Week 5 Flashcards
What are the hormones involved in the menstrual cycle
GnRH
FSH
LH
Oestrogen
Progesterone
What are the 2 phases of the menstrual cycle
Follicular Phase
Luteal Phase
If a woman’s menstrual cycle is not 28 days, the length of which phase out of the 2 would change
Follicular phase can vary in length whereas luteal phase is always 14 days
Describe how GnRH is released from the hypothalamus in females and males
Released in a pulsatile manner at different frequencies in females
Released in a pusaltile manner at constant frequency in males
Why is GnRH released in a pulsatile manner in females
Because females have the menstrual cycle. Releasing GnRH at different frequencies induces secretion of different hormone
GnRH secreted in pulses at high frequency induces the secretion of
LH
GnRH secreted in pulses at low frequency induces the secretion of
FSH
FSH and LH are secreted by
Anterior pituitary gland
Which phase occurs first in the menstrual cycle
Follicular phase
What occurs in the follicular phase
Follicle develops
What occurs in the luteal phase
Ovulation - egg released from ovary
Corpus luteum forms
In which phase is oestrogen released
Follicular phase
In which phase is progesterone released
Luteal phase
What controls the pulsatility of GnRH
Oestrogen and Progesterone through activating receptors on Kisspeptin neutrons
Why are kisspeptin neurons needed to regulate the pulsatility GnRH
Because the GnRH neurons do not have oestrogen or progesterone receptors.
Which hormone is predominant in follicular phase
FSH
Which hormone is predominant in luteal phase
LH
Describe the follicular phase
- FSH stimulates follicular growth
- This causes an increase in oestrogen
- The initial increase in oestrogen exerts a negative feedback to lower FSH temporarily
- As oestrogen reaches the threshold, it exerts positive feedback on both FSH and LH
- This causes the surge in LH and an increase in FSH
FSH causes the growth of multiple follicles but in the end, only 1 follicle matures completely. Why is that
Due to the fall in FSH as oestrogen level increases initially.
Only the follicle that can withstand the fall in FSH will develop completely as FSH rises again but the others will be lost
Describe the Luteal phase
- Surge in LH causes ovulation
- Egg leaves follicle = follicle becomes corpus luteum
- Corpus luteum produces and releases progesterone
- Progesterone causes the drop in LH by decreasing pulsatility of GnRH
What happens to the endometrium under the influence of oestrogen
Oestrogen causes the thickening of endometrium
What happens to the endometrium under the influence of progesterone
Progesterone also causes the thickening of endometrium and turns it into a secretory tissue
Thickening of endometrium allows
Implantation of fertilised egg -> pregnancy
What happens to the hormones if there is pregnancy
LH will be substituted by HCG which maintains the corpus luteum hence progesterone will still be released
Why should the corpus luteum be maintained during pregnancy
So that progesterone will still be released and maintain the thickness of endometrium to prevent miscarriage
What happens to the hormones if there is no pregnancy
LH level drops hence corpus luteum cannot be maintained
So progesterone is not released -> endometrium thickness not maintained so it breaks down -> causing menstrual period
What is the threshold of oestrogen needed to cause LH surge
200 pg/ml
What is the precursor of progesterone and oestrogen
Cholesterol
What happens to the viscosity of cervical mucus under the influence of oestrogen and why
Viscosity decreases
To allow better sperm penetration to form fertilised egg
hat happens to the viscosity of cervical mucus under the influence of progesterone and why
Viscosity increases
To prevent more sperm penetration
To prevent infection
What structures in the cervix can make sperm penetration harder
Grooves and folds
Types of grooves in the cervix
Primary groove
Secondary groove