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Mammalian Reproduction > Female Reprodictive Anatomy & Physiology > Flashcards

Female Reprodictive Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What makes up the female reproductive system?
(6 points)

A
  • Gonads (ovaries - gamete production + production of sex hormones)
  • Fallopian tubes (carry developing oocytes from ovary to uterus + for sperm transport)
  • Uterus (house + support growth of embryo/foetus)
  • Cervix (allows passage of sperm)
  • Vagina
  • Vulva (external genitalia)
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2
Q

Where does fertilisation take place?

A

Fallopian tubes

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3
Q

What does the vulva comprise of?
(4 points)

A
  • Mons pubis (layer of fatty tissue overlying pubic bone)
  • Labia (labia majora/minora)
  • Urethral meatus (opening)
  • Clitoris
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4
Q

What 2 hormones are produced by the ovaries?

A

Oestrogen
Progesterone

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5
Q

What connective tissue surrounds the ovaries?

A

Tunica albuginea

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6
Q

What does the main ovary comprise of?

A
  • Outer cortex (primordial follicles)
  • Central medulla (connective tissue + blood vessels)
  • Inner hilum
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7
Q

What is the role of the fallopian tubes?

A
  • Carries ovum from ovary
  • Facilitates sperm movement
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8
Q

How is the movement of oocytes through the fallopian tubes aided?

A
  • Fimbria (cilia-covered, fringe-liked stucture that sweeps ovulated ovum into tube)
  • Contractions of wall of tubes
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9
Q

What is the uterus surrounded by?

A
  • Peritoneum
  • Perimetrium
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10
Q

What 2 muscles are in the uterus?

A
  • Myometrium (smooth muscle + vascular tissue)
  • Endometrium (inner cavity)
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11
Q

What is the role of the uterine glands?

A

Provide nourishment (proteins) for embryo until placenta is established

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12
Q

What happens during the oestrous cycle?

A

Pro-oestrus:
- Follicle start developing
- Secretes oestrogen
- Endometrium develops

Oestrus:
- In heat
- Female is sexually receptive/ready for mating
- Might be visible through various signs, e.g. reddening of labia

Metoestrus:
- Lutueal phase
- Corpus luteum develops from ruptured follicle after ovulation

Dioestrus:
- Corpus luteum produces progesterone
- Prepares uterus for implantation
- In the absence of pregnancy, corpus luteum degenerates
- Endometrium is reabsorbed for next cycle

Anoestrus:
- Sexual inactivity
- Induced by pregnancy, lactation, illness, age & seasons/time of the year in seasonal breeders
- In seasonal breeders, it is controlled through exposure to light that influences the release of melatonin from pineal glands

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13
Q

Give 2 examples of other animals that have a menstrual cycle

A
  • Elephant shrew
  • Spiny mouse
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14
Q

What happens to those species with an oestrous cycle rather than a menstrual cycle?

A

Endometrium is reabsorbed

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15
Q

What is a duplex uterus?

A

2 distinct uteri (open separately into vagina)

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16
Q

What is a bipartite uterus?

A

Partial septum separating uteri

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17
Q

What is a bicornuate uterus?

A

No septum

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18
Q

What is the cervix?

A
  • The narrow, lower portion of uterus
  • Soft with an abundant, thin, mucus secretion just before ovulation (to facilitate sperm movement)
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19
Q

What happens to the cervix after ovulation?

A
  • Closes up
  • Becomes harder
  • Cervical secretions are thicker + stickier
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20
Q

What is the role of the vagina?

A
  • Muscular tube for receiving male penis
  • Provides passage of foetus at parturition
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21
Q

What is the role of the Bartholin’s glands + where are they?

A
  • Secrete mucous to lubricate vagina
  • Lie slightly posterior + to left/right of vaginal opening
22
Q

What 2 phases does the menstural cycle consist of?

A
  • Follicular phase
  • Luteal phase
23
Q

What happens in the follicular phase?

A
  • Hypothalamus secretes GnRH
  • GnRH acts on anterior pituitary gland to secrete FSH & LH
  • FSH stimulates follicles in ovary
  • Oestrogen secreted from granulosa cells in ovary
  • Oestrogen will thicken endometrium & thin cervical mucous to prepare for fertilisation
  • Oestrogen acts in a negative feedback loop on the hypothalamus so that FSH isn’t continuously released & only 1 dominant follicle continues developing
  • LH released for ovulation at day 14
24
Q

What happens in the luteal phase?

A
  • Corpus luteum produces progesterone + oestrogen
  • Progesterone will thicken endometrium & thin cervical mucous for fertilisation
  • Oestrogen & progesterone acts in a negative feedback loop to reduce FSH & LH

If fertilisation occurs:
- HCG is released from early embryo
- HCG maintains corpus luteum
- Progesterone & oestrogen remain high to support pregnancy
- LH & FSH remain low to prevent further ovulation
- At 6 weeks, placenta takes over oestrogen & progesterone
- Corpus luteum degenerates

If fertilisation doesn’t occur:
- No HCG
- Corpus luteum degenerates
- Decreased oestrogen + progesterone
- Break down of endometrium
- No negative feedback loop so FSH & LH increase
- Cycle stars again

25
Q

What does high oestrogen cause prior to ovulation?

