524- Female reproductive system

Question 1

what is gametogenesis?

Answer 1

the making of sperm and ova

Question 2

what do the fallopian tubes do?

Answer 2

ducts transporting oocytes towards the uterus + sperm towards an oocyte + where fertilisation occurs

Question 3

where do oocytes develop inside the ovarian follicles?

cortex or medulla?

Answer 3

cortex (outer region)

Question 4

in the ovary, where are the large blood vessels and nerves found?

Answer 4

medulla (inner region)

Question 5

what are the roles of these:
>ovarian ligament
>suspensory ligament
>mesovarium

Answer 5

all attaches the ovary,
>medially to uterus
>to pelvic wall
>to fallopian tube ABOVE it (part of the broad ligament)

Question 6

what are the 2 main hormones involved for female.. reproduction cycle(?)

Answer 6

oestrogen and progesterone

Question 7

what are the 4 follicles in the ovaries?

Answer 7

> primordial - present when born, smallest
primary - 1 layer of cuboidal/columnar cells around oocyte
secondary- 2 layers of cuboidal cells around oocyte. gets bigger=small fluid filled spaces show between cell layers
vesicular (“Graafian”, “tertiary”) - these fluid filled spaces combine making a big boi. big enough to extend out from deepest part of the ovary and make a bulge out on the surface!

Question 8

how many secondary follicles develop each month? (turns into what?)

Answer 8

Usually only one. It becomes a vesicular follicle.

Question 9

What is a corpus luteum? (what does it make? 2)

What is corpus albicans?

Answer 9

> a large yellow, glandular structure formed by the ovarian follicle after ovulation. Makes ⭐progesterone + a bit of oestrogen.
white, scar-like structure formed when the corpus luteum degenerates.

Question 10

IS there only one follicle developing in the ovaries?

yes/no? why? For how long?

Answer 10

No. There are many follicles in different stages in the ovaries however, usually only 1 matures and is ovulated, the others degenerate. This process takes several months.

Question 11

1) Where is the uterus located?
2) What are its 3 layers? (what does it do)
3) What are its 3 regions?

Answer 11

1) middle of pelvic cavity
2) endometrium: inner layer- where fertilised eggs can be implanted
myometrium: smooth muscle middle layer. contracts during childbirth and menstruation to push stuff out
perimetrium: outer layer -part of peritoneum
3) fundus: rounded superior
body: main portion
cervix: inferior narrow neck, goes into vagina.
- lined by mucosa which has hundreds of glands secreting cervical mucus (changes consistency depending on oestrogen and progesterone levels!)

Question 12

1) What is the endometrium made up of?

2) What are its 2 layers? (function)

Answer 12

1) made by simple columnar epithelium, connective tissue, blood vessels, and glands.

2)(“stratum basalis”)
basal layer- thinner layer, base for formation of new functional layer after menstruation.
(“stratum functionalis”)
functional layer- thicker layer that undergoes cyclical changes in structure and thickness due to fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone blood conc.
it gets broken down and SHED during mens.

Question 13

1) What forms the uterine tubes (“fallopian tubes”, “oviducts”)?
2) What are the 3 regions of the uterine tube?

Answer 13

1) formed by smooth muscle and a highly folded, ciliated mucosa.
2) -infundibulum: lateral, finger looking extensions (fimbriae) that drapes over an ovary (NOT ATTACHED)
- ampulla: distal end of the tube
- isthmus: narrowed region where it joins the uterus

Question 14

1) where is the vagina?
2) what forms it?
3) Function?

Answer 14

1) between bladder and rectum
2) thin-walled tube extending between cervix and outside (8-10cm long)
3) PASSAGEWAY: for mens. fetus, receives penis and semen.

Question 15

What are the 3 walls of the vagina?

Answer 15

⭐adventitia: outer layer (fibroelastic connective tissue)
⭐muscularis: middle layer (smooth muscle)
⭐mucosa: inner layer (stratified squamous epithelium
rugae: transverse ridges)

Question 16

1) The vagina does not have any glands BUT is lubricated by what?
2) What does its epithelial cells release? (what happens here?)
3) Why does the vagina have low pH? (what does it help with?)

