Downing: Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the exocrine fxn of the ovary?
Production of eggs (ova)
What are the endocrine fxns of the ovary?
(1) Estrogen production: by theca interna cells and granulosa cells
(2) Progesterone production: by corpus luteum (lutein cells)
What components form the suspension of the ovary?
- Mesovarium
- Peritoneal covering (simple cuboidal)
- Hilum (attachment site to the mesovarium, conduit for BV, N, L)
How many primary oocytes finish maturation/month?
ONE!
What stage is the secondary oocyte arrested in until fertilization?
metaphase II
What part of the follicle contains the primary oocyte in prophase I that is arrested until just before ovulation?
Primordial follicle
Where are follicular cells found? What receptors are found on follicular cells?
primordial follicles
FSH receptors
Twenty to fifty primordial follicles respond to FSH every cycle to form…
primary follicles
What are granulosa cells?
follicular cells become columnar/stratified= granulosa cells
What are theca folliculi?
Stromal cells that surround the granulosa cell
What forms the zona pellucida? What is it?
Granulosa cells and oocyte> zona pellucida
gel like neutral glycoprotein
What happens in the primary follicle after menarche?
one follicle completes the developmental process and becomes the DOMINANT follicle and the rest undergo atresia
What characterizes secondary follicles?
- Primary oocyte still in prophase I
- antrum formation (liquor folliculi, FSH, inhibin proteins)
- granulosa cells surround the oocyte
- theca folliculi
How does the antrum develop?
begins as a small space between granulosa cells>
becomes confluent to form the antrum
What are the two distinct portions of the theca folliculi?
- theca interna (androgen production> androgen precursors, highly vascular)***
- theca externa (fusiform cells and collagen)
How long does total maturation of follicles take?
3 months
What is the corona radiata?
(1) Follicle cells in direct contact with egg
(2) Cells are radially arranged around zona pellucida
When does the theca folliculi reach its greatest develoipment?
In mature follicles
What happens when the LH signals final maturation?
resumption of meiosis:
1o oocyte → 2o oocyte–> production of first polar body
**2o oocyte arrests at metaphase II
until fertilization
What happens during ovulation?
LH surge> granulosa and theca cells receptive> one follicle responds> meiosis I is completed> 1st polar body extrusion> arrest at Met II> stigma formation> rupture and expulsion of cumulus mass> ovum capture by oviductal fimbria
What is stigma formation and how does it lead to the release of the ovum?
Follicular wall adjacent to tunica albuginea weakens> Decreased blood flow> Putative protease release> rupture and expulsion of cumulus mass> ovum capture by oviductal fimbria
What does FSH promote?
Granulosa cell growth and estrogen synthesis
Later it increases LH receptors, increasing the responsiveness of granulosa and theca interna cells to LH
What stimulates thecal cell growth and androgen production as well as progesterone production in granulosa cells?
LH
granulosa cells convert androgen to estrogen
What happens to the dominant follicle during every month?
Secretes estrogen>
Result is a LH (and FSH) surge that triggers ovulation
What is the corpus luteum?
Temporary glandular structure derived from the RUPTURED FOLLICLE after ovulation
What two cell types are affected by the LH surge?
- Granulosa cells = increase in size, produce PROGESTERONE and continue to secrete estrogen (granulosa luteum)
- Theca interna = increases in size and form theca luteum (secrete progesterone and some estrogen)
How does the CL of preganancy differ from that of menstruation?
Pregnancy: formed after implantation>
becomes LARGER than CL of menstruation
Menstruation: forms after ovulation, lasts 14 days, if embryo doesn’t develop involutes and forms CORPORA ALBICANS
What maintains the corpus luteum of pregnancy?
HCG prodoced by trophoblasts
How long does the CL of pregnancy last?
persists during first trimester and involutes to reduced scar tissue
What produces estrogen?
Produced mainly by growing follicles (granulosa cells, convert androgen to estrogen) (high preovulatory levels)
What are the fxns of estrogen?
Induces maturation of female reproductive tract and mammary glands
Directs repair of uterus following menstruation
Influences growth of mammary glands in pregnancy
What produces progesterone?
corpus luteum
What are the fxn of progesterone?
Causes uterine glands to secrete
Prepares uterus for implantation of fertilized ovum
Aids in growth of mammary gland
Inhibits uterine contractions
What produces relaxin?
CL and decidual cells
What are the actions of relaxin?
(1) Inhibits contractions by myometrium during pregnancy)
(2) Promotes dilatation of cervix (softens it)
(3) Loosens symphysis pubis (in some species)
Where is inhibin found and what does it do?
produced by granulosa cells
follicular fluid
NFB on FSH release
What are Atretic follicles?
Only 400 follicles reach maturity. The majority undergo involuntion = FOLLICULAR ATRESIA
What is the first and last part of the follicle to become atretic?
Ovum
degeneration of follicular cells follow
theca interna cells degrade last