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Question #45806
The Question
A 22-year-old female athlete undergoing rigorous high-intensity training presents with chronic muscle fatigue and secondary amenorrhea. Blood tests indicate persistently elevated levels of a hormone primarily responsible for gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, and proteolysis. Based on the crosstalk between endocrine axes, which of the following best explains the physiological mechanism behind her amenorrhea?
Options
- A.
Elevated cortisol directly induces atresia of the Graafian follicle, preventing the LH surge required for ovulation.
- B.
Chronic elevation of cortisol suppresses the pulsatile secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus, thereby inhibiting gonadotropin release.
- C.
High levels of cortisol exert a strong positive feedback on the anterior pituitary, causing an overproduction of prolactin which inhibits ovulation.
- D.
The stress-induced increase in epinephrine directly inhibits the release of estrogen and progesterone from the developing ovarian follicles.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
Hypothalamic_Pituitary_Axis|Hormone_Receptors|Muscle_Glycogen
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often study the HPA axis (stress response) and HPG axis (reproductive cycle) in isolation.
The pivot here is recognizing the 'endocrine crosstalk' where chronic metabolic stress (elevated cortisol) acts as a central inhibitor of the reproductive axis (GnRH pulse generator).
A common misconception is assuming stress directly damages the ovaries or confusing the roles of acute stress hormones (epinephrine) with chronic stress hormones (cortisol) in long-term physiological disruptions.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Locomotion and Movement - Class 11 |
| Concept | Muscle Fatigue Factors |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |