Lecture 3 - Female Reproductive Tract Flashcards
Broad ligament
- suspends the repro tract in the abdomen and houses the vascular supply, lymphatic drainage, and nerves for the female tract
- each segment of the BL interacts with a different portion of the tract
3 segments of the broad ligament
- Mesovarium
- Mesosalpinx
- Mesometrium
Mesovarium
- houses vascular supply, lymphatic drainage, and nerves for the OVARY
- forms the ovarian stem = hilus
Mesosalpinx
- thin, transparent segment of the BL that supports the oviduct
- forms a pouch around the ovary = bursa
Mesometrium
- largest portion of BL
- supports the UTERINE HORNS- suspended from the dorsal body wall
Utero-ovarian ligament
attaches the ovary and the uterus but is not apart of the BL
Area of the ovary where there is follicular development
cortex
atretic follicle
developing follicle that is deteriorating
mature pre-ovulatory follicle
antral/graafian follicle
4 layers of the female tract
- serosa (outer layer)
- muscularis
- submucosa
- mucosa
Serosa
- single layer of flattened cells that cover the female tract (like skin)
- exposed to other organs in the abdomen
Muscularis
- double layer of smooth muscles; other longitudinal layer, inner circular layer
- allows tissues to contract (transport)
Submucosa
- houses blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics
- supporting layer for mucosa
Mucosa
- secretory layer of epithelium in lumen of the reproductive tract
- properties and role varies for each segment of the tract
Theca cells
- respond to LH and produce testosterone
Granulosa cells
- respond to FSH
- converts T to E2 (which goes into circulation and the follicular antrum)
What parts of the antral follicle stay with the oocyte after ovulation
- corona radiata and cumulus ooporus
5 parts of the oviduct
- infundibulum
- ampulla
- ampullary-isthmic junction
- isthmus
- uterotubal junction
Infundibulum
- funnel shaped opening closes over the ovary
- forms “pocket” around the ovary
- fimbriae sweep oocytes toward the oviduct
Ampulla
- upper-half of the oviduct
- large diameter and ciliated mucosa to transport oocytes to the point of fertilization
Ampullary-isthmic junction
site of fertilization
Site of fertilization
Ampullary-isthmic jxn
Isthmus
-lower-half of the oviduct attached to the uterus
- small diameter tube that transports sperm to AIJ and transports embryos to the uterus
Uterotubal junction
- jxn of the uterus and oviduct
- sperm reservoir