Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System Flashcards
the genetic sex of a female is determined at
time of fertilization from the X chromosome that is carried by the sperm
the female gonads develop from
mesoderm in the embryo
absence of Y chromosome and its sex determining gene allows
undifferentiated gonads to develop into ovaries
the female reproductive ducts develop from
the paramesonephros in the embryo
absence of testosterone prevents
mesonephros from developing
absence of Muellerian-inhibiting factor allows
Muellerian ducts to develop
the female external genitalia develop from
the genital tubercle
in formation of external genitalia the absence of testosterone prevents
lateral buttresses and glans from enlarging and prevents labiosacral swellings from fusing together
the ovaries are
the female gonads
ovaries are
cytogenic because they produce new oocytes within follicles
ovaries function as
endocrine glands to produce estrogens and progesterone
and ovary is roughly the size and shape of
an almond and it is suspended in the pelvic cavity by a collection of ligaments
attaches to broad ligament at back of uterus by
mesovarium
ovarian ligament attaches
medial surface to uterus
suspensory ligament attaches
lateral surface to wall of pelvic cavity
There is or is not a direct connection between an ovary and the female reproductive tract
NOT
blood vessels and nerves enter through
hilus
a cross section of an ovary would show
several layers
germinal epithelium
covers surface of ovary (flat layer)
tunica albuginea
is inside germinal epithelium and is made of connective tissue of ovary
stroma is
at center of ovary and is made of connective tissue
cortex of stroma is
involved in egg development and filled with fine strands of tissue
medulla of stroma contains
ovarian blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves
during embryonic development, primordial germ cells
migrate to a developing ovary, which causes the primary sex cords to grow into the germinal epithelium
during embryonic development cortex
expands, medulla contracts, primary sex cords degenerate
ovary is homologous to
a testis
cells in medulla that surround primordial germ cell become
follicle cells, which are homologous to interstitial cells of Leydig
primordial germs cells become
oogonia
oogonia are homologous to
spermatogonia
homologous means
arisen from same embryonic tissue
the uterine (fallopian) tubes contain
smooth muscle and they are lined with cilia and they extend laterally from an ovary toward the uterus
infundibulum
the distal, funnel-shaped end of a fallopian tube
fimbriae
“catch” oocytes and are fingerlike
beyond the infundibulum is
an enlarged ampulla, where fertilization usually takes place
the ampulla leads to
a short, narrow isthmus that attaches to the wall of the uterus
the uterus is
a hollow, muscular organ roughly the size and shape of a pear and it is located between the urinary bladder and the rectum
uterus is held in place by
broad ligaments that attach it to either side of the pelvic cavity
uterosacral ligaments attach
uterus to sacrum
round ligaments attach
uterus to external genitalia
there are _________ regions of the uterus
3
perimetrium
covers uterus- thin outer layer of connective tissue
myometrium
is a thick layer of smooth muscle, causes labor contractions and menstrual cramps
endometrium
highly vascular mucous membrane that lines uterine cavity
stratum functionalis of endometrium
proliferates monthly and sloughs off during menstruation
startum basalis or endometrium
is a permanent source for replacement of stratum functionalis after completion of each menstrual cycle
the vagina
a fibromuscular tube that extends from the cervix to the vaginal orifice
cervix protrudes
into vagina to from fornix (a deep recess)
the wall of the vagina consists of
3 layers
inner epithelium of vagina forms
vaginal rugae that secrete mucus and other substances to produce an acidic environment
rugae produce
friction during intercourse to stimulate ejaculation
middle layer of vagina
contains smooth muscle and skeletal muscle
outer layer of vagina
anchors vagina in pelvic cavity and is made of connective tissue
the vaginal orifice is partially to fully covered at birth by
a thin membranous hymen that usually ruptures during childhood activity
the vagina serves as
the female copulatory organ, forms lower portion of the birth canal and provides a passage from menstrual flow out of the body
the lack of testosterone during development causes
the mesonephros to degenerate
while the absence of Muellerian inhibiting factor allows
the Muellerian ducts to differentiate
Fallopian tubes form
upper, unfused, funnel shaped ends of Muellerian ducts
uterus and broad ligaments form when
when middle portions of Muellerian ducts fuse
inner two thirds of vagina forms when
distal portions of the Muellerian ducts unite with urogenital sinus
what is homologous to the male vas deferens?
nothing
the female external genitalia are collectively referred to as
the vulve or pudendum
mons pubis
a mound of fatty tissue covered with skin and coarse hair that cushions the pubic symphysis and vulva during sexual intercourse
labia majora
fleshy folds covered by pubic hair that extend from the mons pubis
labia minora
located inside the labia majora and have no pubic hair
clitoris
a nodule of erectile tissue at the anterior junction of the labia minora
labia minora form
prepuse that covers clitoris
shaft of clitoris
contains corpora cavernosa clitoris; spongy erectile tissue
glans clitoris
richly innervated and extremely sensitive to touch
the vestibule
the area enclosed by the labia minora
urethral orifice
located behind clitoris
vaginal orifice
posterior opening
vestibular bulbs
masses of erectile tissue located deep in labia majora on either side of vaginal orifice
during sexual intercourse the vestibular bulbs
become engorged with blood to increase pressure on penis during sexual intercourse
Bartholin’s glands
produce and secrete mucus during sexual arousal (located on either side of vaginal orifice) lubricate vestibule in preparation of sexual intercourse
skene’s glands produces
secretions to keep urethral orifice moist and lubricated
- tiny glands on either side of vaginal orifice
the genital tubercle differentiates into the
vulva in the absence of testosterone
urethral folds become
labia minora (do not fuse)
lateral buttresses
disappear, except for upper portion that becomes clitoris, which is homologous to penis
labioscrotal swellings remain
unfused and become labia majora, which are homologous to scrotum
the urethral groove remains open, but
a partition separates it into two open regions
posterior opening becomes
vaginal orifice’ urethral groove grows inward from this opening to form lower one-third of vagina
anterior opening becomes
the external urethral orifice; urethral groove grows inward from this opening to form urinary bladder
lateral growths along the urethra become
Bartholin’s glands and skene glands
bartholin’s glands form
ducts that link them with vagina
bartholins glands are homologous to
bulbourethral glands
skene glands establish
ducts that open into vestibule
skene glands are
homologous to prostate glands
the breasts are
secondary sex structures that consist of adipose tissue covered by skin
location of breasts
above pectoralis major muscles and supported by suspensory ligaments
as a female grows older- suspensory ligaments
become weaker and her breasts sag causing condition known as “coopers droop”
breasts size and breasts shape are determined by
amount of adipose tissue
each breast bears a
cylindrical nipple surrounded by a pigmented areola
areola may appear
rough; contains modified sebaceous glands that secrete oils to keep nipple soft and pliable while infant nurses
internal mammary glands
actually modified sweat glands from the integument that consist of 15-20 lobes subdivided into lobules
each lobule of interal mammary glands
contains milk secreting alveoli
milk secreation into
lactiferous ducts, which form lactiferous sinuses before they converge at nipple
milk can be temporarily stored in
lactiferous sinuses when a female is nursing
myoepithelial cells
along length of lactiferous ducts contract and force milk toward nipple
