sex hormones Flashcards
what is puberty
maturation of reproductive organs
production of sex steroids eg oestradiol/testosterone
development of secondary sexual characteristics
attain capability to reproduce
how is puberty graded
Tanner staging
in girls, how is puberty graded
thelarche - development of the breast
stages 1-5
in boys, how is puberty graded
growth of testes
testicular volume
stages 1-5
compared to beads called prader orchidometer
in both boys and girls, how is puberty graded
onset of pubic hair
pubarche
stages 1-5
what does gonadarche mean
activation of the gonads via HPG axis
what does thelarche mean
onset of breast development
what does menarche mean
onset of menstrual cycle
what does spermarche mean
onset of spermatogenesis
what does adrenarche mean
adrenal androgen production (starts ~2 years before gonadarche)
what does pubarche mean
onset of pubic hair
what are the 2ndary sexual characteristics in females caused by
effects of oestradiol
what are the 2ndary sexual characteristics in females
breast development
hair growth - pubarche, axillary
sweat gland composition - skin oiliness, acne
changes to external genitalia
what are the 2ndary sexual characteristics in males caused by
effect of testosterone
what are the 2ndary sexual characteristics in males
deepening of voice
hair growth - pubic, axillary and facial
sweat gland composition - skin oiliness and acne
changes to external genitalia
what is the 1st sign of puberty in girls
thelarche
what is the late sign of puberty in girls
menarche
what are the measurements in ml for testicular size for boys at different stages of puberty
prepubertal <4mls
adult size > 15mls
what is adrenarche and where does it happen in girls
activation of adrenal androgen production
in girls this happens in the ovaries and adrenal glands
where does adrenarche happen in boys
in the testes and adrenal gland
Name 2 androgens
testosterone and androstenedione
where do some androgens (DHEA/DHEAS) tend to be secreted more from
the adrenal glands
in which gender is adrenarche more important for pubarche for
girls, as boys have testosterone so they are less reliant on adrenal androgens
what is the first sign of gonadarche
activation of the HPG axis - hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis
what normal secretion is pulsatile
GnRH - gonadotrophin releasing hormone
what does GnRH do
stimulates the rest of the axis
stimulates gonadotrophs in the pituitary to secrete LH/FSH (gonadotrophins - stimulate growth in testes/ovaries)
what happens to the HPG axis over time
in childhood = quiescent
closer to puberty = increased nocturnal GnRH pulsatility and eventually normal pulsatile generation during the day
during late pregnancy and neonatal life there is early activation of the HPG axis
when does menarche start
~2-3 years after thelarche
soon after peak height velocity
mean age = 12.7 years (range 10.7-16.1)