Lecture 22: Reproductive System II Flashcards
What are the functions of the female reproductive system?
- Production of female gametes and sex hormones
- Reception of male gametes
- Site for fertilization
- Transport of fertilized zygote to uterus
- Site of development
- Mechanism of parturition
- Provision of nutrition for the newborn
What are the female sex hormones?
Estrogen and Progesterone
What are the male gametes that the female reproductive system receives?
Spermatozoa
What are the female gametes?
Ova
What are the gonads in the female reproductive system?
The ovaries
What are the ovaries responsible for?
Production of gametes and sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
What are the ducts of the female reproductive system?
- Fallopian (uterine) tubes
* Uterus
What is the function of the fallopian (uterine) tubes?
Transport of ovum and fertilization
What is the function of the Uterus?
Implantation and development of foetus
What happens in the uterus if no fertilization occurs?
Menstrual cycles
What is female organ copulation?
Vagina
Which organ is the birth canal?
The vagina
What are the accessory glands of the female reproductive system?
- Pituitary gland
* Mammary gland
What does the pituitary gland stimulate in the female reproductive system?
Oogenesis and ovulation
What is the function of the mammary glands?
Nutrition of newborn
What are the ovaries equivalent to in the male reproductive system?
Testes
What is the difference between the gamete formation between ovaries and testes?
Female gametes are once a month and the ovaries alternate which one produces the gamete
What kind of glands are the ovaries?
Endocrine glands
What do Fallopian (uterine) tubes do?
Take the gamete and bring it to the uterus
Why does the uterus add a new layer every month?
To provide an environment for the development of a foetus
What do the accessory glands in the male reproductive system do?
Produce seminal fluid
What lies over the pelvic cavity in males?
The parietal peritoneum
What separates the abdominal cavity from the pelvic cavity in males?
The parietal peritoneum
What does the parietal peritoneum do to the ovary and uterine tube?
Completely envelopes it
What is it called when there are two layers of peritoneum?
A mesentery
What does a Mesentery do?
Helps anchor something to the body wall or provides vasculature and innervation to the organ
What does the parietal peritoneum going over the uterus do?
Anchors it down and provides vasculature
What does a gamete have to do as a consequence of the ovary being covered by the parietal peritoneum?
The ovum has to pierce through the parietal peritoneum in order for the infundibulum to sweep it over to the uterine tube in order to take it to the uterus
What is the Vestibule the entrance to?
Both urinary and the genital part of the female
What is the end of the uterus?
The cervix
What is different about the cervix part of the uterus?
It is made of a more fibrous tissue
What is the point of protection of the uterus?
The cervix
How does the cervix protect?
If there are any pathogens it ensure that it does not enter the uterus
What is the pouch in the pelvis in males called?
The rectovesical pouch
What are the two pouches in the pelvic cavity of a female?
- Vesicouterine pouch
* Rectouterine pouch
What forms the Vesicouterine pouch?
Between the urinary bladder and the uterus
What forms the Rectouterine pouch?
Between the rectum and the uterus
Where in the body are the ovaries and the fallopian tubes?
They are always posterior
What does the fornix do?
Cups the uterus
What happens at the fornix in terms of semen?
The coagulated semen goes toward the fornix and stays there and gets liquified
When is the Parietal Peritoneum called the Broad Ligament of the uterus?
When it drapes over the parietal reproductive tract including the uterus, the fallopian tubes and the ovaries
What does Ligament mean in terms of parietal peritoneum?
It mean thickening of parietal peritoneum
Why do the ureters need to go deep?
Because they need to go under the broad ligament in order to get to the urinary bladder
Where do the ovaries come from in terms of development?
The abdomen, just like the testes in males
Where does the vasculature of the ovary originate?
In the abdominal aorta
What artery from the abdominal aorta supplies the ovaries?
The ovarian arteries
What do the end of the Ovarian Arteries and Vein need to pierce through and why?
Through the peritoneum in order to access the ovarian
Why do the Ovarian arteries and veins become known as suspensory ligament?
Because they have to pierce the parietal peritoneum
What is the Suspensory Ligament?
