Reproduction Physiology Questions

What is GnRH short for?

gonadotropin releasing hormone

What kind of hormone is GnRH?

neurohormone

Where is GnRH secreted from?

hypothalamus

What kind of secretion is GnRH?

pulsatile secretion

Describe the gender difference between GnRH secretion in men and women.

highly variable in women, constant in men

What is a pulsatile secretion?

released in pulses

GnRH travels to which gland BEFORE binding to GnRH-R?

anterior pituitary gland

GnRH binds to GnRH-R on what kind of cells?

gonadotropes

Gonadotropes are located in which gland?

anterior pituitary gland

Binding GnRH stimulates the release of which two gonadotropins?

FSH and LH

FSH and LH are released in which gland?

anterior pituitary gland

FSH is short for:

follicle-stimulating hormone

LH is short for:

luteinizing hormone

FSH and LH enter which type of circulation?

systemic circulation

FSH and LH act on what organs?

gonads (ovaries/testes)

What hormone stimulates FSH secretion?

activin

What hormone inhibits FSH secretion?

inhibin

Activin and inhibitin hormones are found in what cells of ovarian follicles?

granulosa cells

Activin and inhibitin hormones are found in what cells of seminiferous tubules?

sertoli cells

What two major cells exist in testes

Leydig cells, Sertoli Cells

What's another name for leydig cells?

interstitial cells

Where are Leydig cells located?

between seminiferous tubules

Where are Sertoli cells located?

within the seminiferous tubules

What is the name of the LH receptor for Leydig cells?

ICSH

ICSH is short for:

interstitial cell stimulating hormone

ICSH hormones stimulate Leydig cells to produce what?

testosterone

Which cell in the testes has FSH receptors?

sertoli cell

Which cell in the testes has LH receptors?

leydig cell

What do Sertoli cells do?

provide nutrition and sperm cell growth

What do Leydig cells do?

secrete testosterone

What do Thecal cells secrete?

testosterone

What two major cells exist in the ovaries?

thecal cells and granulosa cells

What is a mature ovarian follicle called?

Graafian follicle

Graafian follicles are filled with what hormone?

Estrogen

What do granulosa cells do?

secrete estrogen

Granulosa cells release what enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen?

Aromatase enzyme

What two hormones (not including estrogen) are produced by granulosa cells?

activin and inhibitin

What kind of hormones are androgens?

steroid hormones

What effect do androgens have on the body?

masculinizing effects

What are three kinds of androgens?

androstenediol, DHT, and testosterone

What is DHT short for?

dihydroxytestosterone

What is DHT?

an active form of testosterone

What kind of androgen is DHT?

major intracellular androgen

What is the most potent male hormone?

DHT

What is the least active androgen?

testosterone

Which androgen is the major male circulatory hormone?

testosterone

Testosterone is what kind of androgen?

major extracellular androgen

What is the primary female sex hormone?

estrogen

What does estrogen synthesis begin with?

cholesterol

Estrogen production is reglared by the:

hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis

What are the four forms of estrogen?

estrone, estradiol, estrial, esterol

Where is estrone found?

in men and menopausal women

Which form of estrogen is weakest?

E1

What's E1 short for?

estrone

What is the most common form of estrogen?

estradiol

Estradiol is most dominant in what demographic?

non-pregnant, fertile women

What is E2 short for?

estradiol

Where is estrial produced?

in placenta

Where is esterol produced?

in fetal liver

What two forms of estrogen are produced during pregnancy?

E3, E4

E3 is short for:

estrial

E4 is short for:

esterol

What hormone does cholesterol produce in the estrogen pathway?

pregenolone

What two hormones are produced by pregenolone in the estrogen pathway?

DHEA and progesterone

What are the three layers of the uterus?

perimetrium, myometrium, endometrium

What is the outermost layer of the uterus?

perimetrium

The perimetrium is composed of what kind of tissue?

connective tissue

The myometrium is composed of what kind of muscle?

smooth muscle

What is the innermost layer of the uterus?

endometrium

How long can an egg survive?

24 hours

How long can sperm survive, assuming it has a fertile cervical mucus?

5 days

What is the general pH range of a vagina? (acidic, basic, neutral)

acidic

What is the benefit of an acidic vaginal environment?

prevents yeast infection

Vaginal microbiome is rich in what kind of bacteria?

lactobacilli

Lactobacilli use glycogen to produce what?

lactic acid

long term antibiotic treatment can result in what?

dysbiosis

What does dysbiosis mean?

abnormal microflora

Dysbiosis results in what?

yeast infection

What are the four parts of the fallopian tube?

fimbriae, infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus

What is the function of the fimbriae?

to catch eggs

What is the function of the infundibulum?

to guide non-motile egg to ampulla

How does the infundibulum guide the egg?

through peristalsis

What is the function of the ampulla?

site of fertilization

What is the function of the isthmus?

transports the zygote to uterus

How long is the average menstrual cycle?

28 days

The menstrual cycle is regulated by what hormone?

GnRH

List the three stages of the menstrual cycle

Bleeding, Proliferative, Secretory

Days 1-5 of menstruation

Bleeding Phase

Days 6-13 of menstruation

Proliferative Phase

Day 14 of menstruation

Ovulation

Days 15-28 of menstruation

Secretory Phase

Proliferative Phase is dominated by what two hormones?

FSH, Estrogen

What happens to the endometrium during the proliferative phase?

thickens

What stage has the maturation of ovarian follicles from primary to secondary to tertiary?

Proliferative Phase

What's another word for tertiary follicle?

Graafian follicle

Ovulation is triggered by what event?

LH surge

A defining characteristic of the LH surge in ovulation is:

blood levels >20 IU/L

What major event happens in ovulation?

mature Graafian follicle releases egg, and fimbriae of fallopian tube catches it

What stage of menstraution is the optimal time to concieve?

Ovulation

Days 15-28 of Menstruation

Secretary Phase