7. Normal Pregnancy Flashcards
Average gestation (days)
266 days
Average gestation from LMP • Days • Calendar months • Lunar months • Weeks
- 280 days
- 9 calendar months
- 10 lunar months
- 40 weeks
Define “Conception”
Fertilization: The union of a single egg and sperm. Marks the beginning of pregnancy
Define “Gamete”
Reproductive / germ cells – give rise to the sperm and egg
Define “Ovulation”
(When does ovulation occur?)
Release of egg (the ovum)
five days before or after day 14
Define “Coitus”
Introduction of sperm into female reproductive tract
Define “Fertilization”
Union of the gametes
Define “Implantation”
Into the uterus
What is a “Graafian Folical? What hormone does it produce?
- A small sac embedded in the ovary that encloses the ovum.
* Produces estrogen
Role of estrogen in becoming pregnant
• Prepares the endometrium to receive a fertilized egg
Define “Primordial / Primitive Follicles”
Undeveloped egg cell
Changes associated with follicular ripening (4)
- Moves to the surface of the ovary and forms a projection
- Follicle and ovum within become larger
- Follicular wall becomes thicker,
- Fluid collects in the follicle and surrounds the egg
What happens when the graafian follicle becomes fully mature?
OVULATION:
Graafian follicle brakes open and releases the ovum, which passes into the uterine tubes.
What 2 hormones cause the ovum to mature?
- FSH
* LH
From where is ovum released?
When does this occur?
- Ovum released from ovarian follicles
* Occurs about 14 days before a woman’s next period would begin
Corpus Luteum: • What is it • Timing • Hormones (2) • Role
- The remaining cells of the follicle after ovulation.
- Sticks around for 12-14 days
- Secretes estrogen, progestrone
- Prepares endometrium for a fertilized ovum
What hormone does the ovum secrete if it becomes fertilized?
Secretes chorionic gonadotropin
What happens if the ovum is not fertilized?
• Hormonal changes (4)
- FSH and LH fall to low levels; corpus luteum regresses
* Subsequent decline of estrogen and progesterone.
How is the mature ovum transported through the fallopian tube? (2)
- The musculature of the fallopian tube
* The Cillia
How long does it take the ovum to travel from the ovary to the uterus?
3 Days
Where does fertilization ideally take place?
In the distal 1/3 of the fallopian tube (AKA the Ampulla), which is close to the ovary.
How many sperm are there in an ejaculation?
35,000 to 2 million sperm
The sperm are suspended in what?
2-5 mL of seminal fluid
Seminal fluid: Function
Nourishment and protection of the sperm from the acidic environment of the vagina
What is mitotic Cellular Replication? (Cleavage)
The fertilized egg divides rapidly with no increase in size and smaller cells (blastomeres) are formed with each division
Blastomeres: Definition
Rapidly dividing cells that do not increase in size, formed with each division
Morula (Def)
When the number of blastomeres reaches 16 – a solid ball of cells
Characteristics of the morula
- Surrounded by a protective coating called the zona
* Secretes a fluid that forms a blastocyst
Blastocyst (def)
A sac of cells with an inner cell mass
Trophoblast (def)
Part of the cell mass that becomes the PLACENTA
Embryoblast
Part of the cell mass that becomes the EMBRYO
Zona
Protective coating that surrounds the morula, then degenerates during implantation
The ________ cells displace the _________ cells at the implantation site
- Trophoblast
* Endometrial
During implantation, the _______ embeds in the _______.
- Blastocyst
* Endometrium
What happens 6-10 days after conception?
The trophoblast secretes enzymes that enable it to burrow into the endometrium until the entire blastocyst is covered.
When is the pre-embryonic phase? What four things occur during this phase?
Conception to day 14
- Cellular replication
- Blastocyst formation
- Yolk sac formation
- Differentiation begins
Three layers of embryonic disc, and the system that each frms
• Ectoderm: Upper layer of embryonic disk. CNS
• Mesoderm: Middle layer
Meso- middle – MUSCLES!
• Endoderm: Lower Layer
Digestive tract, respiratory tract
Four hormones produced by the placenta
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG)
- Human Placental Lactogen (hPL)
- Progesterone (P)
- Estrogen (EE)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) function
Hormone that preserves the function of the corpus luteum to maintain early pregnancy
Human Placental Lactogen (HPL)
4 functions
o Stimulates maternal metabolism to supply needed nutrients (Similar to a growth hormone)
o Increases the resistance to insulin
o Facilitates glucose transport across placental membrane
o Stimulates breast development to prepare for lactation
Progesterone (P) - 2 roles
Stimulates maternal metabolism and development of breast alveoli
Estrogen (EE) - 2 roles
o Stimulates uterine growth and uteroplacental blood flow
o Causes proliferation of glandular breast tissue