The Ovarian Artery and Vein that pierce the parietal peritoneum to get to the ovary
What is found within the suspensory ligament?
Ovarian arteries and veins
What is found within the ovarian ligament?
Nothing it is just a thickening
What anchors the ovary to the uterus?
The Ovarian ligament
What are the projections on the Infundibulum?
Fimbriae
What do the Fimbriae do?
Swoop the gametes into the tube
Where does the Vas Deferens enlarge?
At the ampulla
What is the enlargement of the Fallopian tube known as?
The ampulla
What is the Ampulla the site for in the female reproductive system?
Fertilization
What is the Isthmus?
The part of the fallopian tube that gets closer to the uterus
What is the Intramural?
The part of the fallopian tube that enters the uterus
Where does the Round ligament connect?
From the uterus to the anterior abdominal wall
What are the three divisions of the Broad Ligament?
- Mesosalpinx (Tube)
- Mesovarium (Ovary)
- Mesometrium (Uterus - Endometrium)
What is the Broad Ligament called when it is covering the uterine tube?
Mesosalpinx
What does the Mesosalpinx cover?
The Uterine tube
Which part of the Broad ligament covers the ovary?
The Mesovarium
What is the broad ligament called when it covers the ovary?
The Mesovarium
What is the Broad ligament called when it covers the uterus - endometrium?
The Mesometrium
What is the Mesometrium?
The part of the broad ligament that covers the uterus - endometrium
Where do the Suspensory ligaments of the ovary come from?
The come from the Aorta and the inferior vena cava
What do the Suspensory Ligaments anchor?
The part of the ovary that is associated with abdominal wall
Where in terms of position is the round ligament?
Anterior
What does the round ligament anchor?
The uterus to the anterior abdominal wall
What does the Transverse Ligament do?
Anchors the uterus the lateral walls
What vasculature is found in the Transverse ligament?
The uterine vessels
What does the Ureteral Sacral ligament connect to?
They go from the uterus to the sacrum and anchor it posteriorly
What anchors the uterus posteriorly?
The Uterosacral ligament
What anchors the uterus anteriorly?
The round ligament
What anchors the uterus laterally?
The transverse ligament
What ligaments do the ovaries have?
The suspensory ligament and the ovarian ligament
Which ligaments suspend the uterus?
- Uterosacral ligament
- Transverse ligament
- Round ligament
Which ligament is equivalent in males?
The round ligament
What kind of gland is the ovary?
An endocrine gland
What brings vasculature to the ovary?
The suspensory ligament and the mesovarium
What anchors the ovary to the uterus?
The ovarian ligament
What anchors the ovary to the uterus?
The ovarian ligament
What does the Ovary shrink with?
Time
What do ovaries produce?
The gametes and sex hormones
What is the function of Estrogen and Progesterone?
- Regulates functions of reproductive (& other) system
- Generate secondary sex characteristics
- Generate sex drive
- Maintenance of uterus lining (endometrium)
- Stimulates growth and metabolism throughout the body
- Influence brain development
What are the secondary sex characteristics in females?
- Armpit and pubic hair
- Distribution of fat
- Development of mammary glands
What are sex hormones also important for?
Bone and muscle development
What overall occurs in a vasectomy?
The vas deferens is cut but sperm and testosterone are still produced but the sperm is just reabsorbed
What occurs overall in a hysterectomy?
Removal of the uterus leaving the ovaries behind to so that the production of sex hormones is still present
What is Oogeneis?
The production of gametes
What is the biggest difference in the production of gametes between males and females?
Males have the germ cells but they don’t go through mitosis and meiosis until puberty. Females are born with all of their gametes. So males can produce gametes forever
What is the ovarian cycle?
The cells that are associated with oocytes
Why are the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus important in females?
Because the levels of FSH and LH need to be adjusted and monitored because they change month to month
When does the production of female gametes begin?
In utero
Where does the first differentiation of female gametes occur?
In utero
What is the equivalent of spermatogonium in females?
Oogonium
What is the first name of the gamete in Oogenesis?
Oogonium
What is an Oogonium called after it undergoes mitosis?
Primary Oocyte
What does an Oogonium undergo?
Mitosis to form a primary occyte
What process does the Primary oocyte undergo?
