Female Reproduction Flashcards
What is an ovary?
The ovary is where oocytes mature prior to release (ovulation) – it also responsible for estrogen and progesterone secretion
What is the fimbria?
Fimbriae are a fringe of tissue adjacent to an ovary that sweep an oocyte into the oviduct
What is the oviduct?
The oviduct (or fallopian tube) transports the oocyte to the uterus – it is also typically where fertilization occurs
What is the uterus?
The uterus is the organ where a fertilised egg will implant and develop (becoming an embryo)
What is the endometrium?
The mucous membrane lining of the uterus, it thickens in preparation for implantation or is otherwise lost (via menstruation)
What is the vagina?
Passage leading to the uterus by which the penis can enter (uterus protected by a muscular opening called the cervix)
When are ova produced?
The production of ova begins in the ovaries of the female fetus before birth
How are oogonia produced?
The ovaries are surrounded by an outer layer of cells called the germinal epithelium; the cells in this layer divide by mitosis throughout the first 7 months of fetal development to form diploid cells called oogonia (singular oogonium)
What happens to a fetus’ ovaries a few months leading up to birth?
the oogonia in the fetus’ ovaries grow in size and enter meiosis I, and a layer of cells called follicle cells develop around them
What are primary follicles?
The partially divided oogonia together with their layer of follicle cells
When does the oogenesis process pause?
Once the oogonia have developed into primary follicles
What does the follicle stimulating hormone do?
When puberty begins, the hormone FSH stimulates the continued development of several primary follicles in the ovary
What happens to a mature primary follicle?
Divides into a secondary oocyte along with a smaller polar body
When does the secondary oocyte and its layer of follicle cells leave the ovary?
at the end of meiosis I entering into meiosis II
What happens to the rest of the follicle cells left behind in the ovary?
Develop later into the corpus luteum
When do meiosis II finish in oogenesis?
After a sperm cell enters the secondary oocyte
When does the secondary oocyte become an ovum?
between the end of meiosis II and the fusion of the two nuclei
What is produced at the completion of meiosis II?
A second polar body
What is a zona pellucida?
A surrounding jelly layer that can harden to prevent polyspermy
What is polyspermy?
when the ovum is penetrated by more than one sperm, this can affect embryo development
How is polyspermy prevented?
A series of vesicles, or cortical granules, containing digestive enzymes that are released into the zona pellucida to prevent polyspermy
