Session 3

Question 1

When are Primary sexual characteristics established?

Answer 1

Before birth

Question 2

How is the tissue composition different in a non lactating breast?

Answer 2

There is more specialised fat than mammary gland

Question 3

Between what age is puberty in girls?

Answer 3

8-13

Question 4

Between what age is puberty in boys?

Answer 4

9-14

Question 5

What is the first step in female puberty?

Answer 5

Bread bud development (Thelarche)

Question 6

What is Adrenarche?

Answer 6

Pubic hair growth

Question 7

What is Menarche?

Answer 7

Onset of menstrual cycles

Question 8

What is the sequence of puberty in girls?

Answer 8

Thelarche
Adrenarche
Growth spurt (Short)
Menarche
Pubic hair adult
Breasts adult

Question 9

What is the first step in male puberty?

Answer 9

Genitalia development begins

Question 10

What is the sequence of puberty in males?

Answer 10

Genitalia development begins
Adenarche
Spermatogenesis begins
Growth spurt (Longer)
Genitalia adult
Pubic hair adult

Question 11

What ends the growth spurt in both sexes?

Answer 11

Epiphyseal fusion

Question 12

Why doesn’t the reproductive system work before puberty?

Answer 12

Has the capacity to, but hormone levels are too low due to low levels of GnRH secretion from the Hypothalamus

Question 13

What is the onset of puberty associated with?

Answer 13

Steady rise in FSH & LH secretion due to a rise in GnRH secretion

Question 14

What does the level of pubic and axillary hair depend on?

Answer 14

Androgens in both sexes (Come from Adrenals in girls, Testosterone in boys)

Question 15

What does breast development depend on?

Answer 15

Oestrogens

Question 16

How can males develop breast tissue?

Answer 16

Testosterone can be converted to oestrogen causing some breast tissue to develop (Gynecomastea)

Question 17

What is the growth spurt dependent on?

Answer 17

GH
Steroids
Oestrogen closes the epiphyses earlier in girls

Question 18

What may be the cause of the timing of puberty?

Answer 18

A decreased sensitivity to the negative feedback by steroids
Maturation of central mechanisms within the brain
Pineal tumours

Question 19

What is the average critical weight for Menarche?

Answer 19

47 kg

May be signalled to the hypothalamus via leptins

Question 20

What does the Pineal gland secrete?

Answer 20

Melatonin (Due to changes in length of light, secreted when darkness)

Question 21

What is Precocious puberty?

Answer 21

Signs of puberty before the age of 8

Question 22

What are the causes of Precocious puberty?

Answer 22

Most unknown
Can be due to Pineal tumours
Can be due to Meningitis
Can be due to uncontrolled gonadotrophin or steroid secretion (Hormone secreting tumours)

Question 23

How can Meningitis cause Precocious puberty?

Answer 23

Inflammation causes stimulation of the central maturation centre

Question 24

What makes up the climacteric?

Answer 24

Pre menopause
Menopause
Post menopause

Question 25

What are some of the characteristics of Pre menopause?

Answer 25

Typically from age 40
Changes in the menstrual cycle
Follicular phase shortens so ovulation early or absent
Less oestrogen secreted
LH & FSH rise
Reduced fertility

Question 26

What are some of the characteristics of Menopause?

Answer 26

Cessation of menstrual cycles
Average ago 49-50
No more follicles left to develop
Oestrogen levels fall dramatically
FSH & LH levels rise (Esepcially FSH)
No inhibin

Question 27

What are some of the effects of the Menopause?

Answer 27

Vascular changes - Hot flushes - due to falling levels of Oestrogen in the blood
Regression of the endometrium
Shrinking of the myometrium
Thinning of the cervix
Breast tissue reduction
Vaginal rugae lost

Question 28

What effect does the Menopause have on bone?

Answer 28

The density reduces as the protective mechanism of Oestrogen is lost. Risk of Osteoporosis increases

Question 29

How can the symptoms of the menopause be relieved?

Answer 29

Hormone replacement therapy - Oestrogen can be given orally or topically
Should give progesterone in females with uterus as prevents an increased risk of cancer

Question 30

How does the reproductive life of males end?

Answer 30

Insidious, no obvious event
Sperm production gradually declines until the system stops in late 70s/80s.
Testosterone levels drop