exam 2 Flashcards
what is the definition and function of germinal epithelium?
- surface epithelium covering the tunica albuginea, is continuous with the peritoneal lining
- breaks at ovulation
what is the definition and function of the tunica albuginea?
dense CT layer; provides structure to the ovary
what is the definition and function of the cortex
outer part of the ovary; contains germ cells, oocyte population, and CL
what is the definition and function of the medulla?
central part of the ovary; contains CT, houses blood lymph, and nerve
what is the hilus?
where vessels, nerves, and ducts enter the ovary
what is the definition of polyestrus? species?
- female displays estrous cycles uniformly distributed throughout the year without seasonal influence
- cow, sow, queen
what is the definition of seasonal polyestrus? species?
- displays estrous cycles based on length of day
- ewe (short day), mare (long day)
what is the definition of monoestrus? species?
- female displays only one period of sexual receptivity
- dogs, wolves, bears
what is the difference between the mare’s ovary and other species?
- ovulation can only occur at the ovulation fossa (CL cannot be palpated)
- cortex=inside, medulla=outside
what is anestrus?
when a female does not display estrus
when would a female experience anestrus?
due to an insufficient hormone stimulus from the HPG axis (ex: poor nutrition, pregnancy, seasonal, prepubertal)
what are the stages of the estrous cycle? which are in the luteal phase and which are in the follicular phase?
- luteal: metestrus and diestrus
- follicular: proestrus and estrus
what causes ovulation?
preovulatory LH surge
what is luteolysis?
destruction of the CL
what is the dominant structure and hormone of the follicular phase?
follice, estrogen
what developing stage is gonadotropin independent? dependent?
- independent = pre-antral follicles
- dependent = antral follicle
what happens to a follicular wave under influence of progesterone?
follicles will not reach the threshold to ovulate and instead undergo atresia
what is the dominant structure and hormone of the luteal phase?
CL, progesterone
what do theca and granulosa cells transition into?
- theca cells –> large luteal cells
- granulosa cells –> small luteal cells
how are theca and granulosa cells turned into luteal cells?
lutenization
what hormones do SLCs and LLCs produce?
- LLCs: progesterone, oxytocin, relaxin
- SLCs: progesterone
what receptors do SLCs and LLCs have?
- SLCs: oxytocin
- LLCs: PGF2a
Do LLCs perform hypertrophy or hyperplasia? SLCs?
- LLCs: hypertrophy
- SLCs: hyperplasia
what are two ways luteolysis occurs?
- functional luteolysis: oxytocin is released from PP to the uterus which stimulates PGF2a from the uterus, PGF2a then binds to its receptor on LLCs which inhibits progesterone synthesis
- structural luteolysis: luteal cells can die, SLCs die first, LLCs second, and then immune cells clean up the dead cells
explain the hormone profile for the entire estrous cycle
- progesterone: levels increase and peak during diestrus, decrease during proestrus, are low through estrus, and begin to increase during metestrus
- estrogen: levels are low during diestrus, rising during proestrus, rising and peak during estrus, and decreasing during metestrus
- FSH: low pulses during diestrus, rising during proestrous, rising, peaks and decreases during estrus, and low pulses during metestrus
- LH: low pulses during diestrus, rising during proestrus, rising, peaks, and begins decreasing during estrus, and decreases during metestrus
- GnRH: (all pulses) low during diestrus, begins rising during proestrus, rising and peaks during estrus, and decreasing during metestrus
what is the difference between functional and structural death of the CL?
- functional luteolysis: decrease in progesterone production, uterine PGF2a binds to receptors on LLCs which tells oxytocin to increase (oxytocin receptors are on SLCs), PGF2a signaling results in a deacrease in LDL (low density lipoprotein) receptors on luteal cells and a decrease in LH receptors on luteal cells
- structural luteolysis: luteal cells die via apoptosis, SLCs die firs, LLCs 2nd, and then resident immune cells remove cell fragments leaving only scar tissue
name and describe the function of the 3 segments of the oviduct
- infundibulum: opening to the oviduct, funnel shape to catch ovum
- ampulla: moves oocyte through oviduct to site of fertilization, not very muscular, 1st half of oviduct
- isthmus: 2nd half of oviduct, very muscular, small diameter
what are the three portions of the broad ligament? what do they support?
- mesovarium: supports ovary
- mesosalpinx: supports oviduct
- mesometrium: supports uterus