Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the three functions of the ovaries?
Site of egg production
Primary sex organ that produces gametes and release ovum
Produce estrogen and progesterone
Differentiate between the ovarian ligament and the suspensory ligament
Ovarian ligament: anchors ovary medially to the uterus
Suspensory ligament: anchors ovary laterally to the pelvic walls
What is the function of the Mesovarium?
Suspends the ovary
Define Uterus
Key organ involved in Menstruation (shedding of the internal lining of the uterus)
Fertilized egg implants in the uterus and grows through a series of stages into a fetus
Define each of the following
A) Uterine Tubes B) Fimbraie C) Infundibulum D) Ampulla E) Isthmus
A) Uterine Tubes: uses a series of muscular contractions, containing special sweep it along
B) Fimbriae: fingerlike projections, swoop the egg that pops out of the ovary into the uterine tube
C) Infundibulum: Lateral end of the fallopian tube
D) Ampulla: central dilated/ common site for fertilization
E) Isthmus: medial end of the fallopian tube/connection between the tube and uterus
What are the three layers in the structure of the uterus?
1) Endometrium (inner and most active layer) goes through changes under estrogen and progesterone
2) Myometrium: Central thickest layer, important in childbirth
3) Perimetrium: visceral peritoneum of the uterus
What is the Cervical Canal?
Thin layer made of epithelial cells that covers the uterus
Define Ectopic Pregnancy
Egg is fertilized in the uterine tube
Describe the three major events in the Uterine Cycle
1) Menstruation Phase
- fertilization does not occur
- decrease in progesterone and estrogen
- shedding of stratum functionalis
2) Proliferative Phase
- thickening of endometrium
- growth of endometrial glands
- restoring the Stratum functionalis
- increasing levels of estrogen
- emergence of spiral arteries from the basal layers to feed the growing functional endometrium
- changing the consistency of the cervical mucus, making it more hospitable to sperm
3) Secretory Phase
- preparation for implantation
- progesterone is increased if there is an fertilization
Describe the three events in Ovarian Cycle
Follicular Phase
- low estrogen, inhibiting FSH and LH
- It will menstruate
Ovulation (occurs between proliferative phase and secretory phase)
- more estrogen, secreting FSH and LH
- it will start to thicken
Luteal Phase
- LH stimulates the growth of the corpus luteum
- secretes progesterone, which causes the release of GnRH, FSH, LH
- causing further development of the endometrium
Describe the Transformation Zone in the Cervix
simple columnar to squamous epithelium
What is glycogen in the vaginal epithelium for?
As a substrate to produce lactic acid, maintaining the acidic environment to protect against bacteria
