Female reproductive system Flashcards
1. Name the female gonad.
1.Ovary
- Describe the supporting structures of the ovary.
2.Ovarian ligament from ovary to uterus, Mesovarium from ovary to broad ligament, suspensory ligament from ovary to dorsal body wall
- Describe oogenesis.
3.Oogonia are diploid and can undergo mitosis to replenish themselves in the fetus. Oogonia then become destined to under go meiosis and become primary oocytes. They start through meiosis I and stop halfway through and this is the state at birth. At puberty the primary oocytes finish their meiosis I and start through meiosis II. However, they stop halfway through meiosis II & do not finish until just prior to fertilization. At this time, the secondary oocyte briefly becomes an ovum (haploid) and then is fertilized to become zygote (diploid). Yes, females are born with all of the eggs (primary oocytes) that they will ever have.
- Define a follicle and a corpus luteum.
4.These structures are found in the ovary. Follicle = bag. It is the oocyte plus all of the surrounding cells. After ovulation, the secondary oocyte is ejected and the follicle cells stay behind in the ovary. This is the corpus luteum.
- Describe follicular development.
5.Starting with puberty and ending at menopause, FSH causes the follicles to mature. They enlarge, and as they do, they release estrogen. Then, at about day 14, the female ovulates leaving behind the corpus luteum which continues to make estrogen but now also makes progesterone.
- Define ovulation and explain when it occurs during the monthly cycle.
6.Discharge of an egg from the ovary, day 14 (day 1 is the first day of menstrual bleeding of a 28 day cycle)
- Name the structure that “catches” the egg upon ovulation.
7.Oviduct = Uterine tube = Fallopian tube with its widened infundibulum and fingers called fimbriae.
- Name the structure that transports the ova from ovaries to uterus.
8.Oviduct
- Name the thin sheet-like ligament suspending the uterus to the pelvic wall.
9.Broad ligament
- Describe the location of the cervix.
10.Inferior “doorway” to uterus
- Name the 3 layers of the uterine wall.
11.Perimetrium (serosa), Myometrium, Endometrium
- Describe the function and gland (cells) that make the following female hormones: GnRH, FSH, LH, Estrogen, and Progesterone.
12.GnRH made by hypothalamus starts puberty and starts the monthly ovarian/menstrual cycle. Its role is to stimulate the Ant. Pituitary to make FSH & LH. FSH causes follicle maturation over the first couple of weeks and by day 14 the LH levels spike resulting in ovulation. As the follicle enlarges it also makes more and more estrogen which stimulates increased thickness of the endometrium and stimulates GnRH production. After ovulation, the corpus luteum makes both estrogen and progesterone. The 2 hormones cause a very thick endometrium and work to inhibit the other hormones by stopping GnRH production. Without supportive hormones such as FSH, the corpus luteum dies by about day 28. Without progesterone & estrogen to support it, the endometrium also “dies” and is sloughed off during the first 3-5 days of the next cycle.
- Describe the physical and hormonal changes that affect the uterus during the menstrual cycle.
13.See above - regarding the endometrium
- Describe the cause of menopause. Define menarche.
14.Menarche is first menstrual cycle marking puberty in girl; menopause is when the female runs out of eggs and therefore will not have follicular hormones present such as estrogen & progesterone.
- Describe the location of the fornix and hymen.
15.Fornix is the recess in the vagina that surrounds the cervix, the hymen is a thin vascularized membrane at the inferior end of the vagina that must be ruptured for intercourse. The vagina is sometimes referred to as the birth canal.
