Grade 12 Human Reproduction Part 2 Female reproductive organs Flashcards
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What parts to the female reproductive system consist of?
- Ovaries
- Organs responsible for the transportation and care of the ovum and zygote - fallopian tubes (oviduct), uterus and vigina
- Exteral genitalia (vulva)
Describe what the ovaries are: (6)
- Primary female sex organ - pair of ovaries
- Situated in pelvic cavity
- Almond-shaped organ about 1.5cm long - held in position in pelvic cavity by various **ligaments **
- Each ovary is surrounded by a layer of germinal epithelium that divides to produce OVA by process of OOGENESIS
- Primary follicles, tiny sac-like structures containing immarture egg, are embedded in the outer layer. A girl child is born with these primary follicles and total number of eggs determined at birth - between 200 000 - 400 000.
- A primary follicle develops into a mature follice namely Graafian follicle.
Each ovary is surrounded by a layer of germinal epithelium that divides to produce **OVA by process of
OOGENESIS**
After ovulation (release of egg), the Graafian follicle forms the __________________
corpus luteum (yellow body)
What are the functions of the ovaries?
- Form and release of eggs (OVA)
- Produce estrogen and progesterone
List the 2 ORGANS FOR THE TRANSPORT AND CARE OF THE OVUM AND ZYGOTE:
- Fallopian tubes (oviducts)
- Uterus
Discuss the structure of the Fallopian tubes (oviduct):
- Two Fallopian tubes (oviducts) extend from each ovary to the uterus
- **Funnel-shaped opening on the ovarian side **- infundibulum, fringed by a series of finger-like projections called fimbriae
- Walls of Fallopian tube, and INFUDIBULUM, are lined with CILIATED EPITHELIUM.
- Muscular tubes lined with CILIA
What are the 3 main functions of the Fallopian Tubes?
- PATHWAY: between UTERUS and OVARY for eggs and zygote.
- TRANSPORT immature ovum as well as the developing zygote in the direciton of the uterus by means of **sweeping action of the CILIA and MUSCULAR CONTRACTIONS **(Peristalsis) of the INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE LAYER = Enable the egg or developing zygote to MOVE TOWARDS UTERUS (muscles and cilia
- This is the SITE of fertilisation and first cell division of the zygote.
Study diagram to show the STRUCTURE and FUNCTIONS of Fallopian Tubes.
Look at textbook diagram - NOW!
Discuss the STRUCTURE of the UTERUS:
- Womb
- Hollow, pear-shaped organ.
- Thick-walled, muscular organ
- Situated between the bladder and the rectum
- 3 LAYERS: Serous layer (membranous), muscular layer (smooth involuntary muscle) and endometrium (mucous membrane) that line the uterus inside.
- Edometrium thickens by becoming more vascular and glandular in peperation for implantation of the fertilised ovum.
- Uterus narrows into the cervix, a neck region rich in glands.
What 3 layers does the uterine wall consist of?
- Serous layer (membranous),
- Muscular layer (smooth involuntary muscle) = Myometrium
- Endometrium (mucous membrane) that line the uterus inside - richly supplied with blood vessels.
What happens during ovulation with the endometrium?
Edometrium thickens by becoming more vascular and glandular in peperation for implantation of the fertilised ovum.
What happens during ovulation with the endometrium if fertilisation does NOT take place?
- Upper layer of the endometrium becomes detached and is passed out together with the unfertilised egg
- I.e. menstruation
- Roughly every 28 days (could be more or less)
Discuss the 2 main function of the uterus: (2)
- CARE of embryo (foetus after 8 weeks) from implantation to birth = The organ in which BLASTOCYST implants, develops and grows.
- Contraction of the myometrium enables the baby to be pushed out during birth.
What is distinctive about the human uterus?
- Higher primates with a simplex uterus in which there is no seperation between the horns and is therefore a single cavity.
- Unlike early placentals (rodents and rabits) with a duplex uterus with two completely seperated urine horns and cervices opening into the vagina.
Discuss the strucure of the VAGINA:
- Vagina or birth canal
- Muscular passage between the uterus and outside of the body
- Elastic, folded walls, which allows it to stretch during intercouse and childbirth
- pH of vagina is quite acidic which helps to keep the vagina healthy and infection free
What is the function of the vagina?
- Place where sperm are deposited during sexual intercouse
- Forms birth canal
How does the vagina open to the exterior?
Through vulva (external female genitalia)
Consists of:
* inner labia,
* outer labia,
* clitoris and
* opening of the vagina
The vagina of a virgin is partially closed by a membrane called ____________
the hymen
What may cause the hymen of a virgin to get damaged?
- physical exercise
- tampons
- medical examination
- trauma
Discuss the structure of the clitoris?
- Small mass of erectile tissue
- Found at the anterior end of the vulva
- female counterpart of the male penis
What is the function of the clitoris?
Plays role in sexual excitement of the female
Discuss how and when puberty presents in girls:
- Genetically determined - around ages 10 - 12 (11 - 14) v boys (14 - 16)
- **Physcial, physiological and psychological **changes
- Leads to development of secondary sex characteristics AND immature individual child becoming **capable of reproduction **
- Ovaries start secreting hormones = estrogen and progesterone
- These hormones help to prepare endometrium in the uterus for the implantation of the embryo
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What is adolescence?
**Physcial, physiological and psychological **changes starting at puberty extending until age of 17 - 20 (females) and 18 - 21 (males)
* Behaviour often affected
