Lecture 22 - The Female Reproductive System Part I

Question 1

what are the seven main functions of the female reproductive system?

Answer 1

1) production of female gametes and sex hormones
2) reception of male gametes
3) site for fertilization
4) transport of fertilized zygote to the uterus
5) site of development of the embryo/foetus (uterus)
6) mechanism for copulation and partuition (vaginal canal)
7) provision of nutrition for the newborn (mammary glands)

Question 2

part of the female reproductive system responsible for the production of gametes and sex hormones

Answer 2

ovaries (gonads)

Question 3

the reproductive tracts in the female repro system

Answer 3

uterine tubes (fallopian tubes) and uterus

Question 4

site of transportation of the ovum and fertilization

Answer 4

uterine tubes

Question 5

site of implantation and development of the foetus

Answer 5

uterus

Question 6

what are the accessory glands to the female reproductive system?

Answer 6

the pituitary gland and mammary glands

Question 7

gland which stimulates oogenesis and ovulation

Answer 7

pituitary gland

Question 8

glands which are responsible for nutrition of the newborn

Answer 8

mammary glands

Question 9

what is the organ of copulation for females?

Answer 9

the vagina (also a common pathway for the birth canal)

Question 10

what is the difference between the greater (false) pelvis and the lesser (true) pelvis?

Answer 10

there are still abdominal organs in the greater pelvic, but the lesser pelvis contains only pelvic organs

Question 11

what is different about the parietal peritoneum in biological males versus biological females?

Answer 11

in biological males, this is a complete separation as the parietal peritoneum covers all of the pelvic organs. however, in the biological females, this is incomplete, and there are two openings from the pelvic cavity into the abdominal cavity via the uterine tubes

Question 12

the parietal peritoneum over the female reproductive organs forms the:

Answer 12

broad ligament of the uterus

Question 13

the lowest part of the abdominal cavity in biological females

Answer 13

the rectouterine pouch

Question 14

part of the uterus made up of fibrous tissue instead of muscle

Answer 14

the cervix

Question 15

how many fornices around the uterus are there?

Answer 15

4

Question 16

what is the vestibule?

Answer 16

part of the female reproductive system that lies between the labia minora; like a lobby for the vaginal canal

Question 17

is the urethra anterior or posterior to the vaginal canal?

Answer 17

anterior

Question 18

what are the parts of the uterine tubes?

Answer 18

• fimbriae
• infundibulum
• ampulla
• isthmus
• intramural

Question 19

the part of the uterine tubes which open into the uterus

Answer 19

the intramural

Question 20

part of the uterine tubes with finger like projections that try to catch the ova

Answer 20

fimbriae

Question 21

part of the uterine tubes which act like a funnel

Answer 21

the infundibulum

Question 22

the broad ligament of the uterus is made of parietal peritoneum, but it is also technically a:

Answer 22

mesentary (two layers of peritoneum)

Question 23

the mesentary of the uterine tube

Answer 23

mesosalpinx

Question 24

mesentary of the ovary

Answer 24

mesovarium

Question 25

mesentary of the uterus

Answer 25

mesometrium

Question 26

what are the three parts of the broad ligament of the uterus?

Answer 26

- mesosalpinx - mesovarium - mesometrium

Question 27

ligament which runs from the sacrum to the uterus, attaching the uterus to the posterior body wall

Answer 27

uterosacral ligament

Question 28

ligament on either side of the of the uterus which goes to the body wall and contains uterine vasculature

Answer 28

transverse ligament

Question 29

ligament wich runs from the uterus to the ovary

Answer 29

ovarian ligament

Question 30

ligament which runs from the uterus to the inguinal canal on the anterior body wall

Answer 30

round ligament of the uterus

Question 31

ligament which runs from the abdominal aorta/inferior vena cava to the ovary and contains ovarian vasculature

Answer 31

suspensatory ligament of the uterus

Question 32

which uterine/ovarian ligament is a remnant of fetal development?

Answer 32

the round ligament of the uterus

Question 33

what are the structural differences between the ovaries and the testes?

Answer 33

the testes are made of a series of tubes and lobules, but the ovaries have a cortex and medulla (like the adrenal glands)

Question 34

how big are the ovaries?

Answer 34

~5cm long, 2.5cm wide, 8mm thick, and weight 6-8g each

Question 35

what are the major functions of estrogen and progesterone?

Answer 35

- regulate functions of the repro system (and others) - generate secondary sex characteristics - generate sex drive - maintenance of uterus lining (endometrium) - stimulates growth and metabolism throughout the body - influences brain development

Question 36

what is oogenesis?

Answer 36

term for the production of oocytes

Question 37

a monthly series of events associated with the maturation of the oocyte

Answer 37

the ovarian cycle

Question 38

series of events that prepares the uterus for implantation of the fertilized oocyte

Answer 38

uterine (menstrual) cycle

Question 39

when are oogonia converted to primary oocytes?

Answer 39

in utero (all gametes are formed during fetal development)

Question 40

the primary oocytes are dormant until:

Answer 40

puberty (menarche - first menstrual cycle)

Question 41

at birth, the primary oocytes are suspended in:

Answer 41

meiosis I

Question 42

when is meiosis I completed?

Answer 42

at puberty (a few per menstrual cycle)

Question 43

completion of meiosis I oocytes is characterized by uneven division of _____ and formation of _____

Answer 43

the cytoplasm, the first polar body

Question 44

what stimulates the primary oocyte to mature into the secondary oocyte?

