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Systems Exam IV (L)
Female Reproduction II, Pregnancy
28
Medical
Graduate
04/27/2009

Additional Medical Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

1. What is the hormone that changes the reproductive tract during the late follicular stage?

 

2.  What are the changes?

Definition

1. Estrogen

2. Cervical epithelial cells create more watery secretions. pH of mucous in increased. Contractions of the myometrium and smooth muscle around the oviducts propel the sperm toward the ampulla.

Term
What receptors are triggered by estrogen in the ampulla that result in contractions that aid in the movement of sperm?
Definition
alpha adrenergic
Term
When is the second polar body extruded from the ovum?
Definition
After fertilization.
Term
What allows the movement of the embryo into the uterus?
Definition
As progesterone levels increase due to the evolving corpus luteum, smooth muscles around the oviduct express increasing amounts of beta adrenergic receptors that allows relaxation.
Term
How large is the embryo once it enters into the uterus?
Definition
It is a blastocyst of 100 cells.
Term
How long after ovulation does implantation occur?
Definition
5 days
Term
What hormonal conditions are necessary for implantation to occur?
Definition
The progesterone/estrogen ratio must be high. This occurs during maximal corpus luteum activity.
Term
What does the outer rim of the blastocyst develop into? What are their function?
Definition
Trophoblasts. Which attach the blastocyst to the uterine wall.
Term
What are decidual cells?
Definition
These are cells of the endometrium that differentiate due to continued exposure to progesterone.
Term
What are syncytial trophoblasts?
Definition
These are differentiated tropoblasts thare destroy the adjagent decidual cells via phagocytosis allowing the blastocyst to penetrate the endometrial wall. These also become the major hormone producers, taking the role of the corpus luteum.
Term
What is the role of the progesterone produced by the syncytial trophoblasts?
Definition

1. Maintains the uterine wall

2. Keeps the myometrium active

3. Supports the production of cervical mucus that seals off the uterine cavity.

Term
How does RU486 work?
Definition
It sheds the lining of the uterine cavity preventing implantation.
Term
What is the role of the placenta?
Definition
It is a vascular organ for exchange of gases and materials. It also produces a large number of steroids: estrogen, hCG, GH, TSH, ACTH. After 7 weeks sufficient progesterone is synthesized by the placenta to maintain pregnancy without the effects of the pituitary or corpus luteum.
Term
What is the role of hCG?
Definition
Maintains the corpus luteum, which maintains progesterone and estrogen production, and supresses the release of pititary gonadotropins, preventing the recruitment of new follicles.
Term
When does the corpus luteum involute and become non-fucntional during pregnancy?
Definition
After the 1st trimester, when placental progesterone predominates.
Term

1. What hormone is synthesized in greatest amount in both man and woman?

 

2. What is the function of it?

Definition

1. Human Chorionic Somatamammotropin (hCS)

 

2. Function is unknown

Term
What is the source of cholesterol in placental hormones?
Definition
Maternal LDL
Term
What does estrogen synthesis from the placenta require?
Definition
Androgen substrates from maternal and fetal adrenals due to the lack of 17alpha-hydroylase.
Term
What is estriol?
Definition
Placental estrogen that is created from DHEA-S
Term
What is oxytocin?
Definition
Neurohormone that is secreted from the posterior pituitary that produces powerful contractions of the myometrium late in pregnancy.
Term
T/F: Oxytocin is the trigger for parturition.
Definition
False. Oxytocin levels do not increase until AFTER the initiation of parturition. It is secreted in response to uterine stretching.
Term
What are the mammary gland secretory structures and what do they converge to form?
Definition
Lobuloalveolar Ducts. They converge to form Lactiferous Ducts, which carry milk to the nipple.
Term
What stimulates the growth and branching of the mammary glands?
Definition
Estrogen
Term
What is necessary for lactation to continue in a nursing woman?
Definition
Frequent emptying of the ducts will allow lactation to continue.
Term
What prevents lactation during pregnancy?
Definition
High levels of estrogen and progesterone combine to prevent prolactin stimulation of casein synthesis. At parturition, both estrogen and progesterone levels fall allowing casein synthesis to occur.
Term
What is the milk let down reflex?
Definition
Suckling triggers a neuroendocrine reflex that allows milk to be secreted easily from the nipple. Oxytocin stimulates the myoeithelial cells around the alveoli to contract.
Term
What is the role of Prolactin?
Definition
Acts on the alveolar epithelium inducing the transcription of casein genes.
Term
What type of birth control can lactating women use?
Definition
Progesterone only
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