Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the 3 functions of the female reproductive system?
1) Produce the female gametes (ova - eggs)
2) Produce hormones
3) Uterus - provides a site of nourishment and development for the embryo (via the placenta)
What are the names of the 6 hormones that the female reproductive system produce?
1) LH
2) FSH
3) Oestrogen
4) Progesterone
5) Oxytocin
6) Inhibin
Which components are categorised as internal genitalia?
1) Ovaries
2) Fallopian Tubes
3) Uterus
4) Vagina
Which components are categorised as external genitalia
1) Mons Pubis
2) Labia minus and Labia majus
3) Clitoris
What is the mons pubis?
Fatty tissue that covers the pubic bone
What are the 2 important features of the ovary?
1) Source of germ cells (cells that undergo meiosis to become the gamates)
2) Endocrine gland - as it produces the hormones:
- Progesterone
- Oestrogen
- Inhibin
What are the 3 ligaments called that support the ovaries?
1) Suspensory ligament (suspends the ovaries)
2) Broad ligament (wings - forms part of the peitoneum)
3) Ligament of the ovary (attaches the ovaries to the uterus)
What are the 4 layers of the ovaries? (superficial to deep)
1) Germinal epithelium (1 cell thick)
2) Tunica albuginea
3) Cortex (contains: ovarian follicles and supporting stromal cells)
4) Medulla (vascular)
What is the hilum?
The area in which blood vessels and autonomic nerve fibres enter the ovaries.
What is the name of the process given to the development of ova (female gametes)?
Oogenesis
How many ova is a female born with and what happens to them?
A female is born with all of the ova in her ovaries and overtime the number of ova will decrease
How many ova mature and are released across the lifetime of a female?
300 are released
What are the 2 triggers for starting puberty in females?
1) The release of GnRH from the hypothalamus
2) Body fat
The process of oogenesis:
1) Before birth, the germ cell (oogonium) undergoes mitosis and becomes the primary oocyte (diploid).
2) In foetal life, the primary oocyte starts to undergo meiosis 1 and becomes the secondary oocyte (haploid).
3) Meiosis 1 is not complete until after puberty.
4) After puberty, the secondary oocyte starts to undergo meiosis 2 to become ova.
5) Meiosis 2 is not complete until fertilisation occurs.
When is meiosis 1 and meiosis 2 in oogenesis complete?
Meiosis 1 = After puberty
Meiosis 2 = Until fertilisation
Do all the oocytes in oogenesis become ova?
No - the oocytes may or may not undergo either meiosis 1 or meiosis 2 to become the ova.
What are the 4 parts of the fallopian tube?
1) Infundibulum
2) Ampulla
3) Isthmus
4) Intramural segment
What is the role of the ciliated fimbriae?
To waft the ova from the ovaries into the fallopian tube (at the same time as the heart beat)
What is the function of the fallopian tube?
Allows for a passage for the ova from the ovaries to the uterus in order to meet the sperm, for fertilisation.
Where does fertilisation normally occur along the fallopian tube?
Ampulla
What is ovulation?
Whereby a mature ovarian follicle releases a mature ova into the fallopian tube
How long after ovulation can fertilisation still occur?
24 hours
How long does it take for a zygote (fused cell) to travel through the fallopian tubes?
3-4 days
Where is the uterus positioned?
Superior to the bladder and anterior to the rectum
How is the uterus position?
1) Anteverted (tilted)
2) Anteflexed (bent)
Where is the fundus and what is important about it?
The fundus is at the top of the uterus and it is important in determining the fundal height (determines how far someone is in pregnancy)
What are the 3 layers of the uterus?
1) Perimetrium
2) Myometrium (smooth muscle)
3) Endometrium (mucus membrane)
What are the 2 zones of the uterine endometrium?
1) Functional zone
2) Basal zone
What happens to the functional zone of the endometrium?
1) It changes dramatically during the menstrual cycle
2) Shed every 28 days
What happens to the basal zone of the endometrium?