Answer 44

FSH from the anterior pituitary

Question 45

what hormone stimulates ovulation?

Answer 45

LH from the anterior pituitary

Question 46

at ovulation, the secondary oocyte is suspended in:

Answer 46

meiosis II

Question 47

meiosis II is only completed if _____ occurs

Answer 47

fertilization

Question 48

over the course of the ovarian cycle, the oocytes develop and mature into:

Answer 48

ovarian follicles

Question 49

go review the slide about spermatogenesis vs. oogenesis

Answer 49

you got this queen!

Question 50

what is a primordial follicle?

Answer 50

the primary oocyte + follicle cells (surrounded by simple squamous epithelial cells)

Question 51

what is a primary follicle?

Answer 51

the primary oocyte + the zona pellucida + granulosa cells +theca cells

Question 52

what is the purpose of follicle cells in the primordial follicle?

Answer 52

will become essential for foetal development

Question 53

what is the zona pellucida?

Answer 53

a protein coat that surrounds the primary oocyte

Question 54

what are granulosa cells?

Answer 54

cuboidal cells which secrete ECM and form part of the basal lamina of the oocyte

Question 55

what are theca cells?

Answer 55

endocrine cells which produce estrogen and communicate with granulosa cells

Question 56

how does the transition from a primary follicle to secondary follicle work?

Answer 56

transition occurs as the follicle wall thickens and follicular cells begin to secrete follicular fluid (antrum)

Question 57

what is the secondary follicle?

Answer 57

primary oocyte + thick walls + follicular fluid (antrum)

Question 58

theca and granulosa cells produce ____ and release it into ____

Answer 58

estrogen, the vasculature

Question 59

estrogen supports the regrowth of:

Answer 59

the endometrium after menstruation

Question 60

follicular fluid in the antrum is made of:

Answer 60

secretions from cells and blood plasma constituents (sticky fluid)

Question 61

how many secondary follicles are allowed to mature into mature, Graafian follicles?

Answer 61

only one

Question 62

what is the cumulus oophorus?

Answer 62

granulosa cells which project the oocyte into the antrum in preparation for ovulation

Question 63

in the Graafian follicle, the oocyte is surrounded by a mass of granulosa cells for:

Answer 63

glucose metabolism and signalling

Question 64

the mature, Graafian follicle starts ____ and gets as far as ____

Answer 64

meiosis II, metaphase

Question 65

in the mature follicles, the oocyte:

Answer 65

separates from the follicle wall along with the corona radiata

Question 66

what is the purpose of the corona radiata?

Answer 66

helps the oocyte survive after ovulation

Question 67

what is the mature follicle?

Answer 67

the secondary oocyte + corona radiata + very thick walls

Question 68

what is the function of non-ovulated follicles?

Answer 68

many small follicles are required in early stages of the ovarian cycle to secrete the required estrogen

Question 69

when does ovulation occur?

Answer 69

~day 14 of the menstrual cycle

Question 70

how is ovulation stimulated?

Answer 70

high concentrations of estrogen triggers the anterior pituitary to secrete a surge of LH, which induces final maturation and ovulation of the follicle

Question 71

how does the oocyte break through the ovary wall?

Answer 71

the granulosa cells have enzymes that digest the cortex, and the follicle ruptures

Question 72

where is the oocyte released upon ovulation?

Answer 72

the peritoneal cavity (now intraperitoneal) and is swept up by the fimbriae and infundibulum

Question 73

how long does the luteal phase last?

Answer 73

~12 days

Question 74

what happens to the empty follicle after ovulation?

Answer 74

follicle collapses, ruptures blood vessels, and the remaining granulosa cells proliferate to create the corpus luteum

Question 75

how is the corpus luteum maintained?

Answer 75

by LH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from the implanted embryo

Question 76

what is the function of the corpus luteum?

Answer 76

to secrete estrogen and progesterone (prepares endometrium for implantation of embryo)

Question 77

what is the corpus albicans?

Answer 77

scar tissue from a degenerated corpus luteum

Question 78

how is the corpus albicans produced?

Answer 78

at the end of the luteal phase, progesterone and estrogen levels drop, causing fibroblasts to create the corpus albicans

Question 79

how is the oocyte transported down the uterine tube?

Answer 79

by cilitated epithelium and peristaltic contractions of smooth muscle

Question 80

where does fertilization normally take place?

Answer 80

the ampulla of the uterine tube (optimal environment)

Question 81

where does the zygote implant?

Answer 81

the mucosa of the uterus

Question 82

a placental hormone that replaces LH after implantation and maintains the corpus luteum during the first trimester of pregnancy

Answer 82

human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Question 83

hormones secreted by the corpus luteum during the first trimester allow for:

Answer 83

angiogenesis of uterine vasculature (thick vascular lining)

Question 84

takes over the secretion of hormones at the second trimester

Answer 84

the placenta

Question 85

what hormones are secreted by the placenta?

Answer 85

mostly estrogen, progesterone, and relaxin

Question 86

what is the function of relaxin in the uterus?

Answer 86

prepares the cervix for delivery

Question 87

what is the placenta?

Answer 87

a temporary organ which connects the foetus to the uterine wall via the umbilical cord

Question 88

what are the six main functions of the placenta?

Answer 88

- nutrient intake - thermo-regulation - waste elimination - gas exchange - fight against internal infections - produces hCG (endocrine organ)