Female Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the general functions of the female repro system?

A
  1. Produce gametes
  2. Support developing embryo during pregnancy
  3. Monthly menstrual cycle that affects female reproductive organs
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2
Q

What is the tunica albuginea?

A

Fibrous capsule surrounding ovary

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3
Q

What is the germinal epithelium?

A
  1. Simple cuboidal epithelium that covers tunica albuginea

2. Does NOT germinate ova

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4
Q

What is the ovarian cortex? What is the function?

A
  1. Outer portion of ovary

2. Houses developing gametes (oocytes) & follicles (sac like structures containing oocytes)

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5
Q

What is the ovarian medulla?

A

Connective tissue that holds vessels

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6
Q

What is the function of estrogens?

A
  1. Promote proliferation and growth of specific sex related cells in body
  2. Responsible for most of secondary sex characteristics of female
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7
Q

What is the function of progestins?

A

Responsible for final preparation of uterus for pregnancy and breasts for lactation

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8
Q

What are the effects of estrogen on fat?

A
  1. Fat Deposition

A. Cause increased quantities fat deposition in SQ tissues

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9
Q

What are the effects of estrogen on uterus and sex organs?

A
1. Uterus & External Sex Organs
A. External genitalia, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina increase in size during puberty
B. Vaginal epithelium changes
C. Marked proliferation of endometrium
D. Development of endometrial glands
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10
Q

What are the effects of estrogen on breasts?

A
  1. Increase breast development
  2. Fat deposition, stromal tissue, ductal system
  3. Initiate milk producing apparatus
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11
Q

What are the effects of estrogen on the skeleton?

A
  1. Increase osteoblastic activity

2. Causes uniting of epiphyseal plates

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12
Q

What are the effects of progestin on the uterus?

A
  1. Promote secretory changes in endometrium

2. Prepares uterus for implantation

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13
Q

What are the effects of progestin on the fallopian tubes?

A

Important for implantation of fertilized ovum

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14
Q

What are the effects of progestin on the fallopian breasts?

A
  1. Proliferation and enlargement of lobules and alveoli in breasts
  2. Causes breast tissue to become secretory
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15
Q

What are the three phases of the ovarian cycle?

A
Related to menstrual cycle
Three phases:
A. Follicular phase (Preovulatory phase)
B. Ovulation
C. Luteal phase (Postovulatory phase)
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16
Q

When does the follicular phase occur? How long does it last?

A
  1. First half of cycle

2. This stage lasts about 2 weeks

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17
Q

What stimulates the follicular stage?

A

Stimulated by FSH from anterior pituitary

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18
Q

What occurs during the follicular stage?

A
  1. Begins when 6-12 primordial follicles begin to grow
  2. Only one follicle completes maturation process & expels its oocyte from an ovary
  3. Flat follicular cells become cuboidal
  4. Oocyte grows larger
  5. Follicle now called primary follicle
  6. Epithelial cells now multiply to form stratified epithelium, called granulosa cells
    A. Secondary follicle
  7. Oocyte now develops glycoprotein coat called zona pellucida
    8.
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19
Q

What is the zona pellucida?

A
  1. Protective coat that sperm must penetrate to fertilize ovum
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20
Q

How does the theca folliculi develop?

A

As granulosa cells continue to divide, layer of connective tissue (theca folliculi) condenses around exterior of secondary follicle

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21
Q

What is the function of the theca folliculi and granulosa cells?

A

Theca folliculi & granulosa cells work together to produce estrogen which stimulates female sex organs

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22
Q

What hormone stimulates the theca folliculi?

A

LH

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23
Q

What hormone stimulates the granulosa cells?

A

FSH

24
Q

How does the antrum develop?

A

Clear liquid forms between granulosa cells & coalesces to form fluid filled cavity called antrum

25
Q

What is the follicle called after the antrum forms?

A

After antrum forms, follicle now called tertiary follicle

26
Q

What is the function of the antrum?

A

Antrum expands until it isolates oocyte that is surrounded by corona granulata /granulosa cells

27
Q

When does ovulation occur?

