Female Reproductive System

Question 1

Ovaries (female gonads)

Answer 1

Produce:

• Gametes: secondary oocytes that develop into mature ova after fertilization
• Hormones: estrogens and progesterone, inhibin and relaxin

Held in place by: broad ligament, ovarian ligament, suspensory ligament

Question 2

Histology of Ovary

Answer 2

Germinal epithelium (covers the surface)
Tunica albuginea (capsule)
Ovarian cortex (consists of ovarian follicles)
Ovarian follicles (consist of oocytes) -cells surrounding them that nourish the oocyte and secrete estrogens

Question 3

Mature (graafian) follicle

Answer 3

Up to 2.5 cm in diameter at the time of ovulation
Protrudes from the surface of the ovary
Outer layer of theca cells and granulosa cells
Large fluid-filled ovarian follicle that is ready to rupture and expel its secondary oocyte (ovulation)

Question 4

Corpus luteum

Answer 4

Remnants of mature follicle after ovulation

Produces estrogens, progesterone, relaxin, and inhibit

Question 5

Ovarian medulla

Answer 5

Contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves

Question 6

Begins before birth:

Oogenesis

Answer 6

During fetal development, stem cells (oogonia) differentiate within ovaries
- most degenerate before birth
Develop into primary oocytes (2n) that enter meiosis-I but do not complete that phase until puberty
Follicular cells surround each primary oocyte (diploid cell) -results in a primordial follicle
Follicular epithelial cells transform into columnar cells forming primary follicle–>secondary follicle develops into Graffian follicle (contains secondary oocyte)

Question 7

At birth

Oogenesis

Answer 7

only 200,000 primary oocytes remain in each ovary

Question 8

At puberty

Oogenesis

Answer 8

40,00 remain, around 400 will mature

Each month, FSH and LH stim development of several primordial follicles, although only one will reach maturity
Completed only after the secondary oocyte has been fertilized

Question 9

At fetal stage

Oogenesis

Answer 9

Oogonia undergo mitotic divisions –>primary oocyte
Primary oocyte–>increase in cytoplasm and nucleus enlarges after puberty
Full grown primary oocyte undergoes first meiotic division–>secondary oocyte
2nd meiotic division proceeds only after entry of sperm

Question 10

Uterine Tubes

Answer 10

Provide a route for sperm to reach an ovum
Transport secondary oocytes and fertilized ova to the uterus
Infundibulum: funnel-shaped portion near each ovary
Contain cilia which help move a fertilized ovum along the tube
Non-ciliated cells secrete a fluid which provides nutrition for the ovum
Smooth muscle layer – move fertilized ovum or oocytes

Question 11

Uterus

Answer 11

Site of implantation of fertilized ovum and development of the fetus
Strongly involved in labor
Source of menstrual flow
Contains 3 regions: fundus, body, cervix

Question 12

Histology of Uterus

Answer 12

Perimetrium: part of serosa (visceral peritoneum)
Myometrium: 3 layers of smooth muscles
Endometrium: mucus secreting cells - divided into 2 layers
Stratum functionalis: lines the uterine cavity and sloughs off during menstruation
Stratum basalis: gives rise new stratum functionalis