Reproductive System: Female Sex Hormones, Puberty, Menstrual Cycle, Ovulation, Conception & Implantation Flashcards
What hormones are released by the hypothalamus?
- TSH
- GnRH
- CRH
- GHRH
- Somatostain
- Dopamine
These then travel to the anterior pituitary.
What does GnRH stimulate the anterior pituitary to release?
LH and FSH
What is role of FSH and LH ?
Stimulate the development of the follicles in the ovaries (which then secrete oestrogen)
What hormone does theca granulosa cells around the follicles secrete?
Oestrogen
What is the effect of oestrogen on the hypothalamus & pituitary?
Negative feedback - suppresses releases of GnRH, LH and FSH
What is oestrogen?
Steroid sex hormone
What is oestrogen produced by?
Ovaries
What is oestrogen produced in response to?
LH and FSH
What is the most active version of oestrogen?
17-beta oestradiol
What is the action of oestrogen?
Acts on tissues with oestrogen receptors to promote female secondary sexual characteristics
* Breast tissue development
* Growth and development of the female sex organs (vulva, vagina, and uterus) at puberty
* Blood vessel development in uterus
* Development of endometrium
What is progesterone?
Steroid sex hormone
What is progesterone produced by?
Corpus luteum
When is progesterone produced?
After ovulation
What is progesterone produced by during pregnancy?
When pregnancy occurs, progesterone is produced mainly by the placenta from 10 weeks gestation onwards.
What is the action of progesterone?
Acts on tissues that have previously been stimulated by oestrogen and acts to:
* Thicken and maintain the endometrium
* Thicken the cervical mucus
* Increase the body temperature
What hormones increase during female puberty?
GnRH, LH, FSH, oestrogen and progesterone
How does being overweight affect puberty?
Overweight children tend to have puberty at earlier age
Why do overweight children tend to have puberty at earlier age?
Aromatase is an enzyme found in adipose tissue that is responsible for creation of oestrogen.
More adipose present –> higher quantity of aromatase –> more oestrogen
What enzyme is responsible for oestrogen creation?
Aromatase
Where is aromatase found?
Adipose tissue
What scale is used to determine the stage of pubertal development?
Tanner scale
What hormone causes a growth spurt during initial phase of puberty?
GH
When do FSH levels plateau?
About a year before menarche
What hormone induces menarhe?
LH
Describe LH levels during puberty
LH levels continue to rise and spike before they induce menarche
What 2 phases does the menstrual cycle consist of?
- Follicular phase
- Luteal phase
When is the follicular phase?
From start of menstruation to moment of ovulation (first 14 days in 28-day cycle)
When is the luteal phase?
from moment of ovulation to start of menstruation (final 14 days)
What forms a follicle?
Granulosa cells that surround oocytes
What are the 4 key stages of development that follicles go through in the ovaries?
- Primordial follicles
- Primary follicles
- 2ary follicles
- Antral follicles (Graafian follicles)
During which stage of development do follicles develop receptors for FSH?
Secondary follicles
Development of secondary follicles to antral follicles requires stimulation from what?
FSH
When does FSH stimulate further development of 2ary follicles?
At the start of the menstrual cycle
Note: one of the follicles will develop further and become the dominant follicle
As the follicles grow, the granulosa cells surrounding them secrete increasing amounts of what?
Oestradiol
What is the effect of oestradiol on the pituitary gland?
Negative feedback - reduces FSH and LH
How does oestradiol affect cervical mucus?
Rising oestrogen causes cervical mucus to become more permeable, allowing sperm to penetrate cervix around time of ovulation
What hormone spikes just before ovulation?
LH
What does the LH spike just before ovulation cause?
Causes the dominant follicle to release the ovum from the ovary