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Reproductive System > The HPG Axis, Puberty + The Menstrual Cycle > Flashcards

The HPG Axis, Puberty + The Menstrual Cycle Flashcards

(45 cards)

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1
Q

Outline the anterior pituitary gland and its hormones involve in menstruation

A
  • GnRH (every 1-3 hours) travels in hypophysis portal system + stimulates APG to secrete gonadotropin hormones:
  • follicle stimulating hormone FSH
  • luteinising hormone LH
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2
Q

Outline the HPG axis in males

A
  • FSH stimulates Sertoli cells > spermatogenesis + secretes inhibin (negative feedback on APG + FSH)
  • LH stimulates Leydig cells > testosterone released

FSH - Sertoli
LH - Leydig

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3
Q

Outline the HPG axis in females

A
  • FSH stimulates granulosa cells > follicular development
  • LH stimulates theca interna cells > release androgens (converted to oestrogen by granulosa cells)
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4
Q

Role of FSH in males

A

Stimulates Sertoli cells
- spermatogenesis
- inhibin releases > negative feedback on APG + FSH

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5
Q

Role of LH in males

A

Stimulates Leydig cells
- testosterone released

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6
Q

Role of FSH in females

A

Stimulates granulosa cells
- follicular development

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7
Q

Role of LH in females

A

Stimulates theca interna cells
- releases androgens > converted to oestrogen

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8
Q

Define gonadarche

A

Activation of the gonads

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9
Q

Define adrenarche

A

‘Awakening of adrenal glands’ > public/axillar hair + oily skin

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10
Q

Define thelarche

A

The onset of breast development occurring near the beginning of puberty in girls

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11
Q

Define menarche

A

The onset of menstruation at puberty

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12
Q

Define pubarche

A

Onset growth of pubic hair

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13
Q

What influences the timing of puberty

A
  • pineal glands
  • body weight
  • Leptin
  • environment
  • genetics
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14
Q

What is the critical weight for girls to start puberty?

A

47kg

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15
Q

Where is Leptin released from?

A

Adipose tissue

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16
Q

Outline puberty in boys

A
  • age 9-14 years
  • starts with genital development
  • pubic hair growth
  • spermatogenesis
  • growth spurt
    .
    + male secondary sexual characteristics
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17
Q

Secondary male sexual characteristics

A
  • increased + thickened hair on trunk, pubis, axillary+ face
  • increased laryngeal size (adams apple)
  • deepened voice
  • increased bone + muscle mass + strength due to testosterone
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18
Q

What scale is used to measure puberty?

A

Tanner scale

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19
Q

Outline puberty in girls

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A
  • age 8-13 years
  • start with thelarche
  • adrenarche
  • growth spurt
  • menarche
    .
    + female secondary sexual characteristics
20
Q

Secondary female sexual characteristics

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A
  • pubic + axillary hair
  • enlargement of labia majora + minora
  • keratinisation of vaginal mucosa
  • uterine enlargement
  • increased fat in hips/thigh
21
Q

How long is the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?

Study These Flashcards
A

Always 14 days

22
Q

What is the menstrual cycle controlled by?

23
Q

What two cycles occur in the menstrual cycle?

Study These Flashcards
A

Ovarian cycle
Uterine cycle

24
Q

What are the phases of the ovarian cycle?

Study These Flashcards
A

Follicular phase
Ovulation on day 14
Luteal phase

25
What are the phases of the uterine cycle?
Menstrual phase Proliferative phase Secretory phase
26
Outline the early follicular phase
- days 0 to 5 - no ovarian hormone production - granulosa cells secrete **activin** > **^ FSH production + FSH receptors on granulosa cells** - FSH stimulates follicle growth, theca interna appears + increased oestrogen - dominant follicle granulosa cells produce **inhibin** instead of activin
27
Outline the late follicular phase
- days 5 to 14ish - _oestrogen_ produced > **^ FSH receptors** (initally negative feedback on HPG axis) + **^ LH receptors** (prep for ovulation) - _inhibin_ produced > **v FSH receptors + helps LH to increase androgen production** in theca cells - oestrogen and inhibin continue to rise
28
Outline the ovulatory phase
- day 14 - LH surge > oestrogen rises + exerts positive feedback on HPG axis - ovulation occurs
29
Outline the luteal phase
- always 14 days - **LH** stimulates remaining follicle to develop into **corpus luteum** > **secretes oestrogen +progesterone**
30
Outline the uterine cycle
- **Menstrual phase**: menstrual bleeding - **Proliferative phase**: proliferation of endometrium in response to oestrogen > glands become more coiled - **Secretory phase**: glands become secretory under influence of progesterone
31
What are the uterine layers?
**Endometrium, myometrium + perimetrium**
32
What are the endometrial changes in the uterine cycle?
- **early proliferation**: sparse straight glands - **late proliferation**: thicker functional layer + coiled glands - **secretory phase**: max endometrial thickness, very coiled glands + coiled arterioles
33
What occurs at the end of the menstrual cycle if fertilisation doesn’t occur?
- corpus luteum becomes corpus albicans - fall in oestrogen, progesterone + inhibin - menstruation
34
What occurs if fertilisation is successful?
Syncytiotrophoblasts produce hCG Corpus luteum lifespan extends
35
Actions of oestrogen
- proliferation of endometrium + myometrium - fallopian tube motility - thin, alkaline cervical mucus
36
Action of progesterone
- produces secretory endometrium - thickening + reduction of motility of myometrium - thick, acidic cervical mucus (prevents further entry of sperm) - development of breast tissue
37
Normal duration of menstrual cycle
21 to 35 days
38
What is variation in the menstrual cycle length due to?
Follicular phase
39
What factors can disrupt the menstrual cycle
- pregnancy - lactation - emotional stress - body weight - infertility
40
How do the pineal glands affect the onset of puberty?
Children with lesion in the pineal glands undergo precocious puberty
41
Why is there not a rise in FSH levels during ovulation?
Presence of inhibin Causes negative feedback on APG axis
42
Where is inhibin released from?
**Sertoli cells** in testicles **dominant granulosa cells** in ovary
43
Action of inhibin
**Inhibits secretion of FSH** from anterior pituitary gland through negative feedback
44
What are the layers of the endometrium? What are their functions?
- **function layer**: responsive to horomones + sheds in menstruation - **basal layer**: allows regrowth at start of a new cycle
45
What are the affects of low and high levels of oestrogen?
- **low levels**: reduces amount of GnRH released > reduces FSH+LH - **high levels**: promote GnRH release > increases FSH+LH

Reproductive System (21 decks)

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