PBL 1 Flashcards
(29 cards)
when in intrauterine life does GnRH secretion begin?
4th week of intrauterine life
when in intrauterine life doe FSH and LH begin being secreted?
week 10-12
what causes the pulsatile secretion of GnRH?
the tonic centre
akak pulse generator
at what age does the pulsatile secretion of GnRH begin in males and females?
12 in f and 14 in m
describe how GnRH secretion and sensitivity changes during puberty
at first, pulses only occur at night but as puberty advances pulses begin to occur in the day and overtime they become more frequent. the GnRH receptors on anterior pituitary also become more sensitive so we get ;larger releases of Lh and FSH
how do LH and FSH secretions in puberty affect cells in the testis?
leydig cells respond to LH by producing testosterone whilst Sertoli cells respond to FSH by kickstarting sperm production
how do LH and FSH secretions in puberty affect cells in the ovaries?
theca cells respond to LH by producing androstenedione whilst granulosa cells respond to FSH by converting androstenedione to oestrogen and progesterone
what is the surge centre and who has it?
an area in the hypothalamus that causes FSH and LH levels to vary over the menstrual period
only women
what do granulosa cells produce more of in the follicular phase and the luteal phase?
follicular phase - oestrogen
luteal phase - progesterone
when are FSH levels higher than LH?
childhood
what are primary sex characteristics?
reproductive organs
what are secondary sex characteristics?
any sex specific physical characteristic that is not directly involved in reproduction e.g. breasts, facial hair
outline Tanner stage 1
- pre-pubertal stage -no pubic hair present, males have small penis and testis and females have a flat chest - hypothalamus begins to release GnRH
outline Tanner stage 2?
- soft pubic hair present, males have enlargement of testis and scrotum. Females have breast buds appearing which can be itchy or tender, the uterus also gets larger.
9-11 in girls and 11 in boys
outline Tanner stage 3?
- coarser pubic hair, hair starts forming under armpits, first signs of acne may appear, highest growth rate of height, penis becomes to enlarge and breast mounds form. boys begin to have wet dreams, voices may crack, muscles get larger
12 in girls and 13 in boys
outline tanner stage 4?
- pubic hair begins to cover the pubic area and the penis becomes larger again. breast enlargement continues. girls get first period between 12-14. armpit hair in boys starts to occur around age 4 and deeper voice becomes permenant
13 in girls
14 in boys
outline tanner stage 5?
- pubic hair extends to inner thigh, penis and testis enlarge to adult size and female breasts take on adult contour. periods become regular, hips thigh and buttocks fill out in shape, facial hair in boys
after 15 in girls and boys
what is delayed puberty?
described as not beginning progression through the tanner scale by the time 95% of peers have become to sexually mature. in boys this is 14 and in girls this is 13 or periods not begun by 16
what are the 3 groupings for causes of delayed puberty?
primary hypogonadism - gonads dont respond to hormones or cells dont produce hormones
secondary hypogonadism - cant produce GnRH, LH or FSH or there is suppression by prolactin/thyroid hormone
constitutional delay - lack of GnRH but is not pathologic
what are causes of primary hypogonadism?
radiotherapy, chemotherapy, gonad trauma, Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome
why is it called hypergonadotropic hypogonadism?
because there is no rpdocution of sex hormones, there is no feedback inhibition on the hypothalamus which causes Increased LH and FSH secretion
what are causes of secondary hypogonadism?
radiotherapy, chemotherapy, gonad trauma, tumour on pituitary or hypothalamus, panhypopituitarism, Kallmann syndrome, obesity, malnutrition, stress, chronic illness, excessive exercise
which types of puberty delays can cause infertility?
primary and secondary hypogonadism
how is puberty delay diagnosed?
comparing sexual development using Tanner scale, blood tests for hormone levels, detailed medical history