Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the major functions of the female reproductive system?
exocrine function endocrine function reception of male gametes fetal development nutrition of embryo
What are the two major functions of ovaries?
produce female gametes
produce sex hormones
What are the ovaries composed of?
cortex
medulla
What does the medulla of an ovary contain?
connective tissue, nerves, blood and lymph vessels
What is the cortex of an ovary lined by?
cuboidal epithelium
What is the tunica albuginea?
connective tissue beneath the cortex surface
What is folliculogenesis?
- follicular development
- primordial follicles undergo maturation during each reproductive cycle
What is luteinizing hormone important for?
estrogen synthesis and ovulation
What is a ovarian follicle?
structure containing an oocyte surrounded by specialized epithelial cells
What is a primordial follicles?
primary oocyte, flattened simple squamous follicular cells that rest on basal lamina
What are primary follicles?
primary oocyte enclosed by simple cuboidal later of follicular cells
What are secondary follicles?
primary oocyte enclosed by several layers of follicular cells (granulosa cells)
made up of zona pellucida, theca cells and granulosa cells
What are tertiary follicles?
follicle becomes larger
small liquid filled areas appear that appear between granulosa cells (antrum)
T or F: fluid inside the antrum of tertiary follicles is called liquor folliculi
True
What is a mature (grassfian) follicle ?
oocyte detaches from the cumulus oophorus and floats free from the follicular fluid
