The Menstrual Cycle

Question 1

What hormone is produced by the hypothalamus and stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce sex hormones?

Answer 1

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Question 2

What type of hormones are FSH and LH

Answer 2

Glycoproteins

Question 3

Where are FSH and LH secreted from?

Answer 3

Anterior pituitary

Question 4

What hormones do the ovaries produce in response to FSH and LH?

Answer 4

Oestrogen and progesterone

Question 5

What type of receptors do LH and FSH bind to?

Answer 5

G-protein coupled receptors

Question 6

What is the common biochemical precursor of steroid hormones?

Answer 6

Cholesterol (from acetate)

Question 7

Steroid hormones can pass straight through the cell membrane and bind to nuclear hormone receptor - True or False?

Answer 7

True

Question 8

What does a primordial follicle consist of?

Answer 8

A primary oocyte surrounded by a single layer of granulosa cells

Question 9

What does a primary follicle consist of?

Answer 9

Fully grown ovum surrounded by many layers of granulosa cells

Question 10

Accelerated growth of 6-12 primary follicles each month is caused by what?

Answer 10

LH and FSH

Question 11

A layer of theca cells forms on the inside or outside of granulosa cell layers?

Answer 11

Outside

Question 12

Starts on day of menses and ends with ovulation.

Answer 12

Follicular Phase - characterised by presence of a follicle

Question 13

What phase comes after the follicular phase?

Answer 13

Luteal phase

Question 14

What receptors do Theca and Granulosa cells express in follicular phase?

Answer 14

Theca - LH receptors

Granulosa - FSH receptors

Question 15

What do Theca cells secrete upon stimulation by LH?

Answer 15

Androgens

Question 16

What enzyme converts androgens to oestrogen in granulosa cells?

Answer 16

androgen aromatase

Question 17

In the follicular phase does oestrogen have a positive or negative effect on the hypothalamus?

Answer 17

Negative

Question 18

What is the function of inhibin B and from what cell is it produced?

Answer 18

Produced by granulosa cells and it inhibits FSH adn LH release

Question 19

What is the function of anti-mullerian hormone?

Answer 19

suppresses growth of neighbouring follicles so you get a dominant follicle

Question 20

What causes the oestrogen surge?

Answer 20

Androgens have a metabolic effect and cause proliferation of granulosa cells so more granulosa cells = more oestrogen being produced.

Question 21

What is the effect of the oestrogen surge on granulosa cells?

Answer 21

They express LH receptors

Question 22

What causes the surge in LH?

Answer 22

Increased oestrogen level causes a switch from negative feedback to positive feedback on pituitary gland

Question 23

LH binding to receptors on granulosa cells causes the production of what?

Answer 23

Progesterone

Question 24

What two processes is the LH surge necessary for?

Answer 24

Ovulation and oocyte maturation (from primary to secondary oocyte)

Question 25

What is a polar body?

Answer 25

A byproduct of meiosis produced as a result of unequal cell division of oocyte. It contains chromosomes that chromosomes that are not needed

Question 26

What stage of meiosis does the oocyte arrest at in second meiosis?

Answer 26

Metaphase

Question 27

What two cell types is the corpus luteum made up of?

Answer 27

Granulosa cells and lutein cells that arised from theca interna cells.

Question 28

What products does the corpus luteum secrete?

Answer 28

Oestrogen and progesterone and inhibin A which inhibits secretion of FSH

Question 29

How many days does a corpus luteum tend to last if no fertilisation occurs?

Answer 29

12 days - final involution around 26th day of menstrual cycle

Question 30

What feedback does the corpus luteum have on the anterior pituitary?

Answer 30

Negative - to inhibit FSH and LH

Question 31

What are the three phases the uterus endometrium undergoes during a normal menstrual cycle and during what days do they normally occur on?

Answer 31

1) Menstruation (days 0-5) 2) Proliferative Phase (days 6-14) 3) Secretory Phase (days 15-28)

Question 32

What is another name given to a mature follicle?

Answer 32

Graafian follicle

Question 33

What causes menopause?

Answer 33

A lack of oestrogen being produced: when female stops producing oocytes she stops producing granulosa cells and hence oestrogen

Question 34

What effect does Oestrogen have on the heart and liver?

Answer 34

regulates production of cholesterol (decreases build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries)

Question 35

What effect does oestrogen have on the brain?

Answer 35

Helps maintain body temperature and protects against memory loss

Question 36

What is hirsutism?

Answer 36

unwanted male patterning of facial hair - sometimes a symptom of menopause

Question 37

Which of the following long-term problems of menopause could HRT make worse?: 1) Osteoporosis 2) dry vagina 3) Altzheimer's disease 4) Ischaemic heart disease

Answer 37

3 and 4

Question 38

In HRT why are progestogens usually prescribed as well?

Answer 38

Because if oestrogens are unapposed they stimulate endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma

Question 39

What females would you not need to give progestogens to along side HRT?

Answer 39

Those who have had a hysterectomy as they are not in danger of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma

Question 40

Name 5 benefits of HRT

Answer 40

1) Relief of menopausal symptoms 2) osteoporosis prevention 3) reduce risk of colon cancer 4) general wellbeing 5) cardiac disease (in younger women)

Question 41

Name 5 risks of HRT

Answer 41

1) Thrombosis (stroke) 2) Uterine cancer (oestrogen only) 3) Breast cancer 4) Cardiac disease (older women) 5) Alzheimer's disease

Question 42

How long do you have to have not had a period for to start on combined oestrogen replacement?

Answer 42

At least 1 year

Question 43

What age is premature menopause defined to occur at or before?

Answer 43

<40yrs - 1% of women

Question 44

Name some causes of premature menopause

Answer 44

1) Familial 2) surgical removal of ovaries 3) radiotherapy to the pelvis 4) chemotherapy 5) chromosomal abnormalities 6) Autoimmune disease