Meiosis
What is strange about the Meiosis of the Primary Oocyte?
It starts meiosis but does not finish meiosis
What is oogenesis like at birth?
Primary oocytes are suspended in meiosis I
What is meant by follicle of a Primary Oocyte?
There are cells are the gamete that specialize and differentiate
What is needed to complete the first stage of meiosis of the Primary Oocyte?
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at puberty
When does Meiosis of the Primary Oocyte continue and what is it induced by?
At puberty induced by the FSH
When is the first stage of meiosis of the primary oocyte complete?
At puberty
What does a Primary Oocyte become known as one it finishes meiosis?
An ovum
How many daughter cells does a Primary Oocyte give?
One Ovum
How many sperm do one spermatocyte give after meiosis?
Four sperm
Why does Meiosis I only give one ovum from a Primary Oocyte?
Because one oocyte takes all the cytoplasm and mitochondria and the rest become polar bodies
Which hormone causes ovulation?
Luteinizing hormone
What happens to the secondary oocyte/ovum at ovulation?
It starts meiosis II
When does the secondary oocyte/ovum start meiosis II?
At ovulation
What is the state of the secondary oocyte/ovum at ovulation?
It is suspended in meiosis II
When does Meiosis II complete?
When there is fertilization of the ovum
What is a secondary oocyte/ovum called once it is fertilized?
a mature ovum
Why does the mature ovum have a lot of cytoplasm?
To feed the nucleus of the ovum and sperm
What happens if there is no fertilization?
The secondary oocyte/ovum never undergoes meiosis II and menses occurs
Where do the ovarian vessels enter the Ovary?
At the Hilum
What happens in the Cortex of the ovary?
The development of oocytes
What occurs in the medulla of the ovary?
There are capillaries that receive all the hormones produced
What is the white coat of the Ovary?
The tunica albuginea
What is the Tunica Albuginea of the Ovary?
A connective tissue that protects the ovary
What is the meaning of Follicular Stage of the ovarian cycle?
Follicles around the gamete grow and differentiate at different moments or they are given different names as they do different things
What are females born with?
All of their gametes and all of their primordial follicles around them
What are the four stages of follicles?
- Primordial
- Primary
- Secondary
- Mature (Graafian) follicle
Which follicles are present at birth?
Primordial follicles
How often does the four cycles of follicles occur?
Every month
After ovulation, what are the cells that stay around the ovum called?
Corona radiata
What are the follicles important for before ovulation?
Producing estrogen
What happens to the follicles left in the ovary after ovulation?
They become a corpus luteum
What hormone does the Corpus Luteum produce?
Progesterone
What is Progesterone important for?
Making of the uterine lining
What happens to the corpus luteum if there is no fertilization?
It becomes scar tissue
What is Corpus Albicans?
The scar tissue that the corpus luteum forms if no fertilization occurs
What is the state of the oocyte when an individual is born?
The oocyte is a primary oocyte and is suspended in meiosis I
What surrounds the primary oocyte in the cortex of the ovary?
Simple Squamous Epithelium Follicle cells
What kind of tissues are the Follicle cells that surround a primary oocyte?
Simple Squamous Epithelium
What is Primordial Follicle?
A primary oocyte surrounded by follicle cells made of simple squamous epithelium
What are Primordial Follicles waiting for?
Follicle stimulating hormones to stimulate further development
What does FSH stimulate?
The follicle around the oocyte
What does FSH do to the Primordial follicles?
Causes them to mature and become granulosa cells and specialize into theca cells
What are the endocrine cells in the ovary?
Theca cells
What hormone do Theca cells produce?
Estrogen
What does the oocyte do with the granulosa cells?
Produces a basal membrane called Zona Pellucida
What is Zona Pellucida?
The basal membrane that the oocyte and the granulosa produce to make a protein coat around the oocyte
What is the follicle called once there is division of the follicle cells stimulated by FSH?
It goes from being a Primordial follicle to a primary follicle
What does the Primary Follicle consist of?
- Primary oocyte
- Zona pellucida (protein coat)
- Granulosa cells (cuboidal cells)
- Theca cells (endocrine cells)
What is the Zona Pellucida made of?
