Lecture 24: Female Reproductive System

Question 1

What are the females primary sex organs and what do they do?
Name the accessory reproductive organs.
The sex hormones play roles in?

Answer 1

Primary sex organs (gonads): ovaries
-produce sex cells (gametes)
-secrete steroid sex hormones (estrogens and progesterone)
Accessory reproductive organs:
Ducts, glands, and external genitalia
Sex hormones play roles in:
-development and function if the reproductive organs
-sexual behaviour and drives
-growth and development of many other organs and tissues

Question 2

What are the ovaries function?

List the accessory ducts

Answer 2

Ovaries: female gonads
-produce female gametes (ova)
-secrete female sex hormones (estrogens and progesterone) 
Accessory ducts include: 
-uterine tubes
-uterus 
-vagina

Question 3

List the internal genitalia

List the external genitalia

Answer 3

Internal: 
-ovaries 
-uterine tubes
-uterus 
-vagina 
External genitalia: 
-the external sex organs

Question 4

Ovaries are held in place by which ligaments?

Answer 4

Ovarian ligament:
-anchors ovary medially to the uterus
Suspensory ligament: anchors ovary laterally to the pelvic wall
Broad ligament: supports the ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina

Question 5

What are the ovaries blood supply?

What are they surrounded by?

Answer 5

Ovarian arteries

Surrounded by a fibrous tunica albuginae

Question 6

Follicles

What are the several stages of development?

Answer 6

1. Primordial follicle: squamous like follicle cells + oocyte
2. Primary follicle: cuboidal or columnar follicle cells + oocyte
3. Secondary follicle: two or more layers of granulosa cells + oocyte
4. Late secondary follicle: contains fluid-filled space
5. Vesicular (Graafian) follicle
6. Ovulation: ejection of the oocyte from the ripening follicle
7. Corpus luteum: develops from ruptured follicle after ovulation

Question 7

Female duct system

1. Uterine (Fallopian) tubes or oviducts

Answer 7

Uterine tubes:
Ampulla:
-distal expansion with infundibulum near ovary
-usual site of fertilisation
-ciliated fibriae of infundibulum create currents to move oocyte into uterine tube.
Isthmus: constructed region where tube joins uterus
-oocyte is carried along by peristalsis and ciliary action

Question 8

Uterus

Answer 8

Body: major portion
Fundus: rounded superior region
Isthmus: narrowed inferior region
Cervix: narrow neck, or outlet; projections into the vagina
Cervical canal: between the vagina and body

Question 9

What are the supports of the uterus?

Answer 9

Broad ligament-lateral support

Round ligament- bind to the anterior wall

Question 10

What are the three layers of the uterine wall?

Answer 10

1. Perimetrium: serosal layer (visceral peritoneum)
2. Myometrium: interlacing layers of smooth muscle
3. endometrium: mucosal lining

Question 11

Endometrium
Name the functional layer, and what happens with ovarian cycles
Also name the basal layer

Answer 11

Stratum functionalis (functional layer)

• changes in response to ovarian hormone cycles
• is shed during menstruation

Stratum basalis (basal layer) 
-forms new functionalis after menstruation

Question 12

Uterine vascular supply

Answer 12

Uterine arteries:
Radial branches in the endometrium branch into:
-spiral arteries (stratum functionalis)
-straight arteries (stratum basalis)
Spasm of spiral arteries leads to shedding of stratum functionalis

Question 13

Vagina
Talk about its anatomy
Also the three layers

Answer 13

-Birth canal and organ of copulation
-extends between the bladder and the rectum from the cervix to the exterior
-urethra embedded in the anterior wall
Layers if wall:
1. Fibroelastic adventitia
2. Smooth muscle muscularis
3. Stratified squamous mucosa with rugae
Mucosa near the vaginal orifice forms an incomplete partition call the hymen
Vaginal fornix: upper end of vagina surrounding the cervix

Question 14

External genitalia:

Answer 14

Vulva
Mons pubis: fatty area overlying the pubic symphysis
Labia majora: hair covered, fatty skin folds
Labia minora: skin folds lying within labia majora
-vestibule: recess between labia minora
Greater vestibular glands:
-homologous to the bulbourethral glands in the male
-release mucus into the vestibule for lubrication
Clitoris: erectile tissue
Perineum: diamond shaped region between the pubic arch and coccyx
-bordered by the ishial tuberosities laterally

Question 15

Mammary glands

Answer 15

• Modified sweat glands consisting of 15-25 lobes
• areola: pigmented skin surrounding the nipple
• Suspensory ligaments: attach the breast to underlying muscle
• lobules within lobes contain glandular alveoli that produce milk
• milk –> lactiferous ducts –> lactiferous sinuses –> open to the outside at the nipple

Question 16

Be able to label the diagram on slide 25

Answer 16

Do it!