Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Physiology > Puberty, pregnancy, & menopause > Flashcards

Puberty, pregnancy, & menopause Flashcards

(49 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Age of onset of puberty (boys vs girls)

A
  • Girls: 8-13

- Boys: 9-14

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Define puberty

A

Maturation of HPG axis

  • Initiation of pulsatile GnRH release
  • Appearance of secondary sex characteristics
  • Acceleration of growth
  • Capacity for fertilization
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Gonadotropic secretion in fetus

A
  • FSH & LH levels rise at midgestation then fall

- Pregnancy hormones exert negative feedback

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Gonadotropic secretion upon delivery

A
  • Source of negative feedback removed

- Gonadotropin levels rise but then negative feedback occurs, until puberty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Normal pubertal development in girls

A
  • Thelarche = start of puberty
  • Pubarche
  • Pubertal maturation complete in 2 yrs
  • Menarche (by 13th bday)
  • Adipose tissues around hips
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Normal pubertal development in boys

A
  • Increase in testicular size, development of pubic hair, penile enlargement = start of puberty
  • Facial & body hair increases.
  • Muscle bulk increases.
  • Adult testicular volume & penile size achieved by 16 yo
  • Voice deepens as larynx enlarges.
  • Final height at 18 yo
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Growth spurt

A

GH, IGF-1

  • Girls: begins in early puberty, peak velocity attained by menarche
  • Boys: begins near end of puberty, almost 2 years later than girls
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty

A

Hypogonadotropic hypergonadism

  • FSH, LH, GnRH levels decreased
  • Sex steroids increased
  • Problem tends to be within gonads
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty

A

Hypergonadotropic hypergonadism

  • FSH, LH, GnRH levels increased
  • Sex steroids increased
  • Early increase in growth.
  • Doesn’t follow usual progression
  • Most serious side effect: short stature
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Constitutional delay

A
  • Lack of physical maturation 2 SD beyond mean age of pubertal onset
  • Benign variant of normal
  • Progression pattern is normal but delayed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

A

Deficiency of pulsatile release of gonadotropins

  • FSH, LH, GnRH levels decreased
  • Sex steroids decreased
  • Ex. Kallman’s syndrome
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism

A 
- Primary gonadal failure 
FSH, LH, GnRH levels increased 
Sex steroids decreased 
- Absence of negative feedback 
*Ex. Turner's syndrome: 
- Functional gonads do not form
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Pubertal trigger: Leptin

A
  • Leptin receptor in hypothalamus
  • Leptin fxns as a permissive factor, not a trigger, in onset of human puberty
  • Larger % of adipocytes = larger amount of leptin (potential for early puberty)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

4 stages of pregnancy

A
  1. Initiation
  2. Maintenance
  3. Parturition
  4. Lactation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Stage 1: Initiation entry

A
  • Sperm are viable up to 72 hrs
  • Ova are fertile for 12-24 hrs
  • Process of capacitation or “activation” occurs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Stage 1: Initiation cervix

A
  • Sperm motility in the cervical canal requires alkaline pH
  • Alkaline secretions from prostate gland elevate pH
  • Estrogen: watery mucus facilitating sperm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Initiation: Implantation

A
  • Fertilized ovum stays in the oviduct & undergoes mitosis
  • Progesterone secreted by corpus luteum converts uterus to secretory gland
  • Secretes glycogen & lipid required for implantation
  • Relaxes the myometrium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Blastocyst is composed of what 2 cell types?

A
  • Trophoblast cells:
    microvilli of these cells interdigitate w/ endometrium
  • Inner cell mass:
    cells destined to become embryonic structures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How many days does it take for a blastocyst to implant in the uterine wall?

A

6-8 days after fertilization

- Day 20-24 of menstrual cycle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

By day 10, trophoblasts form what layers?

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Cytotrophoblasts (inner layer):
    Release hypothalamic-like peptides (CRH, GnRH, TRH)
  • Syncytiotrophoblasts (outer layer):
    Release pituitary-like peptides (ACTH, hCG)
    *Principal site of placental steroid & protein hormone biosynthesis
21
Q

Placenta is essential for…

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Vital fetal fxn

- Maintaining pregnancy

22
Q

Placenta fxns

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Nutritive
  • Excretory
  • Immunological
  • Barrier
  • Respiratory
23
Q

Role of hCG

Study These Flashcards
A
  • In early pregnancy, hCG rescues corpus luteum & maintains progesterone production until placental steroidogenesis is established
  • Stimulates Leydig cells of male fetus to make testosterone along w/ fetal pituitary gonadotropins
  • Suppresses maternal immune function & reduces possible rejection
24
Q

When do hCG levels peak?

