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 Tuesday- April 28th
• Quiz 14 – complete, Quiz 15 open now –
Due Wednesday at 11:59 EST
• Final Exam: Thursday, April 20th 6-11 pm
on Canvas! 25 questions @ 2 points each
= 50 pts.
• Clicker scores will be entered by Friday
(5 or no score – remember, it’s not a
zero!)
• Final week of class!
– Female reproductive system, worksheet,
pregnancy, and review
 Review - Male Hormonal
•
Control
GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing
hormone) is released from
hypothalamus
• Stimulates _____ from pituitary
A. Testosterone
B. Inhibin
C. FSH only
D. FSH and LH
• FSH stimulates sustentacular cells
(sertoli, sperm stem cells) to
secrete ABP.
• LH stimulates interstitial cells to
secrete testosterone.
• Androgen Binding Protein +
testosterone stimulate the
production of sperm cells
• What does testosterone directly
inhibit?
– A. LH B. FSH C. GnRH
• Inhibin inhibits FSH
 Spermatogenesis
• Starts with immature
sperm stem cells
(spermatogonia)
– Found on the edge of tubules
(furthest from lumen)
• Sustentacular (sertoli,
nurse) cells surround
developing sperm
– Provide nutrients and waste
removal for developing
• As the spermatogonium
travels towards the lumen,
it undergoes meiosis
• Mature sperm develops a
flagellum (tail) and loses
most of its cytoplasm
– Keeps DNA
– Fast and lightweight for
travel in the female
• Regulated by hormones
called gonadotropins
• After sperm cells develop,
they enter the lumen of the
seminiferous tubule
A man is taking
in high levels of
external
testosterone as
steroids. How
will this impact
the normal
control of sex
hormones in
his body?
 Development of Oocytes
• Women are born with (eggs)
all oocytes (~1,000,000)
• Each oocyte is inside a fluid-filled bubble  follicle
- Follicle cells secrete hormones (e.g. , they have
receptors for FSH)
• Each month, 20-25 primary oocytes begin to mature by
hormones
- Follicle also mature (consist of more cells and become
fluid filled)
• At mature stage, only one secondary oocyte remains
Follicle
• REGULATED BY HORMONES

Egg
 The ovary
The ovary is where the developing oocyte (egg cell/gamete)
matures (from germ/stem cell when born)
– What is the process called?_____________
– Oocyte
• surrounded by follicle cells
– secrete hormones
Some women are born
with ovaries that don’t
produce eggs.

By age 30 women have lost

90% of their eggs.

By age 35 ~ 25K left

(2.5%)

Researchers have identified increases in the risk

 of gestational diabetes, placenta previa,
breech positioning of the baby, emergency
cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage,
preterm birth, low birth weight, and high birth
 weight. Other research has found that risk of
maternal mortality also increases with age.
 Ovulation
• Mature follicle, with oocyte/egg inside, resembles a
blister on the ovary
• Follicle ruptures and oocyte is released to body
cavity, destined for the uterine/fallopian tube
• Successful fertilization occurs in uterine
tube (too late in uterus)
• Implantation of fertilized egg occurs
in uterus (what is ectopic pregnancy?)
 Female Anatomy (cont.)
Uterus
- Thick, muscular chamber that opens
to uterine tubes and vagina
- Functions to house the
developing embryo if
fertilization occurs
Two functional layers:
1. Myometrium is smooth
muscle
2. Endometrium
- Consists of cells and blood vessels
- Thickens in preparation and during
pregnancy to nourish embryo
(eventually forms placenta)
- The lining that builds will shed
every month if no pregnancy
 Promote

Inhibit

Promote

Female Inhibit Inhibit

Reproductive
Hormones

Do women have testosterone?

Yes  only small amounts
 1)
Pituitary-ovarian axis
AP

2) FSH&LH

3) estrogen

Follicular phase Ovl’n Luteal phase

Follicular Phase
1) rising levels of GnRH cause ant. pit. to
SH and LH
release FSHcause
and follicle
LH to grow and mature
ring follicle starts to secrete estrogen (just a little at first)
estrogen inhibits the release of FSH&LH, but stimulates their prod
 1)
Pituitary-ovarian axis
5) FSH&LH
AP

2) FSH&LH

3) estrogen
4) estrogen 6)

Follicular phase Ovl’n Luteal phase

ar Phase - cont.
he follicle continues to grow, more and more estrogen enters blood
estrogen level stimulates ant. pit. to release stored LH &FSH
ulation
his surge of LH triggers ovulation
 1)
Pituitary-ovarian axis
5) FSH&LH
AP

