Lecture 36- Female reproductive system 1

Question 1

What is the function of the female reproductive system?

Answer 1

-To produce oocytes (female gamete)
-Transport ova and spermatozoa to the appropriate
site for fertilization
-Provides a site for the developing embryo and fetus to
grow – protection, nourishment
-Delivery of fetus

Question 2

What is the female perineum divided into? What do these regions contain?

Answer 2

• Urogenital triangle: External genitalia = vulva.

- Anal triangle: anus

Question 3

What is the mons pubis?

Answer 3

Area of female perineum in front of the pubic

symphysis (where lots of hair grows)

Question 4

Describe the labia…

Answer 4

2 lip like structures

• major (labia majora) - larger and more lateral
• minor (labia minora) - smaller and more medial

Question 5

What is the space between the labia majora and labia minora called?

Answer 5

Vestibule

Question 6

What is the external female genitalia known as?

Answer 6

Vulva

Question 7

What is the external female genitalia known as?

Answer 7

Vulva

Question 8

What lies deep to the labia and has a function in lubricating the vaginal orifice (opening)?

Answer 8

Vestibular glands

Question 9

What does the Labia minora spread around?

Answer 9

The vagina and the urethral (meatus) openings

Question 10

What is the complex erectile organ in the vagina?

Answer 10

Clitoris

Question 11

What is the clitoris made up of?

Answer 11

• Glans
• Body
• Crura (x2)
• Bulbs (x2)

Question 12

How is the clitoris similar but yet different from the penis in males?

Answer 12

• Developmentally homologous to the penis (both the erectile organs)
• Different as the urethra doesn’t pass through the clitoris like it does in the penis

Question 13

What does the body of the clitoris contain?

Answer 13

Corpora Cavernosa

Question 14

What structures does the female reproductive tract consist of? What occurs at each?

Answer 14

• Ovary= Where oogenesis takes place
• Uterine tubes(Fallopian tube)= site of fertilization
• Uterus= Where the embryo and fetus will develop
• Cervix= Inferior part, has to dilate to allow passage of fetus during birth
• Vagina= Site of insemination/ sperm goes up

Question 15

What does the uterus lie over? What is the term of this?

Answer 15

Bladder, antiplexed

Question 16

What are the three sections that the uterine tube is divided into?

Answer 16

-Most lateral portion: infundibulum= funnel shaped with finger like projections called fimbriae
-Mid-portion: ampulla= dilated area where fertilisation
occurs (normally)
-Most medial portion: isthmus= means “narrow passage”

Question 17

What are the three layers of the uterus wall?

Answer 17

• Perimetrium = outer layer (connective tissue)
• Myometrium = middle layer (smooth muscle)
• Endometrium = inner layer (columnar epithelium, uterine glands and arteries)

Question 18

What layer of the uterus wall is shed during menstration?

Answer 18

Endometrium

Question 19

Describe the cervix…

Answer 19

• Cervical canal provides passage between uterine cavity and vagina and consist of the internal os, cervical canal and external os
• Produces cervical mucus
• Regulates sperm transport (Watery before ovulation, then becomes thicker to prevent sperm movement and help protect against infection after ovulation)

Question 20

What is the function and location of the vagina?

Answer 20

• Fibromuscular, distensible female copulatory organ
• Also functions as part of the the birth canal
• Lies between the urinary bladder & rectum
• Extends from the perineum to the cervix

Question 21

How is blood supplied to the ovaries?

Answer 21

By the ovarian arteries which arise from abdominal aorta and travel by the suspensory ligament

Question 22

How is blood supplied to the uterus?

Answer 22

The uterine artery which arises from the internal lilac artery (goes to arcuate and then radial before the uterine)

Spiral arteries feed into the functional layer of the wall and are a major source of blood loss in menstruation also remodeled in placenta formation

Question 23

How is blood supplied to the vagina?

Answer 23

Vaginal artery (complex vascular network in artery walls)

Question 24

How are the ovaries positioned?

Answer 24

• Bilateral structures (two of them)
• Lateral and posterior to the uterus
• Lateral portion of the true pelvic cavity

Question 25

What are the two ‘layers’ of the ovaries?

Answer 25

• Outer cortex (follicles)

- Inner medulla (connective tissue, blood/lymphatic vessels, nerves)

Question 26

Where does oogenesis occur in the ovaries? What is another function of the ovaries?

Answer 26

• Oocytes develop within follicles

- Hormone production

Question 27

What are the names of the four ligaments in the reproductive system?

Answer 27

• Broad ligament
• Ovarian ligament
• Suspensory ligament
• Round ligament

Question 28

What other ligaments in the female reproductive system are created by the folding of the peritoneum?

Answer 28

• Mesometrium (“of the womb/mother”)
• Mesosalpinx (“of the tube”)
• Mesovarium (“of the ovary”)

Question 29

What pouches are created in the female reproductive system? What do these pouches allow?

Answer 29

-Continuous fold of broad ligament (visceral
peritoneum) over posteriorly located rectum
= rectouterine pouch

-Continuous fold of broad ligament (visceral
peritoneum) over anteriorly located bladder
= vesicouterine pouch

-Pouches provide extra space for the fetus to develop in pregnancy

Question 30

What is the function of the female breasts? Where are the located in relation to muscles?

Answer 30

• To nourish infants.

- Lie on pectoralis major muscles.

Question 31

What two hormones stimulate breast development?

Answer 31

-Estradiol and progesterone

Question 32

What is the sequence that makes up the mammalian breast? What supports the glands?

Answer 32

-Lobes
-Lobules
-Alveoli
-Lactiferous ducts
-Lactiferous sinuses that open at
nipple pores.

-Suspensory ligaments support the glands.