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Something’s Not Right

An Investigation of Reproductive System Disorders

By Nicole Palenske Ladner, Peyton Bytnar

Something’s Not Right


 

Abstract

This case study presents a set of five mini cases that give students an opportunity to explore reproductive hormones and secretions, and to make connections between the endocrine and reproductive systems. Each mini case focuses on an imbalance in reproductive system function and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. Working individually or in small groups, students are given a patient description and laboratory test results and tasked with formulating and justifying a diagnosis. Before beginning, students should have already covered both the endocrine and reproductive systems in class so that they can apply their basic understanding of hormones, release sites and targets, and feedback loops to their assigned mini case. This case study was developed for college students in an anatomy and physiology introductory course or an upper-level human physiology course.

   

Date Posted

06/18/2026

Overview

Objectives

  • Explain the physiological function of hormones associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
  • Understand the feedback loops and anatomical structures that may be influenced by the release of these hormones.
  • Interpret normal and abnormal levels of hormones based on reference values of hormones.
  • Predict what potential reproductive system imbalance or condition an individual may be experiencing based on patient profiles and laboratory data.
  • Interpret data from provided tables.

Keywords

Reproduction; reproductive system; reproductive disorders; human physiology; hormones; estrogen; progesterone; testosterone; endocrine system; endocrine disorders; HPG axis; 

  

Subject Headings

Anatomy
Medicine (General)
Nursing
Physiology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Mini-Case, Discussion, Student Presentations

 

 

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