chapter 27 part 3 Flashcards
(31 cards)
ovarian follicle
individual developing oocyte surrounded by cells to form ovarian follicle
function of ovarian follicle
nurture oocytes during development and releases hormones
stages of development of follicles
primordial follicle
primary follicle
secondary follicle
graafian (mature vesicular) follicle
primordial follicle
- First class of follicle formed
- single layer of cells surrounding primary oocyte
primary follicle
- contains single layer of granulosa cells surrounding the primary oocyte
- Function: granulosa cells produce estrogen and progesterone
secondary follicle
contains multiple layers of granulosa cells and thecal cells surrounding primary oocyte
oocyte secretes substances to form a transparent extracellular layer : zona pellucida
zona pellucida
shell that surrounds primary oocyte inside of follicle
graafian (mature vesicular) follicle
only seen after puberty
contains a secondary oocyte
ovarian cycle
monthly series of events that leads to maturation of an ovum
before puberty
release of small amounts of estrogen prevents GnRH release
What makes hypothalamus insensitive to estrogen
increasing leptin
ages 8-9 : release GnRH, FSH and LH
release estrogen in ovaries
FSH and LH release begins
hormone levels continue to rise for several years
once adult cycle is reached
menarche occurs
first menstrual period: 11-13 years
regulation of ovarian cycle by
HPG axis
ovarian cycle is completed once per month
ovarian cycle steps
- The hypothalamus releases GnRH
- The anterior pituitary releases FSH and LH
- FSH and LH influence follicles
- FSH causes granulosa cells and thecal cells of follicles to grow and release estrogens
- LH stimulates release of estradiol: primary hormone released by ovaries and is converted to estrogen - rising estrogen levels in blood plasma inhibits GnRH release
- FSH relese drops rapidly - dominant follicle continues development to a Graafian follicle
- LH surge triggers ovulation and formation of corpus luteum
- rising progesterone and estrogen levels from corpus luteum inhibits GnRH release
importance of FSH levels dropping
only the dominant follicle survives this drop in FSH: continues development
dominant follicle is the most mature follicle between the 2 ovaries
corpus luteum
- yellow body
- formed from granulosa and thecal cells
- releases large amounts of - progesterone and estrogen
makes sure oocyte survives
progesterone
maintains uterine lining and affects hormone release from CNS
in step 7
- FSH and LH drop: follicle development stops
- prevents multiple ovulation events
phases of the ovarian cycle
- follicular phase
- ovulation
- luteal phase
follicular phase
- many large follicles grow in ovaries
- dominant follicle survives drop in FSH and releases large amount of estrogen : blood levels of estrogen rise
- the end of this phase is marked by completion of meiosis 1 to form secondary oocyte and first polar body
ovulation
- rupture of ovary wall and release of secondary oocyte
- usually one secondary oocyte is ovulated
- sometimes oocytes can be released independently of hormonal cycle
luteul phase
- occurs after ovulation
- always 14 days
- ruptured follicle collapses and remaining granulosa cells form corpus luteum
corpus luteum may or may not persist
if fertilization does not occur: corpus luteum degenerates
release of progesterone ends: uterine lining no longer maintained
if fertilization does occur: corpus luteum remains and continues to release hormones
prevents spontaneous abortion
persist until placenta formation, then degenerates