Lecture 22 - The Female Reproductive System Part I Flashcards
what are the seven main functions of the female reproductive system?
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)
part of the female reproductive system responsible for the production of gametes and sex hormones
ovaries (gonads)
the reproductive tracts in the female repro system
uterine tubes (fallopian tubes) and uterus
site of transportation of the ovum and fertilization
uterine tubes
site of implantation and development of the foetus
uterus
what are the accessory glands to the female reproductive system?
the pituitary gland and mammary glands
gland which stimulates oogenesis and ovulation
pituitary gland
glands which are responsible for nutrition of the newborn
mammary glands
what is the organ of copulation for females?
the vagina (also a common pathway for the birth canal)
what is the difference between the greater (false) pelvis and the lesser (true) pelvis?
there are still abdominal organs in the greater pelvic, but the lesser pelvis contains only pelvic organs
what is different about the parietal peritoneum in biological males versus biological females?
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
the parietal peritoneum over the female reproductive organs forms the:
broad ligament of the uterus
the lowest part of the abdominal cavity in biological females
the rectouterine pouch
part of the uterus made up of fibrous tissue instead of muscle
the cervix
how many fornices around the uterus are there?
4
what is the vestibule?
part of the female reproductive system that lies between the labia minora; like a lobby for the vaginal canal
is the urethra anterior or posterior to the vaginal canal?
anterior
what are the parts of the uterine tubes?
- fimbriae
- infundibulum
- ampulla
- isthmus
- intramural
the part of the uterine tubes which open into the uterus
the intramural
part of the uterine tubes with finger like projections that try to catch the ova
fimbriae
part of the uterine tubes which act like a funnel
the infundibulum
the broad ligament of the uterus is made of parietal peritoneum, but it is also technically a:
mesentary (two layers of peritoneum)
the mesentary of the uterine tube
mesosalpinx
mesentary of the ovary
mesovarium
mesentary of the uterus
mesometrium
what are the three parts of the broad ligament of the uterus?
- mesosalpinx
- mesovarium
- mesometrium
ligament which runs from the sacrum to the uterus, attaching the uterus to the posterior body wall
uterosacral ligament
ligament on either side of the of the uterus which goes to the body wall and contains uterine vasculature
transverse ligament
ligament wich runs from the uterus to the ovary
ovarian ligament
ligament which runs from the uterus to the inguinal canal on the anterior body wall
round ligament of the uterus
ligament which runs from the abdominal aorta/inferior vena cava to the ovary and contains ovarian vasculature
suspensatory ligament of the uterus
which uterine/ovarian ligament is a remnant of fetal development?
the round ligament of the uterus
what are the structural differences between the ovaries and the testes?
the testes are made of a series of tubes and lobules, but the ovaries have a cortex and medulla (like the adrenal glands)
how big are the ovaries?
~5cm long, 2.5cm wide, 8mm thick, and weight 6-8g each
what are the major functions of estrogen and progesterone?
- 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
what is oogenesis?
term for the production of oocytes
a monthly series of events associated with the maturation of the oocyte
the ovarian cycle
series of events that prepares the uterus for implantation of the fertilized oocyte
uterine (menstrual) cycle
when are oogonia converted to primary oocytes?
in utero (all gametes are formed during fetal development)
the primary oocytes are dormant until:
puberty (menarche - first menstrual cycle)
at birth, the primary oocytes are suspended in:
meiosis I
when is meiosis I completed?
at puberty (a few per menstrual cycle)
completion of meiosis I oocytes is characterized by uneven division of _____ and formation of _____
the cytoplasm, the first polar body
what stimulates the primary oocyte to mature into the secondary oocyte?
FSH from the anterior pituitary
what hormone stimulates ovulation?
