Reproduction II Flashcards
what are the functions of the female reproductive system?
- produce ova (eggs)
- receive sperm, facilitate fertilization
- house and nourish developing embryo, gives birth
- lactate, feed young
describe the anatomy of the female reproductive system
- ovaries: female gonad
- endocrine gland
- located in abdominal cavity
- held in place by several ligaments
what does the female reproductive system produce?
- gametes via oogenesis
- sex hormones - estradiol, progesterone
what are within the ovaries?
- follicles - where egg will mature and be released
- oocytes - cell that undergoes meiosis to produce eggs
oviducts (fallopian tubes)
- extend from uterus to each ovary, partially surround
- site of fertilization
- collects 2° oocyte from ovary, brings it to the uterus
- move oocytes via beating cilia, contractions
uterus
- pear-shaped, ~ size of fist
- site of embryonic development (expands during pregnancy)
- 2 layers:
(1) myometrium: thick wall of smooth muscle
(2) endometerium: lines lumen
endometrium
- lines lumen - connective tissue, glands, blood vessels
- thickens each month - prepare for pregnancy
- fertilization -> embryo implants
- no fertilization -> sloughed off -> menstruation
cervix
- lower part of uterus
- closes uterus, separates from vagina
- common site of cancer
- > 90% cases due to HIV
vagina
- elastic muscular tube
- extends to outside of body
- receives penis and sperm
- birth canal
name the parts to the vulva
- external genitalia
- labia majora
- labia minora
- clitoris - homologous with glans penis
- prepuce (clitoral hood) - homologous with foreskin
- urethra
- vaginal opening
what is oogenesis?
development of mature eggs
SEQ oogenesis prior to puberty
primordial germ cells (2n) -> mitosis -> oogonia (2n) -> mitosis -> 1° oocyte (2n)
1° oocytes
- begin meiosis, but stop in Prophase I
- arrested in Prophase I
- at birth, ~ 1-2 million 1° oocytes
- ~ 200k by sexual maturity
- each 1° oocyte within a follicle
- all are dormant until puberty -> a few mature each month
oogenesis starting at puberty
-each moth, 6-12 follicles mature within ovaries -> 1° oocyte grows, follicle cells around it proliferate (but only one will mature)
follicle cells
protective barrier
zona pellucide
thick glycoprotein layer between follicle cells and oocyte
what happens just before ovulation (each month)?
8-10 hours before release from follicle, 1° oocyte completes meiosis I, producing a polar body (n) and a 2° oocyte (n), which starts meiosis II but arrests at metaphase II
what happens in ovulation?
- as 2° oocyte matures, it moves to surface of ovary
- follicle cells secrete fluid, estrogens, enzymes -> break down ovary wall
ovulation
2° oocyte ejected from ovary in oviduct
Corpus Luteum
- “yellow body”
- portion of follicle left in ovary after ovulation
- develops into temporary endocrine gland (more later)
- secretes: estrogens and Progesterone (1000x more than estrogens)
what happens if sperm enters into the Corpus Luteum
- 2° oocyte completes meiosis II -> becomes a mature egg containing sperm nucleus
- oogenesis is complete!
what happens if no sperm enters into the Corpus Luteum?
- 2° oocyte disintegrates
- Corpus Luteum dies
- endometrium shed - Menstruation
- new follicle next cycle