2) FSH&LH

3) estrogen 7)
4) estrogen 6) LH

Follicular phase Ovl’n Luteal phase

8) estrogen
&progesterone

Luteal Phase
7) Egg travels uterine tube, ruptured follicle is now called
luteum (theluteum
the corpus remains of the ovarian follicle, takes over estrogen and
erone production, also produce inhibin)
hibits the production of anymore FSH
tion does not occur, corpus luteum will degenerate, leave with uterine
ruation occurs and the cycle begins again...
s luteum does NOT break down, the progesterone levels rise.
Ovarian cycle
– changes in ovaries Pituitary-ovarian axis
Menstrual cycle
– changes in uterus
(1)Proliferative phase
• mitosis
• increased
vascularization
• addition of
progesterone Follicular phase Ovl’n Luteal phase
receptors
(2) Secretory phase
• Progesterone-
controlled
• endometrium
thickens further
• if no
pregnancy...
(3) Menstrual phase
• menses
 Effects of
estrogen
Different types of
estrogen
– estradiol
– estriol
– Estrone
Maintain primary
sexual characteristics
– Ovaries, uterus,
Follicular phase Ovl’n Luteal phase
oviducts, vaginal
canal
Maintain secondary
sexual characteristics
– development of
breasts and nipples
– distribution of body
fat
– flare of pelvis
Libido and
Applicatoin: Higher % Body fat in
women?
• Adipose tissue
(fat) produces
estrogen.
• When estrogen is
low, after
menstruation for
example, the
body is signaled
to store fat, in
order to maintain
estrogen levels.
 Promote

Inhibit

Promote

Female Inhibit Inhibit

Reproductive
Hormones
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*
GOALS for you:
1.Identify important details
on the diagram
2.Differentiate between
events occurring in the brain
vs. ovary vs. uterus (all three
things happen together)
3.Describe how the different
hormones affect each other
4.Understand and explain
how the events relate to each
other (read vertically)
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

What value is the x-

axis?

A.Amount of hormone
B.Size of follicle
C.Time in days
D.Time in hours
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

Label the y-axis for each

part shown. Part 1 has
been completed:
1.GnRH pulse rate
2.______________
3.______________
4.______________
5.______________
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

Label the y-axis for each

part shown. Part 1 has
been completed:
1.GnRH pulse rate
2.Pituitary Hormone Cycle
3.______________
4.______________
5.______________
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

Label the y-axis for each

part shown. Part 1 has
been completed:
1.GnRH pulse rate
2.Pituitary Hormone Cycle
3.Ovarian Cycle
4.______________
5.______________
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

Label the y-axis for each

part shown. Part 1 has
been completed:
1.GnRH pulse rate
2.Pituitary Hormone Cycle
3.Ovarian Cycle
4.Sex Hormone Cycle
5.______________
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

Label the y-axis for each

part shown. Part 1 has
been completed:
1.GnRH pulse rate
2.Pituitary Hormone Cycle
3.Ovarian Cycle
4.Sex Hormone Cycle
5.Ovulatory Phase
(Menstrual Lining)
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

What does the

cartoon represent
(see arrow)?
A.Pituitary gland
B.Follicle and egg
C.Egg only
D.Follicle only
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

What event is
represented by the
the vertical pink
block in all parts of
the diagram see
arrow)?
A.Start of puberty
B.Initiation of follicle
development
C.Ovulation
D.Menstruation
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*
Follicular Stage
(Summary)
1. Low pulse rate of GnRH at the
beginning of the female cycle
triggers release of FSH from the
anterior pituitary.
2. FSH stimulates follicle cells of
primary follicles to grow/divide.
3. Follicle cells start secreting
estrogen (E). As more follicle
cells divide, more E is released.
4. Rising E increases pulse rate of
GnRH (See asterisks * at very
top).
5. Higher pulse rate favors
release of LH from anterior
pituitary.
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

Ovulation
1. Peak of LH release causes
ovulation
Luteal Stage
(Summary)
1. LH also causes the follicle
cells to “luteinize” to the corpus
luteum
2. Corpus luteum secretes
progesterone (P) and estrogen
(E).
3. These hormones cause GnRH
pulse rate and amplitude to
change, causing low FSH/LH
4. Corpus luteum degrade in
about 12 days if no pregnancy
* Overview of Female
Hormones
*Read me vertically!*