Study These Flashcards
A

60-70 days

- Then remains low for rest of pregnancy

25
Stage 2: Preparation for implantation
LH stimulates luteal cells to secrete steroid hormones
26
Stage 2: Implantation to 3rd month
- By the 10th day after ovulation, hCG rescues corpus luteum - hCG peaks in first 3 months of pregnancy
27
Stage 2: 4th month to term
- Steroid hormones come from the placenta to maintain the uterus - Not controlled by hCG - Limited only by amount of cholesterol
28
Estrogen production requires what?
The fetus!
29
Progesterone
- Conversion of uterus to secretory gland readying it for implantation - Formation of cervical plug - Inhibition of myometrial contraction - Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis from uterus - Development of alveolus & lobule in breast - Inhibition of lactose synthesis
30
Estrogen
- Massive growth of uterus, esp. of myometrium - Development of ductile system of breasts - Stimulates prolactin release by anterior pituitary - Relax & soften pelvic ligaments - Inhibits lactation
31
Human Placental Lactogen (HPL)
* Shifts glucose availability towards fetus - aka. human chorionic somatomammotropin (hCS) - Made by the placenta - Stimulates breast development - Activates enzymes in breasts that produce milk - Has metabolic actions similar to GH
32
Where does prolactin come from?
Material anterior pituitary
33
Initiation of labor
- Unknown - Likely due to both maternal & fetal signs - Local synthesis of prostaglandins
34
Events contributing to parturition
- Braxton hicks contractions - Increase in estrogen/progesterone ratio - Local production of prostaglandins - Increase in oxytocin receptors in myometrium, induced by increasing levels of E2
35
During labor
- Oxytocin pulsatility increases 3-4 times in the 1st stage of labor - Uterine contractions start at top of uterus & push fetus toward cervix - Cervix stretches, activates stretch receptors, stimulates hypothalamus to release oxytocin - Oxytocin increases contractions (+ feedback)
36
Stage 4: Lactation
Secretory apparatus in the breast = alveoli - Alveolar cells: site of milk synthesis - Myoepithelial cells: smooth muscle cells
37
Hormones of lactation
- Estrogens stimulates ductal growth - Progesterone, prolactin & hPL stimulate development of lobules & alveoli - Prolactin & hPL stimulate milk enzymes & proteins (-casein)
38
Prolactin effects
- Inhibits GnRH secretion - Inhibits the action of GnRH on the pituitary --> inhibiting LH & FSH release - Antagonizes action of LH & FSH on the ovaries
39
What is required to maintain lactation?
Suckling
40
What is menopause associated w/ ?
A decline in estrogen & progesterone made by the ovaries
41
Stages of menopause
- Perimenopause: menstrual cycles are irregular but have not stopped - Menopause: final menstrual period - Postmenopause: after no periods for at least 1 year
42
Cause of menopause
- Related to a drop in the critical mass of eggs - “follicles” - Decline in fertility = decline in ovarian fxn - Average age: 51 years - Premature menopause (earlier than 40 yo)
43
How does menopause occur?
- Ovarian follicle reserve declines - Estrogen & progesterone levels decline - Reduces negative feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary system --> rise in FSH - Remaining ovarian follicles are less responsive to FSH - Menopause occurs when the residual follicles are refractory to elevated concentrations of FSH
44
Dx of menopause
- When FSH is > 30 mIU/ml. | - No menses for 12 months in women of typical age range
45
Sx of menopause
- Irregular bleeding - Hot flash/flush --> loss of sleep, depression, irritability - Urogenital changes - Decline in cognitive function - Wrinkles, weight gain, decreased libido
46
Urogenital changes
- Deterioration breast, uterus, vagina - Decrease in vaginal secretions, change in pH - Deterioration of bladder fxn
47
Other estrogen-deficiency changes
- Wrinkles - Weight gain - Tissue changes
48
Osteoporosis
- Reduction of bone due to lack of estrogen | - Loss of estrogen = loss of ca2+
49
Heart disease
- Leading cause of death among women - Women have a 46% lifetime probability of developing CHD & a 31% probability of dying from it - Estrogen increases HDL - Decreases LDL cholesterol

Physiology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions