M30: Female Reproductive System II Flashcards
Name 3 general regions of the uterus
Fundus
Body
Cervix
name walls of the uterus
superficial to deep
- perimetrium (visceral peritoneum, folds create BROAD LIGAMENT, which attaches uterus to pelvic cavity)
- myometirum
- endometrium
ligament that holds ovary to uterus
ovarian ligament
histology of endometrium
deep to superficial
- simple columnar epithelium
- areolar CT (aka STROMAL LAYER)
- endometrial glands (that extend from epithelial tissue to CT)
2 main regions of endometrium
STRATUM FUNCTIONALIS
- gets shed during menses
STRATUM BASALIS
- stays during meses
spiral arterioles
histology of myometrium
- 3 layers of smooth muscle
- thickest at fundus
- inner/outer longitudinal or oblique
- middle circular
histology of vagina
MUCOSA: stratified squamous epithelium
MUSCULARIS: inner circular, outer longitudinal smooth muscle. Allows for considerable stretch
ADVENTITIA: areolar CT, binds to other organs
epithelial cells in mucosa of vagina
stratified squamous
mons pubis
fatty pad that protects pubis symphysis
prepuce of the clitoris
section of labia minora that covers clitrois
name for clitoral tissue that extends down either side of the vagina
bulb of vestibule
hormones that control female reproductive cycle come primarily from…
- hypothalamus
- anterior pituitary gland
- ovaries
ovarian vs uterine cycle
OVARIAN
- changes in ovary during and after maturation of oocyte
UTERINE CYCLE
- preparation of uterus to receive fertilized ovum
- if implantation doesn’t occur, stratum functionalis shed
role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
- controls cycles by stimulating release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH) from ANTERIOR PITUITARY
FSH role
initiates growth of follicles that secrete estrogen
- estrogen maintains reproductive organs
role of LH
stimulates ovation and promotes formation of corpus luteum which secretes estrogens, progesterone, relaxin and inhibin
role of progesterone and estrogens
prepare the uterus for implantation
role of relaxin
facilitates implantation in relaxed uterus
- stops smooth muscle from contractiong
role of inhibin
inhibits secretion of FSH, stops the growth of more follicles
4 phases of reproductive cycle
- menstrual
- preovulatory
- ovulation
- post ovulatory
menstrual phase of reproductive cycle
First day is beginning of reproductive cycle
IN OVARY:
- FSH stimulates primordial follicles to form primary oocytes and primary form secondary
IN UTERUS:
- declining levels of estrogens and progesterone cause SPIRAL ARTERIES of functionalis layer to constrict. Causes cellular death due to lack of O2
preovulatory phase of reproductive cycle
Lasts from day 6-13 (most variable time)
IN OVARY (follicuar phase)
- secondary follicles secrete estrogen and inhibin, slows secretion of FSH (other follicles stop growing)
- dominant follicle survives to day 6
- by day 14, mature follice has enlarged and bulges at surface
- increasing estrogren levels trigger secretion of LH
IN UTERUS (proliferative phase)
- increasing estrogen repairs and thickens status functionalis
ovulation phase of reproductive cycle
Day 14
- rupture of follicle
- caused by increasing estrogen -> stimulates GnRH release -> stimukates anterior pituitary to release more LH and FSH
when do we see the highest levels of LH during reproductive cycle
just before ovulation
postovulatory phase of reproductive cycle
Lasts 14 days - time between ovation and menses
role of corpus luteum
secretes hormones
- estrogen and progesterone
