Female Reproductive System

Question 1

what is an oocyte?

Answer 1

Female gamete/ egg

Question 2

what is the endometrium?

Answer 2

lining of the uterus where implantation of embryo occurs

Question 3

what are the three phases of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 3

1) shedding of endometrial lining
2) follicular/ proliferation phase
3) luteal/ secretory phase

Question 4

what is folliculogenesis?

Answer 4

folliculogenesis is the maturation of the ovarian follicle

Question 5

what is the ovarian follicle?

Answer 5

a densely packed shell of somatic cells that contain immature oocytes

Question 6

how many stages of folliculogenesis are there and what are they?

Answer 6

2
Early stage (pre-puberty)
Late stage (post-puberty)

Question 7

describe the early stage of folliculogenesis

Answer 7

• continuous recruitment of primary oocytes
• controlled by intraovarian and genetic factors
• process from primary recruitment to ovulation 6-9 months

Question 8

describe the late stage of folliculogenesis

Answer 8

• recruitment of antral follicles each month for ovulation
• dependent on stimulation by higher centres
• process from antral follicles to ovulation 2 weeks

Question 9

name the stages (7) of follicular development

Answer 9

1) primordial oocytes
2) early primary oocytes
3) late primary oocytes
4) pre-antral follicle
5) small antral follicle
6) large antral follicle
7) pre-ovulatory follicle

Question 10

what hormones are involved in female reproductive system?

Answer 10

- GnRH
   Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone 
- FSH
   Follicle Stimulating Hormone 
- LH
   Luteinising Hormone
- Oestrogens 
   oestradiol
- Progestins 
   Progesterone 
- Androgens 
- AMH
  Anti-Mullerian Hormone

Question 11

describe GnRH Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone

Answer 11

GnRH is a tropic peptide hormone that stimulates the release of LH and FSH in the anterior pituitary
Synthesised and released by the hypothalamus
Pulsatile release

Question 12

what does “pulsatile” release mean in regards to hormones

Answer 12

the hormone is release in a particular pattern

Question 13

describe LH Luteinising Hormone

Answer 13

produced and released from the pituitary
stimulates ovaries to produce oestradiol
cyclical

Question 14

what is oestradiol

Answer 14

it is a type of steroid hormone more specifically it is a type of oestrogen
exerts negative feedback on hypothalamus and pituitary

Question 15

describe FSH Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Answer 15

it is a type of gonadotropin (glycoprotein polypeptide hormone)
synthesised and released by gonadotropic cells in anterior pituitary
increases aromatase due to hormone’s action of granulosa cells thus increases oestradiol production
cyclical

Question 16

what is a gonad

Answer 16

organs that produce gametes and synthesise sex hormones

Question 17

what are primordial follicles

Answer 17

a pool of undeveloped primary oocytes

Question 18

what is a Corpus Albicans?

Answer 18

white scar-like structures that are the remains of an ovulated follicle

Question 19

what is the main type of androgen we are concerned with and why?

Answer 19

Testosterone, as it gets converted to oestradiol by aromatase

Question 20

when does pregnancy biologically begin?

Answer 20

when the ovum is implanted in the endometrial wall

Question 21

when does pregnancy medically begin?

Answer 21

begins from the last menstrual period (LMP)

Question 22

when does pregnancy end?

Answer 22

parturition

Question 23

what is the period in between the LMP and Parturition called?

Answer 23

the gestational period/ gestation

Question 24

what are the three stages of pregnancy called?

Answer 24

1st trimester
2nd trimester
3rd trimester

Question 25

how long is an average pregnancy?

Answer 25

40 weeks

Question 26

what are the two ways hormones can affect the mothers physiological processes?

Answer 26

1) maternal hormone production

2) foetal and placental hormone production, hormones can cross into maternal circulation

Question 27

where does Fertilisation occur?

Answer 27

in the fallopian tubes

Question 28

what are the different terms for fertilised egg?

Answer 28

ovum

conceptus

Question 29

what causes sperm to “swim”?

Answer 29

the prostaglandins in ejaculate’s prostatic fluid

Question 30

what 2 factors limit the number of sperm that successfully make it into the uterus?

Answer 30

1) acidic environment of the vagina

2) the mucus plug at the cervix

Question 31

what 2 processes must the sperm undergo in order to fertilise oocyte?

Answer 31

1) capacitation

2) acrosome reaction

Question 32

describe capacitation of sperm cell

Answer 32

enzymes produced by the endometrium cleave the glycoproteins on sperm’s surface

Question 33

what is the importance of capacitation?

Answer 33

increases cAMP which causes hypermobility of sperm allowing cell to fuse with ovum

Question 34

describe the acrosome reaction

Answer 34

when sperm comes into contact with cumulus layer of ovum, acrosome contents are released. enzymes released allow sperm to penetrate and fuse with egg.

Question 35

what is a blastocyst?

Answer 35

a shell of “trophectoderm” cells holding a progenitor cell mass in a fluid filled blastocoel cavity

Question 36

how does the blastocyst interact with endometrial wall?

Answer 36

trophectoderm layer invades endometrial wall which allows progenitor cell mass to embed into wall and divide

Question 37

what happens to the outer later of the blastocyst after implantation?

Answer 37

the outer layer develops to become the placenta