Reproductive system Flashcards
What hormones control production of follicle by ovary?
FSH and LH
What steroids are produced by the ovary?
oestradiol and progesterone
When does ovulation occur?
Day 14
What steroids are released during the proliferative phase?
oestrogen
also released during the follicular phase
Which hormone does the corpus luteum release?
It makes progesterone
How does the combined oral contraceptive pill work?
- combination of oestrogen and progesterone
- Negative feedback, inhibits FSH and LH release
- This prevents follicular development, egg maturation, ovulation, egg transport in fallopian tube
- This causes unreceptive endometrium, cervical mucus is hostile to sperm
What happens during ovulation?
Egg comes down tube with scilia, turns into corpus lutem goes into uterus and implants
What is the role of trophoblasts?
- They form first around early blastocysts
- Trophoblasts form the placenta and form interface between mother and baby
What does hCG do?
- hCG produces fast quantities bc this is the maternal recognition signal that stops egg from being rejected and early miscarriage
- hormone secreted during pregnancy by the trophoblasts which stimulates continued production of progesterone by the ovaries
What is placenta previa caused by?
When the placenta is over the cervix, and during pregnancy it ruptures causing massive bleeding and death
Which hormone stimulates uterine contractions?
Oxytocin induces uterine contractions in two ways. Oxytocin stimulates the release of PGE2 and prostaglandin F2α in fetal membranes by activation of phospholipase C.
What does corticotrophin releasing hormone do and where is it released?
- regulates cortisol in adrenal gland of fetus
- released by the placenta as an indication of maturity
Late CRH release= late pregnancy
Early CRH release= early birth
Where is estrogen synthesised and what triggers it?
Adrenal gland synthesises estrogen from progesterone
Stimulated by adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) released by pituitary
What role does estrogen play in labor?
- stimulates prostaglandin E2 (for cervix dilation)
- PGF2a secretion (stimulates uterine contractions)
Describe the sequence of events for labor initation (how CRH leads to prostoglandin production)
- Placental CRH matures the fetal HPA axis
- The now mature fetal adrenal gland makes 17α-hydroxylase enzyme (which kicks off estrogen synthesis)
- Placental trophoblasts make aromatase (which synthesises estrogen) so they secrete estrogen
- Estrogen makes myometrium sensitive (stimulates expression of prostaglandin E and F receptors)
- Estrogen stimulates prostaglandin E2 and PGF2α secretion
How do testes produce sperm?
- SSCs and sertoli cells support meoisis of spermatocytes
- Produced/Released from semineferous tubules
- Sperm production is limited by number of sertoli cells and how active SSCs are
Sperm will continue to be produced until sertoli cells or spermatogonial cells are removed