PATHO FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE Reproductive

PATHO FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE

Reproductive

Endometrial cycle and the occurrence of ovulation

-menstrual cyclestarts with menarche (first menstruation) ends with menopause (cessation of menstrual flow for 1 year)

-Cycles -anovulatory at first may vary in length from 10 to 60 days or more.

-As adolescence proceeds into adulthood, regular patterns of menstruation and ovulation are established at intervals ranging from 21 to 45 days.

^-Menstruation continues to recur in a recognizable and characteristic pattern during adulthood, with the length of the menstrual cycle varying considerably among women.

-  commonly accepted cycle average is 28 (27 to 30) days, with rhythmic intervals of 21 to 35 days considered normal.

-Approximately 2 to 8 years before menopause, cycles begin to lengthen again with variation related to changing hormone levels

-2 phases:

1)      follicular/proliferative phase (postmenstrual)

-lasts until about day 14.

-  endometrium grows to form a lush lining inside of the uterus.

•         GnRH, activin, and inhibin from granulosa cells cause rise in FSH levels (stimulates number of follicles)

•         FSH rescues dominant ovarian follicle from apoptosis day 5-7

•         Estrogen and FSH make primary follicle more sensitive to FSH

•         Estrogen levels increase, FSH levels drop because of inhibin-B increase from dominant follicle

•         Estrogen causes cells of endometrium to proliferate and stimulate LH production

•         Surge in FSH and LH require for final follicular growth and ovulation

•         Androgen enhances process of follicle atresia