Menstrual Cycle
1. During luteal stage, P
thickens the lining of the uterus
2. If P drops (corpus luteum
degrades = no pregnancy).
3. Menstruation occurs at this
point, when FSH levels start to
rise
If the corpus luteum does not break down
during the luteal phase, what would you
expect?
a. estrogen levels to fall.
b. FSH levels to rise.
c. GnRH levels to rise.
d. progesterone levels to rise.
How Birth Control Works
• Most hormonal birth control uses low levels of
estrogen and progesterone
– The pill, patch and ring
• Constant presence of these hormones during the
whole month alerts pulse of GnRH and thereby
affects (lowers natural) FSH and LH levels
• Prevents signal for eggs/follicle to mature
– No ovulation
– Eggs are reabsorbed into the body
 Birth Control Physiol.
FAQs
• What is the best birth control?
• Abstinence > birth control med + condom >
med> condom
• Does it make you infertile?  No, but maybe! May
take months/years for body to recover ‘normal’
pattern to prepare for conception
• Side effects?
-Periods lighter, shorter, more regular, or cease;
clears acne; reduced risk of cervical cancer;
increases clotting factors – could risk blood clot
• Does birth control cause weight gain?
• No. Shot may cause temporary weight gain in some women.
 Uterus - The Cervix
• Entry point of the uterus
from the vagina
– Entry for sperm
– Exit for shed endometrium
– Exit for babies (avg. 8mm)
• Extends to 10cm during birth
• Produces two types of
mucus
– Thick during before ovulation
• Prevent sperm from entering
– Thin after ovulation
• Helps sperm enter
• Site of Cervical Cancer
- (HPV virus)
Vagina
• Muscular canal
• Functions to
receive sperm and
as a birthing
canal
• Contain vaginal
rugae
– Ridges of
muscle
– Help stimulate
 Application 
• Climacteric Menopause
 change in hormones (female and
male) over lifetime
• With age, primary follicles stop responding to
FSH/LH
– Also, there are less follicles present
– Secrete less estrogen and progesterone (cause
of menopause)
• Symptoms associated with a lack of estrogen
include:
– Vaginal dryness
– Cutaneous vasospasm (“hot flashes”)
– Caused by the hypothalamus thinking the
body is too cold
– Changes in mood
– Osteoporosis (bone decay - estrogen helps with
 Female Sexual Response
• Four stages
(1) Excitement
– Triggered by input of senses (sight, touch, thoughts,
aroma…)
– Controlled by the parasympathetic autonomic motor
division
– Increase in heart rate and blood pressure
– Vasocongestion of genitals (increased blood flow)
– Uterine tenting (positions cervix in vagina to receive
sperm)
– Secretion from glands
 Female Sexual Response
(2) Plateau
– Controlled by
parasympathetic system
– Clitoris is engorged with
blood (homologous to the
tip of the penis)
• Swell to two to three
times resting size
• Provide female
stimulation
– Lower one third of vagina
constricts (provide
stimulation for penis)
 Female Sexual Response
(3) Orgasm (20 sec-2 min)
– Controlled by sympathetic system
– Coordinated contraction of pelvis and vaginal
muscles
– Uterus undergoes peristaltic contractions
– May help move sperm to/into uterus??
(4) Resolution
– Muscles relax
– Blood flow decreases
– Heart and breath rate decrease
– Woman do not have a refractory period
Application – The Stimuli of
Scent
What are pheromones?  Scent given off by a
species that causes a response in members of the
same species. Sex pheromones attract a partner.
•Act like hormones outside the body
•Observed in insects for fertilization coordination
•No study has led to the isolation of true human
sex pheromones
•Smell plays a role in close proximity
•Based on natural body odors,
bacteria, and sweat
 Application - Perfume
Chemistry
former PSU student now works for L’Oreal
Head, Heart, and Base notes = oil extracts! (Egyptians-
distillation of flowers, not really oils, but rather highly
concentrated cell essence)
Everyone has their own preferences (musky, woodsy, earthy,
floural, fruity, etc)
Top heart notes: citrus, grapefruit, berries, sage, lavender
Top middle notes: fruit tones, cucumber, geranium, nutmeg,
jasmine, lemongrass
Top Base notes: cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, amber,
oakmoss, musk
 So what happens
•
after sex...
Tiny sperm cells find themselves inside of the uterus
– fluid secreted by the female forms strands (musin) that
help guide the sperm.
– 300-400 million sperm ejaculated (may the odds be ever in
your favor)
– most destroyed in vagina or drain out, 2 million make it to
the cervix
– many destroyed by
white blood cells in the
uterus
– half will travel up the
wrong uterine tube
– Only 2,000-5,000
actually make it Cervix
to the oocyte Vagina
– whole trip only
takes about 10 minutes
• Capacitation
– sac of enzymes (acrosome) on top of sperm cell becomes
 Fertilization
• Acrosomal (sperm head) reaction
– enzymes in acrosome break down cells and
glycoproteins surrounding egg cell
– requires 100s of sperm
• One sperm finally makes it through
– proteins allow two cells
to “dock” together
• Must prevent polyspermy
– more than one sperm fertilizing egg
– inactivate docking
proteins
– secrete protein fluid
that pushes other
sperm away- cool!
 Implantation
• Less than 5,000 sperm make it to--To the form identical or monozygotic tw
fallopian tubes! one fertilized egg (ovum) splits and
• Fertilized oocyte is now a zygote. develops into two babies with exactly
• Begins to divide (mitosis) the same genetic information.
• ~24 hrs after fertilization
--To form fraternal or dizygotic twins
• 3-4 days after ovulation, zygote willtwo eggs (ova) are fertilized by two sper
reach uterus and produce two genetically unique chil
• Blastocyst will implant in 2-3 days.at the same time.
• Week 6 – sex differentiation

