Female Reproductive Physiology

Question 1

What is puberty?

Answer 1

Burst of hormones activate maturation of the gonads: ovaries

Question 2

When does puberty begin?

Answer 2

8-13 years of age

Question 3

What is abnormally early puberty?

Answer 3

precocious puberty

Question 4

What is delayed puberty?

Answer 4

primary amennorhea

Question 5

What are the functions of the female reproductive system?

Answer 5

1. Produce sex hormones
2. Produce functioning gametes [ova]
3. Support & protect developing embryo

Question 6

What are the general physical changes that are seen during puberty?

Answer 6

1. Axillary & pubic hair growth
2. Changes in body conformation
   - widening of hips, development of breasts
3. Onset of first menstrual period
   - menarche
4. Mental changes

Question 7

What are the major organs of female reproduction?

Answer 7

Ovaries [gonads]
Uterine tubes [fallopian tubes]
Uterus
Vagina
Accessory glands
External genitalia
Breasts

Question 8

What are the functions of ovaries?

Answer 8

1. They produce eggs (also called ova) every female is born with a lifetime supply of eggs
2. They also produce hormones:
   
   • Estrogen & Progesterone
     N.B. Male Homolog = testes

Question 9

What are the functions of estrogen?

Answer 9

1. stimulate the appearance of secondary female sex characteristics in girls at puberty
2. Estrogen controls the growth of the lining of the uterus during the first part of the menstrual cycle
3. breast development in pregnancy
4. regulates various metabolic processes

Question 10

Describe the process of oogeneis?

Answer 10

1. The primary oocyte grows much larger and completes the meiosis I
   - forming a large secondary oocyte and a small polar body that receives little more than one set of chromosomes
2. the first polar body does not go on to meiosis II, but the secondary oocyte does proceed as far as metaphase of meiosis II and then stops.
3. Only if fertilization occurs will meiosis II ever be completed
   - Entry of the sperm restarts the cell cycle