Female Repro Flashcards
basic anatomy
- 2 ovaries
- repro tract : two fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagine (last 3 = internal genitalia)
how m +f differ in urinary tract
men - urinary tract same tract as ejaculatory duct/internal genitalia.
f: urinary tract is separate from repro
fallopian tubes + ovaries - connected?
how to carry ovum thru?
not connected.
- finger-like projections called fimbriae brush over surface of ovaries. if ovum present, will be picked up and drawn into fallopian tubes.
fallopian tubes have cilia that beat in direction of uterus. movement coaxes ovum through the fallopian tube into the uterus
female external genitalia
- mons pubis
- labia majora (~scrotum)
- labia minora
- clitoris (~penis, has corpora cavernosa, can tumesce)
- vaginal vestibule (contains urethral opening + vaginal opening)
- vestibular glands
glands in F external genitalia
skenes glands = on either side of vaginal opening. produce milky white secretion (~prostate)
bartholin’s, closer to vaginal opening - mucoid type of secretion (~bulbourethral)
what is hymen?
thin fold of mucous membrane partly overlies the vaginal opening
–can remain if non-penetrative sex has been had. but can rupture in other ways.
ovary function (2 main)
- matures oocyte + endocrine function in follicles.
- ovulation
- eggless follicle differentiates into corpus luteum
fetal development +oogenesis
develops primordial germ cells in ovaries as fetus. quiescent until puberty. but oocytes will go thru apoptosis over time.
- at birth has 1-2 million
- at puberty has 300-400 thousand.
- each cycle, cohort of oocytes mature, the one with most FSH receptors will develop into mature ovum + be released/ovulated.
production of sex hormones by ovary
- E, P and Inhibin.
- some Androgens produced too + aromatized to E.
- uterus primed for baby with hormones from corpus luteum. CL releases hormones to prep + maintain endometrium. if no fertilization, endometrium sloughed + CL degrades
ovarian microanatomy
- primordial oocyte surrounded by granulosa cells = primordial follicles.
- primary follicles
- secondary follicles
- Graafian vesicle: one ovum picked to mature
- graafian becomes CL
ovarian medulla vs cortex
where arterial inflow and veinous drainage is.
- Autonomic nerves trace blood vessels.
cortex: oocytes and follicle development
hormonal control of ovarian function
- dependent upon pulsatile secretion of GnRH.
- frequency + amplitude of GnRH pulse changes over course of menstrual cycle
- change in GnRH = change in Gn (FSH,LH), E, P,I
where do FSH, LH act?
FSH - granulosa
LH - theca cells
support development of follicle, ovum + direct ovulation
when + how does ovulation occur?
- day 14 of menstrual cycle may differ btw women, btw periods
- thin walls of follicle + ovary ruptured by enzymatic digestion
- carried out of ovary by antral fluid (optimal enviro) - pushes ovum out with fluid pressure
- need LH surge*
cells around secondary oocyte?
zona pellucida + granulosa cells