Reproductive Physiology Basics- Female

Question 1

Female reproductive organs?

Answer 1

Ovaries
Uterus
Fallopian tube
Cervix

Question 2

Where does implantation of an egg occur?

Answer 2

Uterus

Question 3

What are the two parts of the uterus?

Answer 3

Body of uterus
Cervix (opening into uterus).

->uterus communicates externally through the vagina

Question 4

Ovaries have two parts: the surface and the inner part of the ovary.

What are the two divisions of the inner part of the ovary?

Answer 4

Cortex
Medulla

->like the kidney :o (I think…)

Question 5

What type of tissue makes up the surface of the ovary?

Answer 5

Connective tissue

(covered with a layer of simple cuboidal epithelium).

Question 6

What does the connective tissue in the peripheral part of the cortex contain?

Answer 6

Ovarian follicles

Question 7

What makes up an ovarian follicle?

Answer 7

One oocyte (egg) surrounded by a single layer of cells

Question 8

What is found in the medulla of the ovaries?

Answer 8

Blood vessels which supply the ovary

->the medulla is the central bit so it makes sense that the blood vessels come through here :)

Question 9

Two functions of the ovary?

Answer 9

Oocyte production
Steroid hormone production

Question 10

How many oocytes/eggs mature per menstrual cycle?

Answer 10

1

Question 11

What happens to the number of eggs with increasing age?

Answer 11

Number of eggs decreases with increasing age

->women have a finite number of eggs

Question 12

Which steroid hormones are produced by the ovaries?

Answer 12

Oestrogen
Progesterone

Testosterone (but not as important as the other two!)

Question 13

What is the function of oestrogen, a type of steroid hormone produced by the ovaries?

Answer 13

Develops and maintains female secondary sexual characters (breast and hair development, bone development).

Question 14

What is the function of progesterone, a type of steroid hormone produced by the ovaries?

Answer 14

Prepares the endometrium for implantation in every menstrual cycle

Question 15

When is the only time that primordial germ cell mitosis occurs?

Answer 15

Foetal life

->primordial follicles are then arrested in the first stages of meiotic division until puberty.
These primordial follicles make up the ovarian reserve

Question 16

What happens to the primordial follicle in puberty when the myotic process resumes?

Answer 16

Converted into primary and secondary follicle

Question 17

Diploid chromosome number?

Answer 17

46

Question 18

Haploid chromosome number?

Answer 18

23

Question 19

Before birth, how many chromosomes does the primary oocyte have?

Answer 19

46

->oogonium undergoes mitosis to form primary oocyte but this is direct duplication of cell so 46 chromosomes remain

Question 20

After puberty, how many chromosomes does the secondary oocyte have?

Answer 20

23

->oocyte undergoes meiosis so chromosomes are halved

this lecture has good diagrams if you are wanting a more visual timeline :)

Question 21

After fertilization of the secondary oocyte into a fertilized egg, how many chromosomes will there be?

Answer 21

46- half from egg and half from sperm :)

Question 22

Which hormone does the hypothalamus release which plays a role in female reproduction?

Answer 22

GnRH

->gonadotropin releasing hormone

Question 23

Which two hormones are produced by the anterior pituitary which play a role in female reproduction?

Answer 23

FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
LH (luteinising hormone)

->GnRH released from the hypothalamus then triggers the releases of these hormones

Question 24

Where do FSH and LH act on?

Answer 24

Ovaries

Question 25

After LH and FSH act on the ovaries, which hormones do the ovaries produce?

Answer 25

Oestrogen Progesterone

Question 26

Briefly describe how negative feedback loops play a role in the control of hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (previously discussed).

Answer 26

If levels of oestrogen/progesterone get too high, feedbacks to anterior pituitary to stop releasing FSH and LH and for the hypothalamus to stop producing GnRH

Question 27

RECAP- which type of hormone are oestrogen and progestone?

Answer 27

Steroid hormones

Question 28

Name the four stages on the ovarian cycle.

Answer 28

Follicular phase Ovulation Luteal phase Menstruation

Question 29

What happens in the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle?

Answer 29

FSH causes follicle to mature and produce oestrogen ->this production of oestrogen then inhibits the development of other follciles

Question 30

What happens in the ovulation phase of the ovarian cycle?

Answer 30

Surge in LH causes ovulation in which follicle ruptures and releases a secondary oocyte

Question 31

What happens in the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle?

Answer 31

Ruptured follicle forms a corpus luteum and secretes progesterone (and some oestrogen)

Question 32

What happens in the menstruation phase of the ovarian cycle?

Answer 32

Degeneration of the corpus luteum, now a new ovarian cycle can begin

Question 33

What happens to the thickness of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle as the level of oestrogen increase?

Answer 33

As oestrogen levels increase, endometrial thickness increases

Question 34

At what stage of the cycle are oestrogen levels predominant?

Answer 34

First half- follicular phase

Question 35

At what stage of the cycle are progesterone levels predominant?

Answer 35

Second half-luteal phase ->idk if this helps but the first female hormone which comes to mind is oestrogen so that is predominant in the first half :)

Question 36

As previously discussed, oestrogen increases thickness of the endometrium. However, so does progesterone. Why?

Answer 36

Causes vascular changes which adds to the thickness

Question 37

Amenorrhoea?

Answer 37

No periods

Question 38

Primary amenorrhoea?

Answer 38

Never had periods

Question 39

Secondary amenorrhoea?

Answer 39

Started periods in puberty but later in life stopped having periods for six months or more

Question 40

What are three potential physiological problems which could cause amenorrhoea?

Answer 40

1. Problems with regulating hormones 2. Problem with ovarian function 3. Problem with uterus or outflow tract

Question 41

What are some of the functional problems which can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

Answer 41

Excessive weight loss/gain, over-exercise, stress

Question 42

What are some of the chronic medical conditions which can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

Answer 42

Diabetes Sarcoidosis Renal disease TB

Question 43

What else could cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

Answer 43

Intracranial space occupying lesions Infection/trauma e.g. meningitis, intracranial bleed Drugs Genetics- Kallmann's syndrome

Question 44

Which drugs can cause issues the regulating hormones, in turn resulting in amenorrhoea?

Answer 44

Glucocorticoids Anabolic steroids Opiates ->I feel like an exam question could be like 'a women presents with amenorrhoea. Which drug should be stopped?'

Question 45

If amenorrhoea was caused due to hormone issues, would FSH and LH levels be low or high?

Answer 45

Low ->this cause of amenorrhoea is known as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Question 46

If amenorrhoea was caused due to hormone issues, which hormone level may be high?

Answer 46

Prolactin, if due to prolactinoma

Question 47

If amenorrhoea was caused due to ovary function, which hormone level may be high?

Answer 47

FSH, LH ->levels may be normal however Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism

Question 48

What are some of the causes of amenorrhoea due to ovarian function?

Answer 48

Genetic- Turner's syndrome Ageing Autoimmune disease Radiotherapy/chemotherapy Infection- TB, mumps

Question 49

What are some of the causes of amenorrhoea due to uterus/outflow tract function?

Answer 49

Congenital: absent uterus/vagina, transverse vaginal septum, androgen insensitivity syndrome Uterine adhesions Radiotherapy: pelvic or cervical

Question 50

Management of amorrheoa?

Answer 50

Lifestyle changes Optimise control of medical illness Stop any drugs which may be cause Sometimes surgical treatment if intracranial SOL or vaginal anomalies or uterine adhesions