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Endocrinology > Male and Female reproductive systems > Flashcards

Male and Female reproductive systems Flashcards

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1
Q

Why three organs provide seminal fluid?

A

Prostate
Seminal Vesicles
Bulbourethral gland

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2
Q

What comprises seminal fluid?

A 
Fructose
Citric Acid
Bicarbonate
Fibrinogen
Fibrinolytic enzymes
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3
Q

Where is the spermatic cord formed?

A

At a deep inguinal ring

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4
Q

What structures are in the spermatic cord?

A 
Testicular artery
Paminiform plexus
Autonomic and GF nerves
Lymph vessels
Vas deferens
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5
Q

What comprises the penis?

A

2x corpora cavernosa

1x corpora spongiosum

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6
Q

What is an erection due to?

A 
Parasympathetic stim
(Point)
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7
Q

What is ejaculation due to?

A

Sympathetic stim

Shoot

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8
Q

How are the testes supplied with blood?

A

Testicular arteries from the aorta via the spetmatic cord

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9
Q

Where does lymph drain in the testes?

A

Para-Aortic lymph nodes

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10
Q

How does male sterilisation happen?

A

Cutting of the vas deferens

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11
Q

Where are the ovaries found?

A

Peritoneal cavity

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12
Q

What helps waft eggs down the fallopian tube?

A

Cilia and spiral muscle

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13
Q

Where does fertilisation take place?

A

Ampulla

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14
Q

What is the uterus supported by?

A

Tone of pelvic floor and ligaments

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15
Q

What sheds at menstruation?

A

Endometrium

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16
Q

Where is the ureter?

A

1cm lateral to cervix

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17
Q

Which ares of the female reproductive tract are sterile?

A

All areas superior to the cervix

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18
Q

What is the pH of the female reproductive tract?

A

pH <4.5

Acidic

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19
Q

How is the female reproductive tract supplied with blood?

A

Ovaries: Ovarian arteries (from aorta)

Uterus/Vagina: Uterine arteries (from internal iliac a)

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20
Q

How is lymph drained from the female reproductive tract?

A

Ovaries -> Para-aortic LNs

Uterus/Vagina -> Iliac, sacral, aortic and inguinal LNs

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21
Q

In males, when does gametogenesis begin?

A

At puberty

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22
Q

What happens during spermatogenesis?

A

Spermatogonia undergo differentiation and self-renewal -> pool available for subsequent spermatogenic cycles throughout life (continuous fertility)
-Produce ~1,500 mature sperm/second

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23
Q

What are the main features of female oogenesis before birth?

A

Multiplication of Oogonia to ~ 6 million/ovary

  • Form 10 Oocytes within ovarian follicles (= primordial follicle)
  • These begin meiosis (halted in prophase)
  • Some primordial follicles degenerate (atresia).
  • At birth ~2 million/ovary remain
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24
Q

What are the main features of female oogenesis at puberty?

A

By puberty <0.5 million/ovary remain (due further atresia)