Protein
What is the state of the oocyte while in the primary follicle?
It is still suspended in meiosis I
What is Antrum?
Fluid produced by follicle cells that is protein rich and sticky
While in the secondary and primary follicle what hormone is being produced?
Estrogen
What does the Estrogen produced by the Theca cells of the secondary follicle do?
Supports the regrowth of the endometrium after menstruation
In what stage is Antrum produced?
In the secondary follicle stage
What is the follicular stage after Secondary Follicle?
Mature follicle
What is the stage of the Antrum during Mature follicle development?
It is huge
During what follicular stage does the oocyte complete meiosis I?
During the mature follicle stage right before ovulation
What is the Oocyte called during the Mature Follicle stage?
A secondary oocyte/ovum since it has completed meiosis I
What do the Granulosa cells form during mature Follicle development?
Cumulus oophorus which lifts up the oocyte
What do the Theca and Granulosa cells do to the cortex and peritoneum during mature follicle development?
They secrete enzymes that chew through the cortex and then through the parietal peritoneum
What happens overall to the oocyte during mature follicle development?
The cumulus orphus dies off the the oocyte become free floating in the Antrum surrounded by corona radiata
What keeps feeding the oocyte as it waits to get fertilized?
The Granulosa cells of corona radiata
Which hormone is required for ovulation?
LH
What does LH need to be released?
A large amount of estrogen
What does the large amount of estrogen released by the developing follicles do?
Stimulate LH to be released which allows for ovulation
Which hormone is required for ovulation?
LH
How many days does it take to go from Primordial follicle to ovulation?
14 days
Which cells chew through the ovary and the parietal peritoneum during ovulation?
Theca and granulosa cells
Why is the fluid around the ovum after ovulation sticky?
So that it can stick to the ovary and be swept up by fimbriae
After ovulation, what hormone do the theca and granulosa cells produce?
Progesterone
What is Progesterone important for?
To keep luteinizing hormone present to build to uterine lining
What hormone is produced instead of LH after implantation?
hCG
What forms the corpus luteum after ovulation?
The leftover follicle cells
What hormones does the Corpus Luteum produce?
Estrogen and Progesterone
What does the Progesterone released by the corpus luteum do?
Prepares the endometrium for implantation of the embryo
Which hormones are required for the maintenance of the endometrium?
Progesterone and Estrogen
How does the hypothalamus stimulate the pituitary to release FSH?
By releasing GnRH
What does FSH released by the pituitary do?
Cause maturation of the follicles
What hormone does the maturation of the follicles produce?
Estrogen
How does the Estrogen released by the maturing follicle affect the hypothalamus?
It causes the hypothalamus to tell the pituitary to stop releasing FSH and start producing LH
What does the LH produce cause?
Ovulation
What hormone does the corpus luteum produce after ovulation?
Progesterone
What stops the corpus luteum from producing progesterone and estrogen?
Its degeneration after twelve days
What is the Fallopian (uterine) tube stabilized by?
The Mesosalpinx
What brings vasculature to the Fallopian (uterine) tube?
The mesosalpinx
What does the smooth muscle of the Fallopian (uterine) tube do?
Pushes the gametes or zygote along and stimulate secretions that feed the gamete
What causes the smooth muscle in the Fimbriae to contract?
High amounts of estrogen
What kind of epithelium is at the Fimbriae?
Simple ciliated columnar epithelium
What do the ciliated cells do in males?
They are absorptive cells and absorb a lot of the secretions from the sertoli cells
In addition to transporting to Oocyte what do the cilia in the fallopian tube do?
They secrete mucus to feed the gamete and potentially the zygote
Why does the Ampulla have numerous folds?
In order to feed a potential zygote
What is the Narrowest portion of the Fallopian tube?
The Isthmus
What kind of cells does the Infundibulum consist of?
Simple columnar epithelium consisting of ciliated cells and secretory cells
Which part of the Fallopian Tube has the most complex lining?
The Ampulla
Which part of the Fallopian tube looks more like the vas deferens?
The Isthmus and intramural
Which hormone maintains the placenta if there is implantation?
hCG