Answer 16

1) cervical mucus

2) releases LOTS of glycogen which is metabolized by bacteria to make LACTIC ACID!
3) Because of the lactic acid produced! It helps to prevent infections

Question 17

What are the 2 phases of the ovarian cycle?

Answer 17

Follicular phase

Luteal Phase

Question 18

When does “day 1” occur? (when does it end?)

Answer 18

usually monthly, when she begins to menstruate. It ends the day before she next menstruates.

Question 19

What is the ovarian cycle?

What are the 2 phases in it? (what are the days?)

Answer 19

1) it is the changes that occur in the ovaries due to FSH + LH
2) Follicular (day 1-14 ) and Luteal Phase (day 15-28)

Question 20

What is the follicular phase?

Answer 20

FSH released from the a. pituitary gland causes the development of the ovarian follicles (primary>2ndary>vesicular). These follicles secrete oestrogen.
Basically, the oestrogen lvls start low (so small follicles), as they get bigger, more oestrogen is released (day 10= pretty high oestrogen lvls).
As we get closer to day 14 (ovulation day usually), there is a LARGE follicle ready to ovulate (vesicular). This large follicle secretes HEAPSSS of oestrogen into the blood which signals the a. pituitary gland that it is PRESENT and makes it release a surge of LH (and FSH)

Question 21

What is the Luteal Phase

Answer 21

The high levels of oestrogen made by the vesicular follicle signals the hypothalamus, then the a. pituitary gland to secrete a surge of LH (and FSH).
The LH causes the 1st ovulation and the ruptured follicle to turn into the corpus luteum (it grows from day 15-21). As it grows, it secretes (LOTS of) progesterone + (a bit of) oestrogen.
At about day 15 oocyte enters the fallopian tube and moves towards the uterus (sperm present in fallopian tube can enter the oocyte).
> Fertilisation occurs: corpus luteum gets even bigger and continues to produce progesterone and oestrogen.
> Fertilisation does not occur: corpus luteum shrinks turns into corpus albicans (between day 22-28) and then decreases secretion of progesterone. Oocyte breaks down in fallopian tube.

Question 22

What is the menstrual cycle?

What are its 3 phases (days?)

Answer 22

1) it is when the fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone conc. causes the structure of the endometrium to change

2) Menstrual phase (1-5)
Proliferative phase (6-14)
Secretory phase (15-21)
(22-28)

Question 23

Explain the menstrual phase

menstrual cycle

Answer 23

Day 1-5
Functional layer of the endometrium breaks down and exits the body as the menstrual flow. It is accompanied by a small amount of blood and mucus.

Question 24

Explain the proliferative phase (menstrual cycle)

Answer 24

Days 6-14
As the follicles get bigger and the oestrogen levels increase, the functional later of the endometrium gets REBUILT and gets THICKER (proliferate)

Question 25

Explain the secretory phase

menstrual cycle

Answer 25

Day 15-28
This is the day before the lady begins her next menstruation!

>Day 15-21
Ovarian follicle (ruptured, vesicular) turns into corpus luteum and becomes larger, secreting increasing amounts of progesterone (and some oestrogen). This causes the endometrial glands (+blood vessels) to develop in the endometrium as it thickens, and secrete glycogen into the uterine cavity. (glycogen is a polysaccharide which provides nutrition to the fertilised egg before implantation occurs.) Oestrogen levels also increases (from corpus luteum) causing the endometrium to continue to thicken!

> Day 22-28
non pregnant cycle
Corpus luteum SHRINKS and becomes the corpus albicans= progesterone and estrogen levels decrease.
Decreasing both of these hormones causes the endometrium to breakdown, this becomes the menstrual flow for the next cycle and so on.

Question 26

What is the areola?

Why is it bumpy?

Answer 26

ring of pigmented skin slightly below the centre of each breast.
>caused by large sebaceous glands.