radiotherapy: pelvic or cervical

50
Q

Management of amorrheoa?

A

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

51
Q
A