1) It doesn’t shed - it remains the same
2) It provides a cellular reserve for the re-growth of the functional zone (after it has been shed)
3 phases of the uterine cycle (during the menstrual cycle)
1) Menstrual phase (day 1-5)
2) Proliferative phase (day 6-14)
3) Secretory phase (day 15-28)
What are the changes of the uterine endometrium (functional zone) and the ovarian hormone levels during the 1) Menstrual phase?
(Oestrogen and Progesterone are at a stable low level)
1) The functional zone of the endometrium sheds
2) Spiral arteries constrict
What are the changes of the uterine endometrium (functional zone) and the ovarian hormone levels during the 2) Proliferative phase?
(Oestrogen rises)
1) The functional zone of the endometrium builds up
2) Small glands develop
What are the changes of the uterine endometrium (functional zone) and the ovarian hormone levels during the 3) Secretory phase?
(Progesterone rises)
1) The functional zone of the endometrium is maintained for pregnancy.
2) The spiral arteries coil
3) Glands become larger
What happens to the progesterone levels at the end of the secretory phase?
If fertilisation doesn’t occur the progesterone levels will fall and the menstrual phase will start over again
Where is the cervix located?
At the end of the uterus. It projects into the vagina.
What does the cervix create?
Vaginal Fornices (Posterior vaginal fornix & anterior vaginal fornix)
Where does the smear test take place and what happens?
Cells are taken from the vaginal fornices created by the cervix in order to study their appearence.
Dyspasia
The proliferation of abnormal calls - early stage of cancer
Carcinoma
Cancer within the epithelial cells
What kind of epithelium does the vagina have?
Stratified squamous epithelium
What is special about the walls of the vagina?
Arranged as rugae (folds) in order for expansion
What is the environment of the vagina like?
Acidic
What is an episiotomy and why does it take place?
Incision of the fourchette. As if the fourchette was to tear naturally it could damage the pelvic floor muscles
What should be avoided in the episiotomy?
Perineal body (lies between the vagina and the anus)
Which organs to the pelvic floor muscles keep in place?
1) The abdominal
2) The pelvic
Which pelvic floor muscle must relax in order for urination and defecation to occur?
Levator ani
What are the 3 different mammary glands?
1) Adipose tissue
2) Glandular tissue
3) Fibrous tissue
Where is breast milk produced and where does it go?
Milk is produced in the glandular tissue and secreted into the lactiferous duct and through the nipple
What are the milk-producing cells in the glandular tissue called?
Acini cells
What happens to the acini cells during pregnancy?
The acini cells in the glandular tissue increase in size and in number in order for lactation to occur.
Which hormone is involved in the increase in number and size of acini cells in pregnancy?
Progesterone
Oxytocin
A hormone released from the posterior pituitary gland due to a sucking stimulus:
1) Stimulates the milk to be secreted from the acini cells of the glandular tissue, through lactiferous duct and through the nipple.
2) Also, bonding hormone between mother and child
Which hormone is involved in the increase in number and size of mammary glands in pregnancy?
Prolactin
Where does the majority of the lymphatic drainage of the breast occur and what is the problem with this?
Via the axillary lymph nodes and the problem with this is that it provides a passageway for metastasis
What 2 things do the ovarian follicles consist of?
1) Ova at different stages of oogenesis.
2) Surrounding follicular cells
Which cells secrete the follicular fluid?
Granulosa cells
Where is LH and FSH secreted from and what stimulates this?
Anterior pituitary gland when GnRH is released from the hypothalamus
What does both LH and FSH work on?
Ovaries
What are the 5 effects of LH?
1) Stimulates the ovaries to release progesterone (-ve feedback on anterior pituatory gland)
2) Stimulates the release of prostaglandins
3) Increase colleganase activity (the breakdown of collagen fibres surrounding the follicles)
4) Induces ovulation
5) Responsible for the development of the corpus luteum.
What is the role of prostaglandins?
They increase the uterine contractions - which force the ova out of the ovaries into fallopian tubes.
What are the 3 effects of FSH?
