Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

BRS Endocrinology > Sex Hormones > Flashcards

Sex Hormones Flashcards

(65 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the definition of puberty?

A

Maturation of Reproductive Organs
Production of Sex-Steroids E.g. Oestradiol / Testosterone
Develop Secondary Sexual Characteristics
Attain capability to Reproduce

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

What is breast development called in girls?

A

Thelarche

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

What increases in boys genitalia during puberty?

A

Testicular volume
seen with a prader orchidometer

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

What is pubic hair growth called and who does it occur with?

A

Pubarche
both

stages I-V

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

What is gonadarche?

A

Gonadarche - Activation of gonads by HPG axis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is menarche?

A

Menarche - Menstrual Cycles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is spermarche?

A

Spermatogenesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is adrenarche?

A

Adrenarche - Adrenal Androgen Production (starts ~2yrs before Gonadarche)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is pubarche?

A

pubic hair

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what does -arche mean?

A

onset of

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are secondary sexual characteristics of girl in puberty?

A

Oestradiol:

Breast Development

Hair Growth - Pubic, Axillary

Sweat Gland Composition - Skin oiliness / Acne

Changes to external genitalia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are secondary sexual characteristics of boys in puberty?

A

Testosterone:

Deepening of Voice

Hair Growth - Pubic then Axillary, facial

Sweat Gland Composition - Skin oiliness / Acne

Changes to external genitalia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the sequence of pubertal events in girls?

A

onset 8-13 y/o

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the sequence of pubertal events in boys?

A

onset 9-14 y/o
tanner= development

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the 1st and late sign of puberty in girls?

A

1st sign is thelarche
late sign is menarche

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is boys testicular size prepubertal and adult size?

A

Prepubertal < 4mls
Adult Size > 15mls

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what are DHEAS/ DHEA?

A

adrenal androgens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the relationship between gonadarche (activation of HPG axis) and FSH and LH serum levels?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How do DHEA levels change between boys and girls and their ages?

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

Why is adrenaline more important fro girls?

A

Because boys make testosterone which is an androgen so they can still make pubic hair etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How would you describe normal GnRH secretion?

A

pulsatile secretion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are the targets for LH and FSH?

A

FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)= Ovaries / testes (tubules)

LH (luteinizing hormone)= Ovaries / testes (Leydig cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How are LH and FSH linked to oestrogen?

A

Positive feedback triggers the anterior pituitary to release more FSH and LH. More FSH and LH cause the ovary to produce more estrogen. the ensuing LH surge is responsible for ovulation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the hormonal control of puberty, and how does it change from childhood to adulthood?

