Female - Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
Mesovarium
- double folds of peritoneum
- attaches ovaries to the broad ligament
- carries the blood supply, lymphatic drainage & nerve supply of the ovary.
Broad ligament
- peritoneum
- drapes over the uterus
Ovarian ligament
connects the ovary to the uterus
Suspensory ligament
connects the ovary to the pelvic wall
Function of the ovaries (2)
- steroid production
- gametogenesis (production of gametes/germ cells)
Ovary - blood supply
Principally from the ovarian arteries which arise from the aorta, just below the renal arteries.
The ovary is approx. ______cm long, _____cm wide & ____cm thick & weighs about _____g.
4cm, 3cm, 2cm, 10g.
The ovary is divided into the:
- Outer cortex
- Inner medulla
Granulosa cells produce…
(ovary cortex)
estradiol
Differentiated theca cells produce…
(ovary cortex)
androgens
Outer cortex of the ovary
- covered by tunica albuginea (connective tissue capsule) & a layer of simple epithelium = consisting of ovarian surface epithelial cells (repairs the wall of the ovary after ovulation).
- composed of dense cellular stroma containing ovarian follicles = where each one contains a primary oocyte surrounded by follicle cells.
Inner medulla of the ovary
Neurovascular elements innervate the medulla
The stroma cells outside the granulosa cell layer differentiate into:
- Theca interna = more vascular & secretes androstenedione (which is converted later on by granulosa cells to estrogen)
- Theca externa = more fibrous, smooth muscle. Gradually merges with the stroma.
Ovarian follicles
Fluid-filled structures that each contain an oocyte.
Polar body
- Byproduct of an oocyte meiotic division
- contains haploid number (23) of c/somes
Physiology of the Ovary
A) Shortly before ovulation, meiosis is completed in the primary oocyte in response to the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge.
B) The oocyte casts off the 1st polar body resulting in the # of c/somes in the remaining nucleus being reduced from 46 to 23.
(primary oocyte & the 1st polar body each contain haploid # (23) of c/somes)
- at this stage the ripe follicle is about 20mm in diameter.
C) At ovulation it ruptures, releasing the oocyte usually into the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube.
The follicle in the ovary collapses
- granulosa cells become…
- theca interna forms…
- The granulosa cells become luteal cells
while the - Theca interna forms the theca lutein cells
Explain the Corpus luteum
- development, appearance, secretion, degeneration.
- develops & projects from the surface of the ovary.
- can be recognized by the naked eye by its crinkled outline & yellow appearance
- its cells secrete estrogen & progesterone
- it degenerates in about 10 days if the ovum isn’t fertilized. Then a small amount of bleeding occurs into its cavity, the cells undergo hyaline degeneration & a corpus albicans is formed.
- if pregnancy does occur, the corpus luteum grows & may reach 3cm in diameter, & persists for 80-120 days & then gradually degenerates.
Oviducts / Uterine ducts / Fallopian Tubes are muscular tubes with:
- distal ends close to the surface of each ovary
- proximal ends traversing the wall of the uterus
Oviducts / Uterine Tubes / Fallopian Tubes are divided into 4 regions:
(from the ovary to the uterus)
- Infundibulum with fimbriae
- Ampullae
- Isthmus
- Intramural / Interstitial portion
3 functions of the Oviducts / Uterine Tubes / Fallopian Tubes
- Captures the cumulus-oocyte complex & transfers it to the ampullary-isthmic junction where fertilization takes place.
- Provides a site for sperm storage,
- sperms remain viable by adhering to epithelial cells lining the isthmus. - Secretes fluids that provide nutritional support to the preimplantation embryo.
3 walls/layers of the Oviducts / Uterine Tubes / Fallopian Tubes
- Endosalpinx
- Myosalpinx
- Perisalpinx
Endosalpinx wall/layer
- mucosa
- lined by simple epithelium thrown into folds & made up of 2 cell types:
1) Ciliated epithelium = propels the cumulus-oocyte complex towards the uterus.
2) Secretory cells = produces protein-rich mucous that maintains healthy epithelium.
Myosalpinx wall/layer
- muscularis (2 layers) = smooth muscular layer
Perisalpinx wall/layer
- outer lying connective tissue
Uterus
- a hollow, muscle-walled organ in the pelvis communicating with each fallopian tube, & through its cervix, the vagina.
Pre-pregnancy - uterus weight
40g
Full term pregnancy - uterus weight
1000g or 1kg