Female Reproductive System

Question 1

Vagina

Answer 1

Muscular/elastic thin walled tube

• called birth canal
• passageway for menstrual fluid to leave the body
• has acidic pH that can be harmful to sperm

Question 2

Cervix

Answer 2

End of uterus that opens to the vagina

• dilates during childbirth to allow delivery
• secretes mucous to encourage/prevent sperm entry

Question 3

Uterus

Answer 3

Hollow, muscular organ that receives, retains, and nourishes a fertilized egg and holds and provides nutrients for the developing embryo.
-increases massively in size during pregnancy

Question 4

3 Major Tissues of Uterus

Answer 4

Perimetrium
-outermost, very elastic

Myometrium

• middle layer
• made up of smooth muscles to provide support
• plays active role in delivery of baby when it contracts rhythmically to force baby out

Endometrium

• innermost layer, where implantation occurs
• supplies nutrients to embryo, sloughed off in non-pregnant women (menstruation)

Question 5

Fallopian Tubes

Answer 5

Oviducts or Uterine Tubes

• carry egg to urterus by cilia movement/muscle contractions
• site of fertilization

Question 6

Fimbria

Answer 6

Finger-like projections at distal end of fallopian tubes

-at ovulation, fimbria fill with blood and help create a current to draw egg into fallopian tube

Question 7

Ovaries

Answer 7

Egg is produced in follicle cells in the ovary

-female sex hormones are produced in ovaries

Question 8

Corpus Luteum

Answer 8

Empty follicle after ovulation

• yellow colour
• produces progesterone for 10 days after ovulation, tells endometrium to prepare for egg, after 10 days, endometrium sheds

Question 9

Estrous Cycle

Answer 9

• happens in other mammals
• endometrium is reabsorbed instead of shed
• usually sexually active, aka “in heat”

Question 10

Menstrual/Flow Phase

Answer 10

Day 1-5
PERIOD, aka menses/menstruation
-uterine lining is shed
-all hormone levels are low

Question 11

Follicular/Proliferative Phase

Answer 11

Day 6-14

• FSH stimulates follicle to grow in ovary
• follicle secretes estrogen
• increased estrogen causes LH release
• hormonal increase causes endometrial lining to develop and thicken

Question 12

Ovulatory Phase

Answer 12

Day 14

• increasing estrogen from follicle causes “The LH Surge”
• LH causes ovulation -> release of secondary oocyte from ovary
• empty follicle = corpus luteum

Question 13

Luteal Phase

Answer 13

Day 15-28
-progesterone prevents ovulation, tells endometrium to stay prepared for baby

If fertilization occurs, embryo produces HCG which tells CL to continue progesterone production

If fertilization doesnt occur, CL degenerates, endometrial lining sheds, menstrual cycle begins again

Question 14

Zygote

Answer 14

Fertilized egg

• 4 days after fertilization, zygote is called an embryo
• after 8th week, it is called fetus

Question 15

Cleavage

Answer 15

equal divisions of the cells of the zygote without increase in size.

Question 16

Mulberry/Morula

Answer 16

solid ball of 32 cells after cleavage

-cells of morula secrete a liquid causing central cavity to be formed, forming a hollow ball of cells called BLASTOCYTE

Question 17

Trophoblast

Answer 17

Outer layer of cells on blastocyte which secrete enzymes that digest tissues and blood vessels of endometrium for implantation
-becomes extraembryonic structures

Question 18

Amnion/amniotic cavity

Answer 18

Fluid-filled, insulates embryo/fetus

Question 19

Placenta

Answer 19

role is to exchange materials between mother and developing embryo

• produces estrogen and progesterone at 4 months to prevent ovulation
• richly supplied with blood vessels

Question 20

Ectoderm

Answer 20

Outer layer = Forms nervous tissue and skin

*closest to amniotic cavity

Question 21

Mesoderm

Answer 21

Middle layer = skeleton, muscles, reproductive structures

Question 22

Endoderm

Answer 22

Inner layer = lining of digestive and respiratory systerms, and endocrine glands

Question 23

Gastrula Stage

Answer 23

Inner cell mass flattens and is called embryonic disc, forms 3-layer structure called gastrula

Question 24

Prostaglandins

Answer 24

stimulate uterine muscles

Question 25

Breech Presentation

Answer 25

When baby comes out leg first, premature baby

-lead to c-section

Question 26

Lactation

Answer 26

Estrogen stimulates release of prolactin which stimulates milk production

Question 27

Colostrum

Answer 27

thin yellow milky fluid, rich in sugars, and proteins such as antibodies.