Blastocy
st
produces
HCG
 1)
Pituitary-ovarian axis
5) FSH&LH
AP

2) FSH&LH

3) estrogen 7)
4) estrogen 6) LH

Follicular phase Ovl’n Luteal phase

8) estrogen
&progesterone

Luteal Phase
7) Egg travels uterine tube, ruptured follicle is now called
us luteum
the corpustakes over estrogen and progesterone production
luteum
produce inhibin
inhibits the production of anymore FSH
zation does not occur, corpus luteum will degenerate
struation occurs and the cycle begins again...
us luteum does NOT break down, the progesterone levels rise.
 Application –
Heteropaternal
Superfecundation
It is possible for twins to
have different fathers in a
phenomenon called heteropaternal
superfecundation, which occurs
when two of a woman's eggs are
fertilized by sperm from two different
men. Ordinarily, a woman becomes
pregnant because one of her eggs has
been fertilized by sperm.
 Fertility
Drugs
Clomid is an oral
medication that can be
used to stimulate
ovulation. It works by
blocking estrogen
receptors at the
hypothalamus, which is an
important "hormonal
control center" for the
body. When this happens,
the hypothalamus is
stimulated to release
follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH), and
luteinizing hormone (LH):
more eggs!
 Development
• Developing egg (blastocyst produces human chorionic
gonadotropin (HCG)
• HCG maintains estrogen & progesterone producing cells in
ovaries
until placenta forms during third month
• After 3rd month, the placenta takes over maintaining est. and
prog. levels
After about 9 months...
Hypothalamus receives impulses,
stimulates posterior pituitary gland

Post. pit. gland releases a hormone

called oxytocin into the blood stream,
which stimulates muscles of uterus.

Muscles of uterus
contract even more.

Cycle continues until

interrupted by birth of the
Send nerve
baby. This is called a positive
impulses to feedback mechanism.
brain
Receptors in uterus
sense pressure
After about 9 months...
Hypothalamus receives impulses,
stimulates posterior pituitary gland

Post. pit. gland releases a hormone

called oxytocin into the blood stream,
which stimulates muscles of uterus.

Muscles of uterus
contract even more.

Cycle continues until

interrupted by birth of the
Send nerve
baby. This is called a positive
impulses to feedback mechanism.
brain
Receptors in uterus
sense pressure
After about 9 months...
Hypothalamus receives impulses,
stimulates posterior pituitary gland

Post. pit. gland releases a hormone

called oxytocin into the blood stream,
which stimulates muscles of uterus.

Muscles of uterus
contract even more.

Cycle continues until

interrupted by birth of the
Send nerve
baby. This is called a positive
impulses to feedback mechanism.
brain
Receptors in uterus
sense pressure
After about 9 months...
Hypothalamus receives impulses,
stimulates posterior pituitary gland

Post. pit. gland releases a hormone

called oxytocin into the blood stream,
which stimulates muscles of uterus.

Muscles of uterus
contract even more.

Cycle continues until

interrupted by birth of the
Send nerve
baby. This is called a positive
impulses to feedback mechanism.
brain
Receptors in uterus
sense pressure
After about 9 months...
Hypothalamus receives impulses,
stimulates posterior pituitary gland

Post. pit. gland releases a hormone

called oxytocin into the blood
stream,
which stimulates muscles of uterus.
Muscles of uterus
contract even more.

Cycle continues until

interrupted by birth of the
Send nerve
baby. This is called a positive
impulses to feedback mechanism.
brain
Receptors in uterus
sense pressure
After about 9 months...
Hypothalamus receives impulses,
stimulates posterior pituitary gland

Post. pit. gland releases a hormone

called oxytocin into the blood stream,
which stimulates muscles of uterus.

Muscles of uterus
contract even more.

Cycle continues until

interrupted by birth of the
Send nerve
baby. This is called a positive
impulses to feedback mechanism.
brain
Receptors in uterus
sense pressure
After about 9 months...
Hypothalamus receives impulses,
stimulates posterior pituitary gland

Post. pit. gland releases a hormone

called oxytocin into the blood stream,
which stimulates muscles of uterus.

Muscles of uterus
contract even more.

Cycle continues until

Send nerve interrupted by birth of
impulses to the baby. This is called
brain
a _______ feedback
Receptors in uterus mechanism.
sense pressure
End Material for Biol 141

Final Exam Thursday: 6-11 pm on

Canvas
Thank you,
LA’s!
Melanie
Alexis
Sarah