A

Occurs about halfway through each ovarian cycle

28
Q

What stimulates ovulation?

A

Stimulated by sudden release of large amount of LH just before day 14

29
Q

How does ovulation occur?

A
  1. Wall of Graafian follicle ruptures & oocyte exits the ovary
  2. Egg enters fallopian tube
30
Q

What happens to the ovary after ovulation?

A
  1. After ovulation, the part of follicle that stays in ovary collapses
    A. corpus luteum
31
Q

What is the CL composed of?

A

Corpus luteum consists of theca folluculi & granulosa cells

32
Q

What is the function of the CL?

A
  1. Secretes estrogen & progesterone (Higher levels than estrogen)
  2. Estrogen
    A. Stimulates growth female sex organs
  3. Progesterone
    A. Prepares uterine lining for implantation of embryo
33
Q

What happens in the luteal phase if there is no implantation?

A

Corpus luteum dies after 2 weeks & becomes scar called corpus albicans

34
Q

What happens to the corpus albicans?

A

Corpus albicans stays in ovary for several months until it is phagocytized by macrophages

35
Q

What are the 3 main sections of the fallopian tubes?

A

1.Infundibulum – open funnel like region at lateral end of tube
A. Fimbriae – ciliated finger-like projections that drape over ovary
2. Ampulla – medial to infundibulum, site where fertilization usually occurs
3. Isthmus – medial third of tube

36
Q

What is the perimetrium?

A

Visceral peritoneum

37
Q

What is the myometrium?

A

Bulky layer consisting of smooth muscle

38
Q

What is the endometrium?

A
  1. Consists of simple columnar epi containing secretory & ciliated cells
  2. If fertilization occurs, embryo burrows into endometrium & remains there throughout pregnancy
39
Q

What are the 2 main layers of the endometrium?

A
  1. Stratum functionalis

2. Stratum basalis

40
Q

What is the function of the stratum functionalis?

A
  1. Undergoes cyclic changes in response to varying levels of ovarian hormones
  2. Shed during menses
41
Q

What is the function of the stratum basalis?

A
  1. NOT shed during menses

2. Forms new functional layer after menses

42
Q

What is the blood supply to the uterus?

A

Internal iliac arteries -> uterine arteries -> arcuate arteries -> radial arteries -> straight arteries to stratum basalis & spiral arteries to stratum functionalis

43
Q

Which arteries undergo degeneration and regeneration with each menstrual cycle?

A
  1. Spiral arteries

2. Also undergo spasms that cause functional layer to shed

44
Q

What is the uterine cycle?

A
  1. Series of cyclic changes that endometrium undergoes month after month
  2. Response to changing hormone levels
  3. Closely coordinated with phases of ovarian cycle
45
Q

When is the menstrual phase? What occurs?

A

Days 1-5

Stratum functionalis is shed

46
Q

When is the proliferative phase? What occurs?

A

Days 6-14
Functionalis rebuilds
Stimulated by estrogen

47
Q

When is the secretory phase?

A

Days 15-28
A. Endometrium prepares for implantation of embryo
B. Stimulated by progesterone

48
Q

What is the structure of the mammary glands?

A
  1. Modified sweat glands that are present in both sexes
  2. Consists of 15-25 lobes which are separated by adipose tissue & connective tissue
  3. Lobes have smaller subunits called lobules
    A. Lobules contain milk secreting cells
49
Q

What is the function of mammary glands?

A

Produce milk to nourish infant in postpartum female

50
Q

Describe the flow of milk

A

Milk secreting cells in lobules -> lactiferous ductule -> lactiferous sinus (milk accumulates here while nursing)

51
Q

What stimulates menstrual bleeding?

A

Withdrawal of progesterone

52
Q

What stimulates the proliferative phase?

A

Estrogen

53
Q

What stimulates secretory phase?

A

Progesterone

54
Q

What triggers LH surge?

A

Estrogen levels

55
Q

What triggers ovulation?

A

LH surge

56
Q

What is the negative feedback loop for the female repro system?

A

Estradiol and progesterone feedback to the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary

57
Q

What is the function of inhibin?

A

Inhibits FSH