A

Gonadarche

Childhood= quiescence/ inactivity of HPG axis

Puberty= Increased nocturnal GnRH pulsatility

Adult= Normal GnRH secretion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What happens between foetal and infanthood?
mini puberty testicular descent penile length sertoli cell maturation behavioural effects
26
What counts as an abnormal onset of puberty?
Mean +/- 2.5 SDs Precocious or Delayed
27
In who is delayed more common and in who is precocious more common?
Boys delayed is more common Girls precocious is more common
28
When is menarche?
roughly 2.3 years after thelarche soon after Peak height velocity (PHV) mean age is 12.7 years old (range 10.7-16.1)
29
When is it considered abnormal to have your first period later than?
later than 16 primary amenorrhoea
30
For how long is it common for your first period to be irregular?
irregular / anovulatory for first 18 months
31
What is secondary amenorrhoea?
Periods start but then stop for at least 3-6 months - most common reason is pregnancy in young women
32
How long is a menstrual cycle?
28 days (24-35) +/- 2 days each month
33
What are the types of menorrhoea?
a-menorrhoea- absence of periods oligo-menorrhoea- few periods
34
What is amenrrhoea?
- No periods for at least 3-6 months - or up to 3 periods per year
35
What is oligomenorrhoea?
- Irregular or Infrequent periods >35 day cycles - or 4-9 cycles per year.
36
What are the phases of the menstrual cycle?
Follicular phase Ovulation phase Luteal phase
37
What are the stages of the menstrual cycle? (follicular and pre-ovulatory phase)
Follicular Phase: 1. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) rises. 2. 2-3 follicles start to grow. 3. Produce E2 and Inhibin B. 4. These reduce FSH (by -ve feedback). 5. Restrict ‘FSH window’ and non-dominant follicles undergo atresia. Follicular Phase (Pre-Ovulatory phase): 6. A dominant ‘Graafian’ follicle emerges. 7. E2 continues to increase. 8. Switch to +ve feedback by high E2. 9. Induces luteinising hormone (LH) Surge. 10. Causes ‘Ovulation’
38
What happens during ovulation?
egg released from follicle rest of follicle becomes corpus luteum
39
What happens during the luteal phase?
Midluteal D21 progesterone= evidence of ovulation - prepares endometrium for implantation
40
What are the stages of the endometrium "uterine cycle"?
Menstrual phase Proliferative phase (oestradiol) Secretory phase (progesterone)
41
What is needed to maintain uterus lining?
one of the things is LH
42
What acts on Lh receptors?
B-hCG Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced primarily by syncytiotrophoblastic cells of the placenta during pregnancy. The hormone stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. also secreted by embryo tissue/ blastocyst
43
What does continuous non-pulsatile administration of GnRH cause?
decreased LH/ FSH secretion
44
What is hypogonadism?
Hypogonadism is Decreased Oestrogen in a Woman / Decreased Testosterone in a Man
45
What is 1ary, 2ary, 3ary hypogonadism?
1ary= O/T is not being made for ovaries or testes 2ary= not being made by pituitary gland 3ary= not being made by hypothalamus
46
What is GnRH pulsatility during the menstrual cycle?
Every 90-120mins in follicular phase every 180-240mins in luteal phase
47
What is primary hypogonadism and what can cause it?
Primary Hypogonadism High LH / FSH Low E2 / Testo Men - Eg Infection/ Trauma / Cancer of Testes Woman - Menopause
48
What is secondary hypogonadism?
Secondary Hypogonadism/ hypogonadotropic hypogonadism Eg Pituitary Tumour, High Prolactin Low (or normal) LH / FSH Low E2 / Testo
49
What are symptoms of menopause?
Lack of Estradiol Skin Dryness / Hair Thinning Hot Flushes / Sweating / Sleep Disturbance Mood Disturbance Osteoporosis - Decreased Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Joint Pains Sexual Dysfunction - Vaginal Dryness, Decreased Libido Genito-urinary disturbance Weight gain Amenorrhoea – Peri- leading up to menopause, Post- after 1yr Cessation of fertility
50
What is treatment for menopause?
Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT): previously known as HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) Oestrogen Replacement - Oestrogen stimulates the endometrium to proliferate Add Progesterone - if Endometrium is intact to prevent risk of Endometrial Hyperplasia / Cancer (progesterone breaks down the lining)
51
What is an example of an ovarian reserve marker?
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) secreted by granulosa cells in ovaries Peaks in early adult life Very low at menopause
52
What age does menopause occur?
range 45-55 y/o median= 51 y/o Only 1% premature <40 y/o
53
What is early menopause called?
Premature ovarian insufficiency
54
What is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)?
Same Symptoms as Menopause - Previously called ‘Premature Ovarian Failure’ POF - Conception can happen in 20%. - Diagnosis High FSH >25 iU/L (x2 at least 4 wks apart) Causes: - Autoimmune - Genetic eg Fragile X Syndrome / Turner’s Syndrome (XO) - Previous Cancer therapy eg Radio- or Chemo-therapy
55
Is there an andropause?
56
What is the testosterone 'free hormone' hypothesis?
Binding of total testosterone in circulation Albumin 38% - weakly binds testosterone 'bioavailable' Active 2% - free testosterone SHBG 60% - strongly binds testosterone unavailable - SHBG bound testosterone
57
What is SHBG?
sex hormone binding globulin
58
What type of rhythm does testosterone have?
Diurnal rhythm Testosterone is higher in the morning measure it before 11am- ideally measure with fasting as it can fall roughly 20% with sugar
59
What are the symptoms of testosterone deficiency?
Sexual Dysfunction - Reduced Libido (sexual desire) Erectile Dysfunction >> loss of Early Morning erections Hair Growth - Frequency of Shaving? Energy levels - General Well-being, Fatigue. Mood Disturbance Body Composition - Increased Fat / reduced Muscle Mass Gynaecomastia (breast enlargement in man) Spermatogenesis - High levels of Intratesticular testosterone needed Bone health - (Via conversion to oestrogen)
60
What is the local tissue effect of testosterone?
Di-hydro-testosterone is a more potent ligand for androgen receptor
61
What is the role of di-hydro-testosterone (google)?
During embryonic life, it is involved primarily in the sexual differentiation of organs. Through adolescence and adult life, DHT promotes prostate growth, sebaceous gland activity, male pattern baldness, and body, facial and pubic hair growth.
62
A 25 year old man presents with low libido. On examination he has normal secondary sexual characteristics. Testicular volume is 15 mL bilaterally. What could be the cause of his low libido?
Primary hypogonadism
63
What are male secondary sexual characteristics?
deepening of voice Hair growth- pubic then axillary, facial Sweat gland composition- skin oiliness/ acne Changes to external genitalia
64
A 25 year old man presents with low libido. On examination he has normal secondary sexual characteristics. Testicular volume is 15 mL bilaterally. What investigations would you perform and how would these help you?
testosterone levels (before 11am) LH and FSH levels (these would be high with primary)
65
What is the difference between testosterone and dihydrotestosterone?
dihydrotestosterone is more potent and binds to androgen receptors with higher affinity

BRS Endocrinology (12 decks)

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