A
  • Thickens endometrium
  • Thins cervical mucous
26
Q

When does the endometrium develop in the menstrual cycle?

A
  • First 4 days
  • In follicular phase, under the influence of oestrogen
27
Q

What happens within the last 4 days of the menstrual cycle?

A
  • Endometrium disintegrates
  • Bleeding occurs from ruptured blood vessels in endometrium
  • Blood + disintegrating outer layers of endometrium expelled as menstrual fluid
28
Q

Describe the development of the endometrium throughout the menstrual cycle

A

Follicular phase:
- High oestrogen thickens endometrium

Luteal Phase:
- High oestrogen/progesterone from corpus luteum thicken endometrium
- If fertilisation doesn’t occur, corpus luteum degenerates
- Progesterone/oestrogen decrease
- Endometrium breaks down = menstrual bleeding

29
Q

In non-human mammals, what 4 phases are part of the oestrous cycle?

A

1- Oestrus
2- Metoestrus
3- Dioestrus
4- Prooestrus

30
Q

What is the oestrus phase?

A
  • In heat
  • Female is sexually receptive/ready for mating
  • Might be visible through various signs, e.g. reddening of labia
31
Q

What are induced ovulations? Give an example.

A

Ovulation is induced by mating
E.g. cats, camels, llamas, etc.

32
Q

What is the metoestrus phase?

A
  • Lutueal phase
  • Corpus luteum develops from ruptured follicle after ovulation
33
Q

What is the dioestrus phase?

A
  • Corpus luteum produces progesterone
  • Prepares uterus for implantation
  • In the absence of pregnancy, corpus luteum degenerates
  • Endometrium is reabsorbed for next
34
Q

What is the pro-oestrus phase?

A

Pro-oestrus:
- Follicle start developing
- Secretes oestrogen
- Endometrium develops

35
Q

What is the anoestrus phase?

A
  • Sexual inactivity
  • Induced by pregnancy, lactation, illness, age & seasons/time of the year in seasonal breeders
  • In seasonal breeders, it is controlled through exposure to light that influences the release of melatonin from pineal glands
36
Q

What is an ectopic pregnancy?

A

A complication in pregnancy in which embryo attaches/implants outside uterus, most often in fallopian tubes

37
Q

What are some symptoms of ectopic pregnancies?

A
  • Cramping
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vaginal bleeding
38
Q

What are the outcomes of ectopic pregnancies?

A
  • Uterine tube not large enough
  • Lack of blood supply for placenta
  • Death of embryo
39
Q

What is amenorrhoea?

A

Failure to menstruate normally between puberty + menopause

40
Q

What is primary amenorrhoea?

A

If not started by 16 years old

41
Q

What is secondary amenorrhoea?

A

If no period for >3 months (outside of contraception, pregnancy, or lactation)

42
Q

What is amenorrhoea caused by?

A
  • Chromosomal abnormalities
  • Hormone imbalance
  • Excessive exercise
43
Q

What is dysmenorrhoea?

A

Period pains

44
Q

What is hypogonadism in females?

A

Under activity, development failure, or absence of ovaries, leading to low levels of female sex hormones

45
Q

What can cause hypogonadism?

A
  • Chromosomal abnormality
  • Abnormality of pituitary gland or hypothalamus
46
Q

How can hypogonadism be treated?

A
  • Human growth hormone injections
  • Oestrogen injections (HRT)
47
Q

Give an example of delayed fertilisation.

A

Bats:
- Copulation may occur at any time, most often before winter hibernation
- Sperm kept nourished by uterine secretions for at least 200 days + females ovulate at a time favourable to gestation + birth
- Adaptation to winter dormancy

48
Q

Give an example of delayed implantation

A

Bears:
- Zygote undergoes normal cleavage but then blastocyst development is arrested
- blastocyst remains in ‘dormant’ state + doesn’t implant but floats freely in uterus
- Likely an adaptation to facilitate diving birth at optimal time of year

49
Q

Give an example of a species showing some unusual female adaptations.

A

Spotted hyenas:
- Sex roles reversed —> f larger + more aggressive than m
- Dominant social group
- F genitals look more like a penis but it is actually the clitoris (vaginal canal turns back on itself and exits the body)
- Also pass high levels of androgens to offspring that make cubs more aggressive + sexually vigorous

50
Q

Give 4 differences between the menstrual cycle & oestrus cycle

A
  1. MS occurs in primates, OS in non-primates
  2. Endometrium shed in MS, reabsorbed in OS
  3. F sexually active throughout MS, f only sexually active during oestrus phase in OS
  4. Ovulation is concealed in MS, visible physiological & behavioural changes in OS

Mammalian Reproduction (16 decks)

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