LH from the anterior pituitary
at ovulation, the secondary oocyte is suspended in:
meiosis II
meiosis II is only completed if _____ occurs
fertilization
over the course of the ovarian cycle, the oocytes develop and mature into:
ovarian follicles
go review the slide about spermatogenesis vs. oogenesis
you got this queen!
what is a primordial follicle?
the primary oocyte + follicle cells (surrounded by simple squamous epithelial cells)
what is a primary follicle?
the primary oocyte + the zona pellucida + granulosa cells +theca cells
what is the purpose of follicle cells in the primordial follicle?
will become essential for foetal development
what is the zona pellucida?
a protein coat that surrounds the primary oocyte
what are granulosa cells?
cuboidal cells which secrete ECM and form part of the basal lamina of the oocyte
what are theca cells?
endocrine cells which produce estrogen and communicate with granulosa cells
how does the transition from a primary follicle to secondary follicle work?
transition occurs as the follicle wall thickens and follicular cells begin to secrete follicular fluid (antrum)
what is the secondary follicle?
primary oocyte + thick walls + follicular fluid (antrum)
theca and granulosa cells produce ____ and release it into ____
estrogen, the vasculature
estrogen supports the regrowth of:
the endometrium after menstruation
follicular fluid in the antrum is made of:
secretions from cells and blood plasma constituents (sticky fluid)
how many secondary follicles are allowed to mature into mature, Graafian follicles?
only one
what is the cumulus oophorus?
granulosa cells which project the oocyte into the antrum in preparation for ovulation
in the Graafian follicle, the oocyte is surrounded by a mass of granulosa cells for:
glucose metabolism and signalling
the mature, Graafian follicle starts ____ and gets as far as ____
meiosis II, metaphase
in the mature follicles, the oocyte:
separates from the follicle wall along with the corona radiata
what is the purpose of the corona radiata?
helps the oocyte survive after ovulation
what is the mature follicle?
the secondary oocyte + corona radiata + very thick walls
what is the function of non-ovulated follicles?
many small follicles are required in early stages of the ovarian cycle to secrete the required estrogen
when does ovulation occur?
~day 14 of the menstrual cycle
how is ovulation stimulated?
high concentrations of estrogen triggers the anterior pituitary to secrete a surge of LH, which induces final maturation and ovulation of the follicle
how does the oocyte break through the ovary wall?
the granulosa cells have enzymes that digest the cortex, and the follicle ruptures
where is the oocyte released upon ovulation?
the peritoneal cavity (now intraperitoneal) and is swept up by the fimbriae and infundibulum
how long does the luteal phase last?
~12 days
what happens to the empty follicle after ovulation?
follicle collapses, ruptures blood vessels, and the remaining granulosa cells proliferate to create the corpus luteum
how is the corpus luteum maintained?
by LH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from the implanted embryo
what is the function of the corpus luteum?
to secrete estrogen and progesterone (prepares endometrium for implantation of embryo)
what is the corpus albicans?
scar tissue from a degenerated corpus luteum
how is the corpus albicans produced?
at the end of the luteal phase, progesterone and estrogen levels drop, causing fibroblasts to create the corpus albicans
how is the oocyte transported down the uterine tube?
by cilitated epithelium and peristaltic contractions of smooth muscle
where does fertilization normally take place?
the ampulla of the uterine tube (optimal environment)
where does the zygote implant?
the mucosa of the uterus
a placental hormone that replaces LH after implantation and maintains the corpus luteum during the first trimester of pregnancy
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
hormones secreted by the corpus luteum during the first trimester allow for:
angiogenesis of uterine vasculature (thick vascular lining)
takes over the secretion of hormones at the second trimester
the placenta
what hormones are secreted by the placenta?
mostly estrogen, progesterone, and relaxin
what is the function of relaxin in the uterus?
prepares the cervix for delivery
what is the placenta?
a temporary organ which connects the foetus to the uterine wall via the umbilical cord
what are the six main functions of the placenta?
- nutrient intake
- thermo-regulation
- waste elimination
- gas exchange
- fight against internal infections
- produces hCG (endocrine organ)
