Female Reproductive Physiology Flashcards
The ovaries contain the ovarian ________, which in a cyclical fashion undergo _______ and release a mature egg every menstrual cycle
follicles
oogenesis
what is oogenesis?
production of an egg
Egg implants into the ______
uterus
what are the 2 parts of the uterus?
Uterus has 2 parts which are the body and the cervix
what are the different areas of a ovary?
surface
cortex
medulla
what is the structure of the surface of an ovary?
connective tissue capsule covered with a layer of simple cuboidal epithelium
what is the structure of the cortex of a ovary?
peripheral part, connective tissue containing ovarian follicles (one oocyte surrounded by single layer of cells)
what is the structure of a medulla of a ovary?
central part, connective tissue with blood cells
1
medulla (contains neurovascular structures)
2
cortex (contains ovarian follicles)
3
cuboidal epithelium
what is the function of the ovaries?
- Oocyte production:
- One mature egg per menstrual cycle, around 400 ovulated during entire reproductive lifespan
- Majority of eggs perish during the cycle
- Finite number, declines with increasing age
- Steroid hormone production:
- Oestrogen develops female secondary sexual characters
- Progesterone prepares endometrium for implantation
- 50% of testosterone produced by ovaries before menopause
what is oogenesis?
differentiation of the ovum (egg cell) into a cell competent to further develop when fertilized
what is the process of oogenesis?
- Primordial germ cell mitosis in foetal life only and primordial follicles arrested in the stage of first melotic division until puberty
- First melotic division complete and second division starts after puberty and leads to the release of one secondary oocyte in a menstrual cycle which is capable of fertilisation
- Second melotic division completes after fertilisation of oocyte with sperm
what are the follicular development stages?
- Primordial follicles – primary oocyte arrested in first meiotic division surrounded by one layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells
- Primary follicle – oocyte surrounded by zona and cuboidal granulosa cells
- Secondary follicles – increased oocyte diameter and multiple layer of granulosa cells, resumption of first meiotic division
- Tertiary/graffian follicle – follicular fluid between the cells which coalesce to form antrum, completion of first meiotic division to form secondary oocyte and start of second meiotic division