Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the functions of the uterus?
- maintenance of foetus during development
- expelling foetus at end of pregnancy
- major female hormone-responsive reproductive organ
What is the size of the uterus at the third trimester compared to at the start?
50cm vs 0.1cm
What is the duration and frequency of periods?
between 2-7 days every 28 days
How many periods does a woman normally undergo?
~450
What does each follicle contain?
one oocyte (unfertilised egg cell)
How many egg cells do the ovaries hold at different stages of development?
- midgestation = 6-7 million
- at birth = 2 million
- at puberty = 400,000
What are the 2 alternative phases of the ovarian cycle?
- follicular phase – dominated by presence of maturing follicles
- luteal phase – characterised by presence of corpus luteum
Which hormones do the ovaries produce and what do they do?
oestrogen and progesterone which act together to promote fertilisation of the ovum and to prepare the female reproductive tract for pregnancy
What is oogenesis?
the signalling pathway that causes maturation of the ovum
What is a follicle?
the combination of the developing egg (oocyte) and surrounding granulosa cells
What does GnRH do?
stimulate the anterior pituitary to release LH and FSH
What do FSH and FSHR combine to produce?
oestradiol
What type of hormone are FSH and LH?
peptide hormones
What does FSH do?
- aid in follicle growth and maturation
- induce antrum formation
What is the antrum?
fluid-filled space that develops among the follicle cells and where oestrogen is stored
What does inhibin do?
regulate the development of the follicles by inhibiting FSH secretion resulting in a surge in LH secretion