Female Reproductive System Flashcards
Female reproductive system consists of…
- paired ovaries
- paired oviducts
- uterus
- vagina
- external genitalia
Oogenesis
- Function of ovaries
- Production of oocytes, steroidal sex hormones
Cell division during production of female gametes involve…
Mitosis & meiosis
Menarche
Initiation of menstrual cycle
menopause
Cessation of menstrual cycle
During fetal development, oogonia undergo mitosis to form ____
Primary oocytes
____ enter prophase of first meiotic division where further development is arrested until puberty
Primary oocytes
Primary oocytes remain arrested in ____
Meiotic prophase 1
Each primary oocyte becomes surrounded by a flattened squamous ____ forming an ovarian follicle called a ____
Follicular cells (follicle cells)
Primordial follicle
Oocyte production after birth
No further production
After birth, many primary oocytes are lost to ____
Atresia: slow continuous degenerative process
Epithelium of Surface of ovary
Simple cuboidal: germinal epithelium
Dense CT layer of ovary
Tunica albuginea: between germinal epithelium & cortex
With each cycle, a small group of ____ begin a process of growth
Primordial follicles
follicle growth & development
Oocyte enlarges and squamous follicular cells become…
Cuboidal granulosa cells = primary follicles
follicle growth & development
As a primary follicle develops, cuboidal granulosa cells become ____
Stratified
follicle growth & development
Oocyte secretes proteins forming an Extracellular coat called ____
Zona pellucida
follicle growth & development
Smooth muscle & CT stromal cells surrounding follicles develop the ____
Theca (G-cover, L-box)
Theca interna
- highly vascularized
- cells have LH receptors
- in response secrete androgens & progesterone
Theca externa
Outer layer of CT and smooth muscle cells
What represents the earliest stage of follicle development?
Primordial follicles
Secondary follicle is characterized by a fluid containing ____
Antrum
Antrum
- fluids secreted by granulosa cells
- nurtures & protects oocyte
follicle growth & development
Granulosa cells form a thick mound of cells called _____, which project into antrum towards the oocyte
Cumulus oophorus
Corona radiata
- Cells of the cumulus oophorus that immediately surround the oocyte
- remain with oocyte at ovulation
Graafian follicle
Mature follicle
large structure with large antrum
follicle growth & development
LH & FSH of pituitary 24 hrs prior to ovulation triggers…
First meiotic division of primary oocyte to resume -> formation of secondary oocyte & first polar body
Ovulation
Hormone mediated process resulting in release of secondary oocyte from Graafian follicle (ovarian wall weakens, Theca externa smooth muscle contractions)
After ovulation, follicle collapses, granulosa & theca interna cells undergo reorganization forming a large, highly vascularized ____
Corpus luteum
Granulosa lutein cells
Granulosa cells greatly enlarge after ovulation
After ovulation, blood & lymphatic vessels rapidly grow, and cells become ____
Theca lutein cells
Corpus luteum of menstruation
If fertilization does not occur
Corpus luteum of pregnancy
If fertilization occurs, hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) produced by placenta maintains & promotes further growth of corpus luteum (4-5 months)
Either type of corpus luteum will degenerate into a ____
Corpus albicans: leftover scar
Atretic follicle
Each month only 1 Graafian follicle undergoes ovulation, other developing follicles arrest and degenerate (atresia)
oviducts
Infundibulum
Funnel shaped opening fringed with extensions
Extensions of Infundibulum are called ____
Fimbriae
oviducts
Ampulla
Longest & expanded region where fertilization normally occurs
oviducts
Isthmus
Narrow portion near uterus
oviducts
Uterine/intramural part
Passes through wall of uterus, opens into uterine cavity
Layers of oviduct wall
- mucosa
- muscularis
- serosa
Mucosa of oviduct
- highly folded
- mostly simple columnar ciliated cells (sweep fluid & ovum toward uterus)
- peg cells
Peg cells
(Mucosa of oviduct)
- Non-ciliated
- fewer in number
- secrete nutritive glycoprotein mucous that bathes sperm & ovum
Muscularis of oviduct
- Smooth muscle
- relatively thick inner circular layer
- thinner outer longitudinal layer
Serosa of oviduct
- thin layer of CT covered by mesothelium
General architecture of uterus
Body
Fundus
Isthmus
Cervix
uterus
Body
Large upper portion, receives uterine tubes (oviduct)
uterus
Fundus
Curved superior portion between uterine tubes (oviduct)
uterus
Isthmus
Narrow portion, ends at cervix
uterus
Cervix
Lower barrel shaped portion:
- internal os: opens into uterus
- cervical canal: lumen of cervix
- external os: opens into vagina
Layers of uterine wall
Endometrium
Myometrium
Perimetrium
uterus
Endometrium
Mucosal layer
uterus
Myometrium
Very thick muscular layer, bundles of smooth muscle
uterus
Perimetrium
Outer CT layer, adventitia in some parts, largely serosa with mesothelium
Lamina propria of endometrium contains numerous tubular ____
Uterine glands
2 zones of endometrium
Stratum functionale
Stratum basale
endometrium
Stratum functionale
Functional layer
- thickest part of endometrium
- sloughed off during menstruation
- includes epithelium & most of length of glands
endometrium
Stratum basale
Basal layer
- adjacent to mymetrium
- retained during menstruation
- serves as source of regeneration for stratum functionale
arcuate arteries branch into ____
radial arteries
radial arteries branch into…
- straight arteries
- spiral arteries
straight arteries supply ____
stratum basale
spiral arteries supply ____
stratum functionale
spiral arteries are ____ sensitive
progesterone
if fertilization does not occur, what happens to spiral arteries?
spiral arteries degenerate causing ischemia of stratum functionale and a sloughing off of this tissue (menstruation)
name the 2 histological regions of the cervix
ectocervix (exocervix)
endocervix
ectocervix location & epithelium
- extends into vagina
- non-keratinized stratified squamous
endocervix is the ____ portion
uterine
endocervix epithelium
simple columnar
lamina propria of endocervix contains many ____
cervical glands
cervical glands secrete ____
mucus
cervix
transformation (transition) zone
- point where endo & ectocervix meet
- abrupt change in epithelium
- most cervical cancers begin here
epithelium of vaginal wall
non-keratinized stratified squamous
mammary glands
each mammary gland lobe consists of many lobules called…
terminal duct lobular units (TDLU)
mammary glands
lactiferous sinuses in non-lactating women
empty
mammary glands
areola
skin covering nipple contains sebaceous glands and many sensory nerves
mammary glands
hormones during pregnancy cause…
(prolactin, estrogen, progesterone)
much proliferation in secretory alveoli (glands) at ends of ducts and production of milk
mammary glands
oxytocin
stimulates release of milk (lactation)
mammary glands
late in pregnancy, ducts accumulate ____
colostrum
mammary glands
colostrum
fluid rich in proteins & antibodies
mammary glands
milk components
- protein via merocrine secretion
- lipid via apocrine secretion
- lactose