1) Stimulates the ovaries to release oestrogen (positive feedback on the anteior pituatory gland)
2) Stimulates the ovaries to release inhibin (negative feedback on the anterior pituatory gland)
3) Stimulates the growth and development of the ovarian follicles
What are the 5 ovarian follicle stages during the ovarian cycle?
1) Follicle development - mature follicle
2) Ovulation
3) Corpus luteum
4) Mature corpus luteum
5) Corpus albicans
Which part of the ovaries secretes progesterone and why?
The corpus luteum secretes progesterone, in order to keep the endometrium thick.
What happens to the corpus luteum if fertilisation occurs?
1) The corpus luteum seretes progesteone 10-12 weeks after ovulation (until the placenta takes over)
2) The corpus leutum remains in its functional state as future placental cells secrete hCG.
3) After 2 months the placenta secretes enough progesterone and oestrogen to maintain pregnancy.
What happens to the corpus luteum if fertilisation doesn’t occur?
1) 12 days after ovulation the corpus luteum will start to degenerate (and so the progesterone levels falls)
2) Fibroblasts invade the mature corpus leutm and it becomes the corpus albicans.
What hormone is deteted in the pregnancy test
hCG - released from the future placental cells in order to keep the corpus leutum in its functional state
At what age does the menopause occur and what does this link to?
45-55 years and it links too the age at which your mother reached menopause
What happens during menopause?
Physical and emotional changes (e.g. hot flushes and irritability)
What causes the menopause?
Ovarian hormones decrease (progesterone and oestrogen)
What is perimenopausal stage and when does it occur?
Occurs 10 years before the menopause whereby the menstrual cycle becomes irregular
When does the menopause pass?
After 1 year without having a period
What is problem with the vagina having an acidic environment and what is done to counteract this problem?
It is negative towards sperm. However, the semen increases the pH (more alkaline) in order to be towards the sperm
What is the zona pellucida?
A glycoprotein layer around the secondary ooyte
What are the steps in fertilisation for the male and female gamates to become fused (in order to form the zygote)?
1) The acrosome (head) of the spermatozoa attaches to the zona pelluida.
2) Enzymes from the acrosome are released.
3) The spermatozoa will use its flagellum in order to carry out mechanical propulsion in order to reach the plasma membrane of the oocyte.
4) Once it reaches the plasma membrane of the oocyte, it will bind to it.
5) The spermatozoa releases its contents into the oocyte:
- Polyspermia is prevented
- Seondary oocyte completes meiosis 2 to become ova
6) The membrane around the male and female chromosomes will be broken down.
7) The chromosomes will intermingle
8) Zygote is formed.
What occurs post-fertilisation?
39 hrs - zygote will develop through mitosis
Day 5 - Blastocyte is formed.
Day 8 - Blastoyte implants itself onto the endometrium of the uterus and starts to embed in the uterus stroma.
What treatment is there if there is a problem with the blastocyte not attaching to the uterus endometrium?
IVF
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
Whereby fertilisation or implantation occurrs in any other place apart from the uterus.
How many weeks does pregnancy last for?
38-41 weeks
What is pregnancy split up into?
Trimesters (each 3 month period)
What are the 3 stages of labour and how long do they occur for?
1) Dilation stage (6-24 hours+)
2) Expulsion stage - delivery of the baby (20 mins - 2 hrs)
3) Placental stage (15 mins post birth)
1) Dilation stage (6-24 hours+)
1) Uterine contractions (starting from the uterus to the vagina)
2) The cervix will soften and dilate
3) The membrane covering the embryo will rupture
2) Expulsion stage - delivery of the baby (20 mins - 2 hrs)
Oxytocin is released as the baby’s head pushes down on the cervix. The more the baby pushes down, the more oxytocin released (positive feedback)
3) Placental stage (15 mins post birth)
The placenta needs to be delivered which relies on uterine contractions
What 2 things can aid the uterine contractions in order for the placenta to be delivered?
1) IM oxytocin
2) Placing the baby on the mother’s breast
