Lecture 20: Female General Anatomy Flashcards
How is the female reproductive tract organized?
External reproductive organs:
-Vulva and clitoris: heat signal
Internal reproductive organs:
-Ovaries= oocyte formation
-Oviducts= transport of oocyte + fertilization
-Uterus = transport of spermatozoa, implantation, support for fetal development
-Cervix= passage b/w uterus and vagina (doors)
-Vagina= receptacle for male penis
What makes up the vuvla, the clitoris, urethra opening and vaginal opening?
Labia major (female equivalent to scrotum) + labia minor = vulva
-Closure that minimizes entrance to vagina
-Labia can swell with blood during estrus (pigs and dog) = visual signal
Clitoris= erectile tissue equivalent to male penis high density of sensory nerve endings
Urethra opening: urine
Vaginal opening: genitala
What is the purpose of the vagina?
-Receive the penis during copulation (adapted to receive mechanical stress and potential contamination)
-Inner part (close to cervix) highly secretory (cow and mare not sow have small cryp=fornix vaginae
-Outer part made of stratified squamous epithelium resistant to mechanical stress. keratinization is some species
-Resistant bacteria on surface secrete lactic acid which increases resistance to infection
What is the cervix?
-Think like a door that closes/shut and is controlled by the cycles of estradiol and progesterone
-Estradiol losens fibrous connective tissue to make more elastic and has contractions to move sperm
-Progesterone closes door and makes less elastic, thicker secretion
From notes
-Marks the separation b/w vagina and uterus
-regulates passage from/to the uterus, protects fetus during pregnancy
-Made of fibrous connective tissue with collagen and elastin + some smooth muscle
-Influence by estrogen and progesterone
-Possesses mucus producing cells (help lubricate vagina)
-During luteal phase and pregnancy, music secretion decreases due to progesterone
What is the uturus?
-Transport spermatozoa to the oviduct
-Site of implantation (attache=ment) supplies fetus with nutrients and removes waste
-Protects and transports fetus during pregnancy (and push sperm up can contract under estradiol opposite with progesterone)
-Supplies info about pregnancy (endocrine)
-Structure varies b/w species
-Preps for embryo if nothing will shed and start cycle over
What is the general structure of the uterus?
wall consists of 3 layers
Endometrium: mucous membrane (attachment of the embryo & grows and sheds & secretes musus)
-Has a high density of glands
-Penetrating veins and arteries
-Stratum basale and stratum functional (grow and shed during menstrual cycle)
Myometrium:
-smooth muscle layers, regulated by ovarian hormones and oxytocin
Perimetrium: connective tissue
What is the oviduct?
-Collect the egg cell from the surface of the ovary
-Transport spermatozoa from uterus to site of fertilization
-Help spermatozoa final maturation for fertilization
-Transport embryo to the uterus
3 main sections
1. Infundibulum: funnel like structure flimsy have cilia
2. Ampulla: proximal part
Between these 2 the sperm meet the oocyte and site of fertilization (then move to uterine horn)
3. Isthmus: distal, narrow, contain smooth muscle and ciliated glandular epithelium
