CHAPTER 28 - The Reproductive System(FEMALE) Flashcards
female reproductive system
include the ovaries (female gonads); the uterine (fallopian) tubes, or oviducts; the uterus; the vagina; and external organs, which are collectively called the vulva, or pudendum.
ovaries
♣ which are the female gonads, are paired glands that resemble unshelled almonds in size and shape; they are homologous to the testes.
♣ produce (1) gametes, secondary oocytes that develop into mature ova (eggs) after fertilization, and (2) hormones, including progesterone and estrogens (the female sex hormones), inhibin, and relaxin.
tunica albuginea
whitish capsule of dense irregular connective tissue located immediately deep to the germinal epithelium
ovarian follicles
are in the cortex and consist of oocytes in various stages of development,plus the cells surrounding them.
follicular cells
When the surrounding cells (around oocyte) form a single layer
granulosa cells
when thesurrounding cells (Around oocyte) form several layers
mature follicle or Graafian follicle
is a large, fluid- filled follicle that is ready to rupture and expel its secondary oocyte
ovulation
the process of expellingits secondary oocyte
corpus luteum
contains the remnants of a mature follicle after ovulation. The corpus luteum produces progesterone, estrogens, relaxin, and inhibin until it degenerates intocorpus albicans
corpus albicans
fibrous scar tissue
oogenesis
The formation of gametes in the ovaries
oogonium (plural is oogonia)
♣ ): germ cells differentiate within the ovaries into these.
♣ they are diploid stem cells that divide mitotically to produce millions of germ cells.
atresia
the process of germ cells degenerating
primary oocytes
♣ germ cells that develop into larger cells
primordial follicles
♣ the entire structure during this arrested stage of development, each primary oocyte is surrounded by a single layer of flat follicular cells.
primary follicles
♣ primordial follicles develop into primary follicles.
♣ consist of a primary oocyte that is surrounded in a later stage of development by several layers granulosa cells
granulosa cells
♣ cuboidal and low columnar cells.
♣ the outermost cells rest on a basement membrane
zona pellucida
♣ a clear glycoprotein layer between the primary oocyte and the granulosa cells.
corona radiata
♣ The innermost layer of granulosa cells becomes firmly attached to the zonapellucida and is now called the corona radiata
secondary follicle
♣ the theca differentiates into two layers: (1) the theca interna, a highly vascularized internal layer of cuboidal secretory cells that secrete estrogens, and (2) the theca externa, an outer layer of stromal cells and collagen fibers. In addition, the granulosa cells begin to secrete follicular fluid, which builds up in a cavity called the antrum in the center of the secondary follicle
first polar body
♣ The smaller cell produced by meiosis I is essentially a packet of discarded nuclear material.
secondary oocyte:
♣ The larger cell that receives most of the cytoplasm. Once a secondary oocyte is formed, it begins meiosis II but then stops in metaphase.
ovulation
♣ The process where the mature (graafian) follicle soon ruptures and releases its secondary oocyte,
ovum
♣ mature egg
second polar body
♣ The secondary oocyte splits into two haploid cells, again of unequal size. The larger cell is the ovum, or mature egg; the smaller one is the second polar body.
zygote
♣ The nuclei of the sperm cell and the ovum then unite, forming a diploid zygote
uterine tubes or Fallopian tubes or oviducts
♣ Tubes that extend laterally from the uterus.
infundibulum
: a Funnel shaped portion of each tube. It is close to the ovary but is open to the pelvic cavity.
fimbriae
fingerlike projections at the end of the infundibulum
ampulla
♣ is the widest longest portion, making up about the lateral two-thirds of its length.
isthmus
♣ is the more medial short, narrow, thick walled portion that joins the uterus.
fundus
A dome shaped portion of uterus superior to the uterine tubes
body
a taperine central portion of the uterus
cervix
an inferior narrow portion that opens into the vagina
uterine cavity
the interior of the body of the uterus and the cervix
cervical canal
♣ : the interior of the cervix
anteflexion
♣ : a position where the body of the uterus projects anteriorly and superiorly over the urinary bladder
perimetrium
♣ The outer layer of the uterus. Itis part of the visceral peritoneum; it is composed of simple squamous epithelium and areolar connective tissue. Laterally, it becomes the broad ligament.
myometrium
♣ The middle layer of the uterus
consists of three layers of smooth muscle fibers that are thickest in the fundus and thinnest in the cervix
endometrium
: The inner layer of the uterus, the endometrium, is highly vascularized
♣ The endometrium is divided into what two layers.
♣ stratum functionalis: The stratum functionalis (functional layer) lines the uterine cavity and sloughs off during menstruation.
♣ stratum basalis: The deeper layer, the stratum basalis (basal layer), is permanent and gives rise to a new stratum functionalis after each menstruation
uterine arteries
♣ Branches of the internal iliac artery which supply blood to the uterus
spiral arterioles
supply the stratum functionalis and change markedly during the menstrual cycle
cervical mucus
The secretory cells of the mucosa of the cervix produce this secretion which is a mixture of water, glycoproteins, lipids, enzymes, and inorganic salts
- Cervical mucus supplements the energy needs of sperm
- also play a role in capacitation
fornix
♣ : A recess called the fornix surrounds the vaginal attachment to the cervix
vagina
is a tubular, 10-cm (4-in.) long fibromuscular canal lined with mucous membrane that extends from the exterior of the body to the uterine cervix.
muscularis
♣ composed of an outer circular layer and an inner longitudinal layer of smooth muscle that can stretch considerably to accommodate the penis during sexual intercourse and a child during birth.
hymen
♣ A thin fold of vascularized mucous membrane that forms a border around and partially closes the inferior end of the vaginal opening to the exterior, the vaginal orifice
vaginal orifice
the exterior end of the vaginal opening.
vulva or pudendum
refers to the external genitals of the female
monspubis
♣ an elevation of adipose tissue covered by skin and coarse pubic hair that cushions the pubic symphysis anterior to the vaginal and urethral openings
labia majora
♣ two longitudinal folds of skin that extend inferiorly and posteriorly.
