19.5 GU STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Flashcards
DESCRIBE the function of the organs of the female reproductive system
DESCRIBE the major events of the ovarian and uterine cycles
organs of the female reproductive system
- ovaries;
- uterine (fallopian) tubes, (or oviducts);
- uterus
- vagina
- external organs (vulva, or pudendum)
- mammary glands
ovaries (egg receptacles) are paired organs that produce secondary oocytes (cells that
develop into mature ova, or eggs, following fertilization) and hormones, such as
progesterone and estrogens (the female sex hormones), inhibin, and relaxin. shape of unshelled almonds.
a region of dense connective
tissue that contains ovarian follicles.
ovarian cortex,
layer of simple epithelium (low cuboidal or squamous)
that covers the surface of the ovary.
germinal epithelium
tubes that extend laterally from the uterus and
transport the secondary oocytes from the ovaries to the uterus
uterine (fallopian) TUBES
open, funnel shaped end of each tube, the ________________, lies close to the
ovary, but is open to the pelvic cavity.
infundibulum
UTERINE TUBE ends in a fringe of fingerlike projections called
fimbriae
usual site for fertilization of a secondary oocyte by a sperm cell is in the
uterine tube.
Fertilization may occur any time up to about _________ after ovulation.
24 hours
fertilized ovum
zygote
(zygote) descends into the uterus within ______ days.
Unfertilized_________ disintegrate.
seven
secondary oocytes
- (womb) serves as part of the pathway for sperm deposited in the vagina to
reach the uterine tubes.
(2 sites of implantation of a fertilized ovum, development of the fetus during
pregnancy, and labor.
(a) source of menstrual flow.
(3) between the urinary bladder and the rectum and is shaped like an inverted pear.
(4)
(a) The interior of the body of the uterus is called the uterine cavity (Figure 23.9).
(b) The middle muscular layer of the uterus, the myometrium, consists of smooth
muscle and forms the bulk of the uterine wall.
(c) During childbirth, coordinated contractions of uterine muscles help expel the fetus.
(d) The innermost part of the uterine wall, the endometrium, is a mucous membrane. It
nourishes a growing fetus or is shed each month during menstruation if
fertilization does not occur.
(e) The endometrium contains many endometrial glands whose secretions nourish
sperm and the zygote.
uterus
dome shaped portion superior to the uterine tubes called
the fundus
tapering central portion OF UTERUS called
the body
narrow portion OF UTERUS opening into the vagina called the
cervix.
-tubular canal that extends from the exterior of the body to the uterine
cervix
-receptacle for the penis during sexual intercourse
-outlet for menstrual Flow
-passageway for childbirth.
vagina
, refers to the external genitals of the female
vulva, or pudendum
elevation of adipose tissue covered by coarse pubic hair,
which cushions the pubic symphysis
mons pubis
From the mons pubis, two longitudinal folds of skin, the labia majora extend down
and back (singular is labium majus).
- develop from the same embryonic tissue that the scrotum develops from
-contain adipose tissue and sebaceous (oil) and sudoriferous (sweat) glands.
-covered by pubic hair.
(b) The labia majora
Medial to the labia majora are two folds of skin called
- do not contain pubic hair or fat and have few sudoriferous (sweat) glands
- contain numerous sebaceous (oil) glands
labia minora.
region between the labia minora is called the
vestibule
glands in the wall of the urethra secrete mucus
paraurethral glands (Skene glands).
On either side of the vaginal orifice itself are the )__________, which produce a small quantity of mucus during sexual arousal and intercourse that adds to cervical mucus and provides lubrication.
a) In males, the bulbourethral glands are equivalent structures.
greater vestibular glands
Bartholin glands
- circular pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple
- region appears rough because it contains modified sebaceous (oil) glands
areola
each mammary gland consists of _______ lobes arranged radially and
separated by adipose tissue and strands of connective tissue called ___________ which support the breast.
15 to 20
suspensory ligaments of the breast (Cooper’s ligaments),
functions of the mammary glands are the synthesis, secretion, and ejection of
milk; these functions
lactation
Milk production is stimulated largely by the hormone ______ from the anterior
pituitary, with contributions from progesterone and estrogens.
prolactin
ejection of milk is stimulated by _________, which is released from the
posterior pituitary in response to the sucking of an infant on the mother’s nipple
oxytocin
During their reproductive years, non-pregnant females normally exhibit ________ changes in the ovaries and uterus.
(2) Each cycle takes about a month and involves both ____ AND _____ to receive a fertilized ovum.
cyclical
oogenesis and preparation of the
uterus
formation and development of gametes in females.
Oogenesis
WHAT HORMONE secreted by the hypothalamus controls the
ovarian and uterine cycles
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
GnRH stimulates the release of ______ AND ____ from the anterior pituitary.
(b) FSH, in turn, initiates follicular growth and the secretion of ______by the
growing follicles.
(c) LH stimulates the further development of ______ and their full secretion
of estrogens.
(d) At mid-cycle, LH triggers ovulation and then promotes formation of the_______ , the reason for the name luteinizing hormone.
(e) Stimulated by LH, the corpus luteum produces and secretes_____, ____, _____, AND ____
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
estrogens
ovarian follicles
corpus luteum
estrogens, progesterone, relaxin, and inhibin.
promote the development and maintenance of female reproductive
structures, feminine secondary sex characteristics, and the mammary glands, stimulate protein synthesis, lower blood cholesterol level
Estrogens
secreted mainly by cells of the corpus luteum, acts together with
estrogens to prepare and then maintain the endometrium for implantation of a
fertilized ovum and to prepare the mammary glands for milk secretion
Progesterone,
