Female Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
What is the surface of the ovary made of?
Connective tissue capsule covered by a layer of cuboidal epithelium
What does the ovarian cortex contain?
Ovarian follicles
What is an ovarian follicle?
One oocyte surrounded by a single layer of cells
What does the medulla of the ovary consist of?
Connective tissue and blood vessels
Give the 2 functions of the ovaries
- Oocyte production
- Steroid hormone production
What is an oocyte?
An immature ovum
What is oogenesis?
The process where an immature ovum becomes a mature ovum
What happens during foetal life?
Oogonia go through mitosis to become primordial germ cells
What happens to primordial germ cells after birth?
Cell division is halted until puberty
What happens when puberty sets in?
The meiotic process resumes under the control of hormones each month to produce one Graafian follicle ready for fertilisation
What are the phases of follicular development called?
- Preantral phase
- Antral phase
What is a primordial follicle
Primary oocyte arrested in first meiotic division surrounded by one layer of squamous pre granulosa cells
What is a primary follicle?
Oocyte surrounded by zona and cuboidal granulosa cells
What is a secondary follicle?
Increased oocyte diameter and multiple layer of granulosa cells, resumption of first meiotic division
What is a tertiary/Graffian follicle?
- Follicular fluid between the cells which coalesce to form antrum
- Completion of first meiotic division to form secondary oocyte
- Beginning of secondary meiotic division
