Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the main reproductive structures in females?
uterus, ovaries
What structures produce the female gametes (oocytes)?
ovaris
Once expelled from the surface of an ovary, an oocyte is swept up by the _________ _____ and transported to the ________.
uterine tube ; uterus
The posterior uterus and associated structures are collectively called the…
adnexa
What gives the ovaries a whitish color?
covering of tunica albuginea, much like with the testes
Where is the uterus?
it sits in the floor of the female pelvis, between the urinary bladder and the rectum
The dome-like top of the uterus is called the…
fundus
Inferiorly, the uterus tapers into the…
cervix
What structure extends inferiorly from the cervix?
vagina
What is in the center of the cervix?
cervical canal
The cuff around the cervix, where the vagina connects, is called the…
fornix
The wall of the uterus has thick ______ muscle that contracts with menstruation and childbirth.
smooth
The inner lining of the uterus is called the…
endometrium (which is highly vascular and glandular tissue)
There are three pairs of structures attached to the superior-lateral aspect of the uterus collectively called the adnexa. What are they?
round ligaments, ovarian ligaments, uterine (fallopian) tubes
Round Ligaments
- travel anteriorly, through the inguinal canal on each side
- exit the canal and attach to the skin
- thought to provide positional support to the uterus
Ovaries
- attached to the uterus through the ovarian ligaments
- primary sex organs in female
- produce female gametes (oocytes)
Uterine (Fallopian) Tubes
- transport oocytes from the ovaries to the uterine cavity
- have finger-like projections, called fimbriae, that undulate and create currents to draw the oocyte into the tube at ovulation
- muscular contractions and ciliated columnar epithelia (part of the mucosa) move the oocyte towards the uterine cavity
If you can see the ovaries, are you looking at the anterior or posterior uterus?
posterior
- in the anterior view, the ovaries are blocked by the broad ligament
The ovaries get their blood supply from the…
ovarian arteries
The ovarian arteries branch from the…
abdominal aorta, just inferior to the renal arteries
The right ovarian vein drains into the…
inferior vena cava
The left ovarian vein drains into the…
left renal vein
The uterus gets its blood suppl from the…
uterine arteries
The uterine arteries are branches of the…
internal iliac artery
The ovarian artery and vein are covered by peritoneum, forming a fold called the…
suspensory ligament
The ovarian artery and vein travel over (anterior to) the…
common iliac vessels
The broad ligament is formed by the _________ that drapes over the uterus and adnexa.
peritoneum
The broad ligament is comprised of two layers of peritoneum and is divided into three parts, which are…
mesometrium, mesovarium, and mesosalpinx
This is part of the broad ligament attached to the sides of the uterus.
mesometrium
This part of the broad ligament is attached to the ovary and ovarian ligament.
mesovarium
This part of the broad ligament is attached to the uterine tube.
mesosaplinx
The broad ligament provides some support to the…
uterus and adnexa
When the peritoneum drapes over the organs in the pelvis, it forms a pouch between the bladder and the uterus. What is this called?
vesicouterine puch
When the peritoneum drapes over the organs in the pelvis, it forms a pouch between the rectum and the uterus. What is this called?
rectouterine pouch
When a female reaches puberty, the hypothalamus releases..
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
GnRH stimulate the (anterior) pituitary gland to release..
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH)
Which hormones initiate the changes in the ovaries during oogenesis?
FSH and LH
Oogenesis
the formation and development of the oocytes
Oogonia
Mitotic cells which produce the oocytes found in the ovaries before birth
Primary Oocytes
cell that starts meiosis I and is suspended halfway through. These cells are found in the ovaries of newborn females and do not change until puberty.
Secondary Oocytes
cell that starts meiosis II, is arrested, and leaves the ovary during ovulation. Does not finish meiosis II unless it becomes fertilized.
