BIOL 1260: female reproduction Flashcards
organs of the female reproductive system
ovaries x2, uterine tubes x2, uterus, vagina, pudendum, and mammary glands
mammary glands
are part of the female reproductive system and also the integumentary system
function of ovaries
to produce gametes/oocytes and to produce hormones
what are the female gametes called?
oocytes
what hormones do the ovaries produce?
progesterone, estrogen, inhibin, and relaxin
broad ligament
is a fold of the parietal peritoneum and it attaches the lateral walls of the uterus to the ovaries via the mesovarium; looks like bat wings
mesovarium
double fold of the parietal peritoneum which is located superior to the ovaries
ovarian ligament
connects the ovaries to the uterus more directly
suspensory ligament
attaches the ovaries to the pelvic wall
ligaments holding the ovaries in place
the broad ligament (and its associated mesovarium), the suspensory ligament, and the ovarian ligament
all hormones of the female reproductive system
estrogen, progesterone, relaxin, inhibin, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone
layers of the ovaries
germinal epithelium, tunica albuginea, ovarian cortex, and ovarian medulla
germinal epithelium
simple cuboidal to simple squamous; outer layer of the ovaries
where do germ cells for the female reproductive cells come from?
migrate from the yolk sac during embryonic development
tunica albuginea
a whitish capsule of dense irregular CT that offers protection in the ovaries; deep to the germinal epithelium
ovarian cortex
consists of ovarian follicles and is rich in collagen and fibroblast-like cells; deep to the tunica albuginea
name of fibroblast-like cells in the ovarian cortex
stromal cells
order of developing follicles
oogonium > primordial follicle > primary follicle > secondary follicle > mature follicle (then ovulation) > corpus luteum > corpus albican
follicles
consist of oocyte in various stages of development along with the various cells surrounding them
follicular cells
oocytes when surrounded by a single layer of cells
granulosa cells
oocytes when they are surrounded by many layers
purpose of cells surrounding oocytes
to nourish the oocyte and to secrete estrogens
what happens as the follicle increases in size?
the amount of estrogen being secreted also increases; this is a positive feedback loop
mature follicle
is fluid filled and ready to rupture and release secondary oocytes into the fallopian tubes (ovulation)
ovulation process meaning
is the process of shooting the secondary oocyte into the uterine tube
corpus luteum
aka yellow body; the remnants of the follicle after ovulation; is also an endocrine structure
what does the corpus luteum produce?
estrogen, progesterone, relaxin, and inhibin
what happens to the corpus luteum a few weeks after ovulation?
it degenerates into fibrous scar tissue and becomes the corpus albicans
corpus albicans
the degeneration of the corpus luteum that is nonfunctional
ovarian medulla
contains vessels, lymphatics and nerves; anatomy is similar to cortex but the CT is more loosely arranged here
oogenesis
is the formation of an ovum (egg) and this process begins prenatally
what does oogenesis start with?
primordial germ cells (PGCs)
primordial germ cells
precursor to ovum that migrates from the yolk sac to the ovaries during the embryonic stage; here is goes through a series of cell division to generate oocytes
oogonia
are diploid (2n), divide by mitosis, and produce millions of germ cells
what do most oogonia degenerate by?
atresia
what do remaining oogonia develop into?
large, primary oocytes and these enter prophase I of meiosis where they arrest until puberty
primordial follicle
first stage of follicular development and are present in the arrested stage of development (before puberty) and contain the primary oocyte
what is each primary follicle surrounded by?
a single flat layer of follicular cells and a basement membrane; this is embedded within the ovarian medulla which contains collagen fibres and stromal cells
where are FSH and LH secreted from?
the anterior pituitary gland
what stimulates the development of the primordial follicles into primary follicles?
FSH and LH
primary follicles
contains the primary oocyte that is surrounded the zona pellucida, granulosa cells, and a basement membrane; this is further surrounded by theca folliculi which is part of the ovarian medulla
theca folliculi
surrounds the primary follicle and are stromal cells that have formed a more organized layer
zona pellucida
surrounds the primary oocyte in the primary follicle; this is a glycoprotein layer
secondary follicle
contains primary oocyte surrounded by the zona pellucida, the corona radiata, the antrum, the basement membrane, and the theca folliculi (now has two layers)
antrum
begins in the secondary follicle and is formed by granulosa cells that secrete a follicular fluid
when does the theca folliculi separate into two layers?
at the secondary follicle stage
theca externa
consists of stromal cells and collagen fibres, and helps the secondary follicle to blend in with the surrounding cortex
theca interna
clear layer present in the secondary follicle
another name for mature follicles
graafian
mature follicles
contains primary oocyte surrounded by zona pellucida, corona radiata, a much larger antrum (filled with follicular fluid), a basement membrane, and the two layers of the theca folliculi
what follicle is the one that ovulates?
the mature follicle
when does the primary oocyte finish meiosis?
after puberty and just before ovulation, com
result of completed meiosis I
2 haploid cells; one secondary oocyte and the first polar body
what begins meiosis II?
the secondary oocyte and the first polar body
what stage is the secondary oocyte arrested in?
metaphase II; this will complete after fertilization
what occurs to the secondary oocyte after fertilization?
meiosis II resumes, the oocyte splits into an ovum and a second polar body, and then the diploid zygote forms
what happens as you get further from the germinal epithelium?
the oocytes are becoming more developed
what stage of development are primordial follicles in?
arrested meiosis I (prophase I) before puberty
what does the primordial follicle develop into the primary follicle?
after puberty and the primary oocyte will be surrounded by a follicle
when does the secondary follicle develop to the mature follicle?
after meiosis I is completed and haploid cells are formed
when is meiosis II completed?
when fertilization occurs
uterine tubes
aka fallopian tubes or oviducts; extend laterally from the ovaries to the uterus; function to be a road for sperm to reach the secondary oocyte and also help the zygote travel to the uterus
what is the name of the terminal end of the uterine tube?
the fundibulum of the uterine tube
the fundibulum of the uterine tube
helps to transport the ovulated oocyte to the tube
fimbriae of the uterine tube
are finger-like projections of the tube; once attaches to the ovary but the rest are free floating
what are the ends of the infundibulum of the uterine tube called?
fimbriae
what is the main passageway of the uterine tube called?
the ampulla; this is the longest and widest part
what part of the uterine tube drains into the uterus?
the isthmus; thinner area and thick-walled
parts of the uterine tube
infundibulum, fimbriae, ampulla, and isthmus
3 layers of the uterine tube
mucosa, muscularis, and serosa
mucosa of the uterine tube
simple columnar epithelium containing ciliated cells and peg cells and is surrounded by a lamina propria
peg cells
found in the uterine tube and are non-ciliated cells that have microvilli and secrete fluid that provides nutrition to the ovum while in the tube