S1 L1 Introduction to Reproduction

Question 1

Reproduction

• Definition
• Explanation

Answer 1

•Definition
–The action or process of copying something
–The production of offspring by a sexual or asexual process

Reproduction is part of a life cycle in which individuals grow, develop
and reproduce according to instructions encoded in DNA.
Rather than survival of the individual, reproduction is the means of
passing on the genes of an individual to new generations of the species.
Two basic modes of reproduction operate in the animal kingdom
Asexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction

Question 2

Probs go into more detail later:

• Examples of what hormones regulate
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
• Luteining hormone
• Follicle stimulating hormone
• Inhibin
• Follistatin

Answer 2

Hormones regulate both male and female reproductive ability
–Puberty
–Menstrual cycle
–Menopause
•Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the key tropic hormone for
regulating gonadotrope cell function and hence, reproduction.
•Luteinising hormone (LH) gonadotrophic hormone produced and released
by cells in the anterior pituitary gland, crucial in regulating the function of the testes in men and ovaries in women.
•Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates follicle growth and oestrogen secretion (spermatogenesis in males)
•Inhibin and activin are closely related peptides produced by the ovary,
testes, pituitary gland and placenta that influence gonadotrope function.
•Follistatin is structurally unrelated to either inhibin or activin. It is a highly glycosylated pituitary peptide that inhibits gonadotrope function but at onethird the potency of inhibin

Question 3

Detection

Answer 3

General, obstetric and gynaecological examination (anatomy!)
•Urine tests (pregnancy)
•Blood tests (tumour biomarkers)
•Swabs (infections)
•Smears (cervical cancer)
•Imaging
–Cysts of the ovary
–Cancer (male and female)
–Infertility to include endometriosis
–Pelvic floor dysfunction

Question 4

Malignancies in:

• Female
• Male

Answer 4

Female
•Ovarian cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) [CA125]
•Endometrial cancer (postmenopausal women over the age of 50)
•Cervical cancer (HPV)
•Vulval and virginal cancers (both are rare, risk factors; age, HPV)
•Breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2; HER2 positive/negative)

Male
•Penile cancer (rare)
•Testicular cancer (Mostly men in age range 20-40; often associated with germ cell mutations)
•Prostate cancer (appears to take place more often in elderly men, PSA test is often used to monitor)

Question 5

Other disorders

Answer 5

Question 6

Acronym to work out causes of a condition

Answer 6

• VITAMIN CDE
• Anatomy of the area