♣ covered by pubic hair and contain an abundance of adipose tissue, sebaceous (oil) glands, and apocrine sudoriferous (sweat) glands.
labia minora
♣ two smaller folds of skin medial to the labia majora.
♣ are devoid of pubic hair and fat and have few sudoriferous glands, but they do contain many sebaceous glands.
clitoris
♣ a small cylindrical mass composed of two small erectile bodies, the corpora cavernosa, and numerous nerves and blood vessels. The clitoris is located at the anterior junction of the labia minora.
prepuce
♣ formed at the point where the labia minora unite and covers the body of the cli- toris.
greater vestibular (Bartholin’s) glands
♣ Located on either side of the vaginal orifice itself. They open by ducts into a groove between the hymen and labia minora. They produce a small quantity ofmucus during sexual arousal and intercourse that adds to cervical mucus and provides lubrication.
bulb of the vestibule
♣ consists of two elongated masses of erectile tissue just deep to the labia on either side of the vaginal orifice.
♣ becomes engorged with blood during sexual arousal, narrowing the vaginal orifice and placing pressure on the penis during intercourse.
perineum
♣ is the diamond-shaped area medial to the thighs and buttocks of both males and females. It contains the external genitals and anus.
mammary glands
♣ a modified sudoriferous (sweat) gland that produces milk.
♣ consists of 15 to 20 lobes, or compartments, separated by a variable amount of adipose tissue.
breast
a hemispheric projection of variable size anterior to the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles and attached to them by a layer of fascia
In the nipple - lactiferous ducts
♣ series of closely spaced openings of ductswhere milk emerges
In the nipple -areola
♣ : The circular pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple
lobules of mammary gland:
♣ are several smaller compartments in each lobe of the mammary glands composed of alveoli
alveoli in mammary gland
grapelike clusters of milk-secreting glandsembedded in connective tissue
myoepithelial cells in mammary glands
♣ surrounding the alveoli helps propel milk toward the nipples.
secondary tubules in mammary glands
♣ When milk is being produced, it passes from the alveoli into a series of these secondary tubules
mammary ducts
♣ milk then passes from the secondary tubules to the mammary ducts
lactiferous sinuses
♣ : sinuses that form from expandedmammary ducts near the nipple
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
♣ secreted by the hy- pothalamus controls the ovarian and uterine cycles.
♣ stimulates the release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary.
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH
initiates follicular growth. In addition, both FSH and LH stimulate the ovarian follicles to secrete estrogens.
luteinizing hormone (LH):
♣ stimulates further development of the ovarian follicles.
♣ stimulates the theca cells of a developing follicle to produce androgens.
- triggers ovulation
progesterone
♣ secreted mainly by cells of the corpus luteum, cooperates with estrogens to prepare and maintain the en- dometrium for implantation of a fertilized ovum and to prepare the mammary glands for milk secretion. High levels of progesterone also inhibit secretion of GnRH and LH.
estrogens
♣ only three are present in significant quantities: beta ()-estradiol, estrone, and estriol
♣ promote the development and maintenance of female reproductive structures, secondary sex characteristics, and the breasts.
♣ increase protein anabolism, including the building of strong bones.
♣ lower blood cholesterol level
♣ Moderate levels of estrogens in the blood inhibit both the re- lease of GnRH by the hypothalamus and secretion of LH and FSH by the anterior pituitary.
relaxin
♣ produced by the corpus luteum during each monthly cycle relaxes the uterus by inhibiting contractions of the myometrium.
During pregnancy, the placenta produces much more relaxin, and it con- tinues to relax uterine smooth muscle
inhibin
♣ is secreted by granulosa cells of growing follicles and by the corpus luteum after ovulation. It inhibits secretion of FSH and, to a lesser extent, LH
What are the 4 stages of the female reproductive (name them)
1) The menstrual phase (days 1-5) -
2) Preovulatory phase (days 6-13)
3) Ovulation (on day 14)
4) Postovulatory phase (days 15-28) - time between ovulation and onset of the next menses.
Explain how ovulation occurs (3 steps)
the rupture of the mature (graafian) follicle and the release of the secondary oocyte into the pelvic cavity
1) high concentration of estrogen stimulates release of GnRH from hypothalamus and stimulates gonadotrophs to release LH
2) GnRH promotes release of FSH and addition LH by anterior pituitary
3) LH causes rupture of mature follicle and expulsion of 2ndary oocyte which is swept into the uterine tube
luteal phase
The phase wherethe corpus luteum secretes progesterone, estrogen, relaxin, and inhibin whenstimulated by LH. The luteal cells also absorb the blood clot.
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
♣ This hormone is produced by the chorion of the embryo beginning about 8 days after fertilization. Like LH, hCG stimulates the secretory activity of the corpus luteum.
(Events in the uterus)
secretory phase:
♣ : Progesterone and estrogens produced by the corpus luteum promote growth and coiling of the endometrial glands, vascularization of the superficial endometrium, and thickening of the endometrium to 12–18 mm. Because of the secretory activity of the endometrial glands, which begin to secrete glycogen, this period is called the secretory phase of the uterine cycle.
