female reproductive Flashcards
what are the goals of the female reproductive system?
- produce gametes
- prepare body to nurture a developing conceptus
what are the primary reproductive organs in a female?
ovaries
what are the major functions of the ovaries?
- produce female gametes (oocytes)
- secrete steroid sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
what are the accessory reproductive organs?
- ducts (uterine tubes, uterus, vagina)
- external (vulva)
- glands (mammary)
parts of the ovaries?
- ovarian ligament: anchors ovary medially to uterus
- suspensory ligament: anchors ovary laterally to pelvic wall
- mesovarium: suspends ovary
- surrounded by fibrous tunica albuginea
what are the two poorly defined regions of the ovaries?
- outer cortex: houses forming oocyte in ovarian follicles; site of ovulation
- inner medulla: contains large blood vessels and nerves
what are the uterine tubes?
known as the fallopian tube and oviducts
- ciliated fimbriae of infundibulum
what is the ampulla?
the usual site of fertilization
what are the layers of the uterine wall?
- perimetrium: outer serous layer (visceral peritoneum)
- myometrium,: interlacing layers of smooth muscle
- endometrium: inner mucosal lining; site of implantation
what are the two layers of the endometrium?
Stratum functionalis:
- changes in response to ovarian hormone cycles
- shed during menstruation
Stratum basalis:
- unresponsive to ovarian hormones
- forms new functionalis after menstruation
details of puberty?
- 8-10 yrs old
- triggereby by rising levels of GnRH
- GnRH stimulates anterior pit to secrete FSH and LH
- FSH stimulates ovarian follicles and they secrete estrogen, progesterone
what is thelarche?
onset of breast development, the earliest noticeable sign of puberty
what is pubarche?
the appearance of pubic and axillary hair, sebaceous glands, and axillary glands
what is menarche?
- first menstrual period
- 17% body fat
- leptin stimulates gonadotropin secretion
what causes changes in puberty?
- estradiol: stimulates vaginal metaplasia, growth of ovaries and secondary sex organs, growth hormone secretion, fat deposition, thicken skin
- progesterone: primarily acts on the uterus preparing it for possible pregnancy in the second half of the menstrual cycle
what is climacteric?
midlife change in hormone secretion
- beings with 1000 folicles left
- uterus, vagina, and breast atrophy
- cholesterol levels rise, increasing risk of cardiovascular disease
- bone mass decline, increase risk of osteoporosis
- blood vessels constrict and dilate