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25
What are the stages of spermatogenesis?
``` Spermatogonium Primary spermatocytes Secondary spermatocytes Spermatids Spermatozoa ```
26
Where are Sertoli cell found?
Within seminiferous tubules | They have FSH receptors
27
What is the function of Sertoli cells?
Support developing germ cells Assist movement of germ cells to tubular lumen Transfer nutrients from capillaries to developing germ cells Phagocytosis of damaged germ cells
28
How are Sertoli cells involved in hormone synthesis?
Inhibin & Activin (-ve or +ve on FSH) Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Androgen-Binding Protein (ABP)
29
Where are the leydig cells found?
Between seminiferous tubules Pale cytoplasm as cholesterol-rich LH receptors
30
What is the function of leydig cells?
``` Hormone synthesis On LH stimulation, secrete androgens: Testosterone (oestrogens) Androstenedione Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (can be aromatised to oestrogens) ```
31
What are the main stages of oogenesis?
``` Oogonium Primary Oocytes Secondary Oocytes Ootids Ova ```
32
What is the first stage of folliculogenesis?
1. Primordial follicle (primary Oocyte at birth)
33
What is the secondary stage of folliculogenesis?
2. Primary (=Preantral) follicle | 10 Oocyte and layers of granulosa cells and outer theca cells
34
What is the third stage of folliculogenesis?
3. Secondary (=Antral) follicle Fluid-filled cavity (antrum) develops FSH and LH receptors
35
What is the fourth stage of folliculogenesis?
4. Mature (=Graafian/Preovulatory) follicle Forms due to LH surge 20 Oocyte formed
36
What is the fifth stage of folliculogenesis?
5. Ruptures surface of ovary
37
What are the sixth and seventh stages of folliculogenesis?
Corpus Luteum Progesterone & oestrogen (stim by LH) In pregnancy, progesterone & oestrogen production taken over by placenta
38
Where are the theca cells found?
Associated with outer part of ovarian follicles
39
What is the function of theta cells?
``` Support folliculogenesis Structural & nutritional support of growing follicle Hormone synthesis LH stimulates synthesis of androgens Overactivity -> high androgen levels ```
40
Where are the granulosa cells found?
Associated with inner part of ovarian follicles
41
What is the role of granulosa cells in hormone synthesis?
FSH stimulates granulosa cells to convert androgens to oestrogens (by aromatase) Secrete Inhibin & Activin (effects on FSH)
42
What is the role of granulosa after ovulation?
Turn into granulosa lutein cells that produce: Progesterone (-ve feedback, promote pregnancy by maintaining endometrium) Relaxin (helps endometrium prepare for pregnancy and softens pelvic ligaments/cervix)
43
What is the hypothalamic-pituitary-gland axes?
Hypothalamus: Kisspeptin -> GnRH Pituitary: LH/FSH Glands/Targets: Gonads Target hormones: Oestrogen, Progesterone, Androgen
44
How does hyperprolactinaemia inhibit kisspeptin neurones?
Prolactin binds to prolactin receptors on kisspeptin neurons in hypothalamus Inhibits kisspeptin release. Decreases in downstream GnRH/LH/FSH/T/Oest Oligo-amenorrhoea/Low libido/Infertility/Osteoporosis
45
Summarise the menstrual cycle? `
Day 1: First day of bleeding (Blood & cellular debris from necrotic endometrial lining) Ovulation: ~Day 14 ``` Length: Average 28d (21-35) >35 days = oligomenorrhoea ```
46
How is the menstrual cycle regulated?
Driven by feedback loops involving: Hypothalamic Kisspeptin & GnRH Pituitary LH & FSH Ovarian Oestrogen, Progesterone, Activin, Inhibin
47
Whats is the menstrual cycle comprised of?
Ovarian cycle and uterine cycle
48
Summarise the ovarian cycle?
Follicular Phase Ovulation (=pre-ovulatory phase) Luteal Phase
49
Summarise the uterine cycle?
Cycle (=Endometrial cycle): Menstrual Phase Proliferative Phase Secretory Phase
50
What happens the day after ovulation?
Increasing levels of progesterone increases body temperature bu 0.5 degrees
51
What are the basic principles of the endocrinology of pregnancy?
Semen formation and voyage Capacitation Fertilisation (Acrosome and Cortical reaction) Implantation (Attachment & Decidualisation) Hormonal changes of pregnancy Parturition (Labour) Lactation
52
How far do spermatozoa travel?
Travels 100,000 x its length from Testis to Fallopian tube
53
How many spermatozoa in semen?
12-120 million/ml
54
How many sperm reach the ovum?
1/100 of spermatozoa in ejaculate enter the cervix 1/10,000 cervix to ovum Overall 1/million reach ovum
55
What is capacitation of sperm?
Loss of glycoprotein ‘coat’ Change in surface membrane characteristics Develop whiplash movements of tail
56
Where does capacitation of sperm take place?
Takes place in ionic & proteolytic environment of the Fallopian tube Oestrogen-dependent Ca2+-dependent
57
What occurs during the acrosome reaction?
``` Sperm binds to ZP3 (= sperm receptor) Ca2+ influx into sperm (stimulated by progesterone) Release of hyaluronidase & proteolytic enzymes (from acrosome) ``` Spermatozoon penetrates the Zona Pellucida
58
Where does fertilisation take place?
Occurs within the Fallopian tube
59
What does fertilisation trigger?
Triggers cortical reaction Cortical granules release molecules which degrade Zona Pellucida (e.g. ZP2 & 3) Therefore prevents further sperm binding as no receptors Haploid --> Diploid
60
What happens during development of conceptus?
Continues to divide as it moves down Fallopian tube to uterus (3-4 days) Receives nutrients from uterine secretions This free-living phase can last for ~ 9-10 days
61
What are the two stages of implantation?
Attachment phase | Decidualisation phase
62
What happens during the attachment phase?
outer trophoblast cells contact uterine surface epithelium
63
What happens during the decidualisation phase?
changes in underlying uterine stromal tissue (within a few hours) Requires progesterone domination in the presence of oestrogen
64
What occurs during attachment?
Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) from endometrial cells stimulates adhesion of blastocyst to endometrial cells Interleukin-11 (IL11) also from endometrial cells is released into uterine fluid, and may be involved Many other molecules involved in process (e.g. HB-EGF)
65
During decidualistaion, what endometrial changes occur due to progesterone?
Glandular epithelial secretion Glycogen accumulation in stromal cell cytoplasm Growth of capillaries Increased vascular permeability (→oedema)
66
What factors are involved in decidualisation?
Interleukin-11 (IL11), histamine, certain prostaglandins & TGFb (TGFb promotes angiogenesis)
67
What happens hormonally in the first 40 days of pregnancy?
Progesterone and Oestrogen produced in corpus luteum (in maternal ovary) stimulated by hCG (produced by trophoblasts) which acts on LH receptors Essential for developing fetoplacental unit Inhibits maternal LH & FSH (-ve feedback)
68
What happens hormonally in the after 40 days of pregnancy?
Placenta starts to take over progesterone and oestrogen production
69
What maternal hormones increase during pregnancy?
``` ACTH Adrenal steroids Prolactin IGF1 (stimulated by placental GH-variant) Iodothyronines PTH related peptides ```
70
What maternal hormones decrease during pregnancy?
Gonadotrophins Pituitary GH TSH
71
What is oxytocin involved in?
Uterine contraction Cervical dilation Milk ejection
72
What is GnRH?
Gonadotrophin Releasing hormone
73
How is GnRH released?
Pulsatile
74
How does high prolactin affect the female hypothalmo-pituitary-gonadal axis?
``` Negative impact, inhibiting GnRH Inhibits its pulsatility  Cannot function correctly  Disrupts the axis  Stops periods and ovulation ```
75
What is the term for the ceasing of periods?
Amenorrhea
76
What is primary amenorrhea?
Never had periods Severe weight loss going into puberty Tumour
77
What is secondary amenorrhea?
You've had periods and they stop

Endocrinology (9 decks)

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