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Human Physiology 1 > Reproduction Lectures 2021 - FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM > Flashcards

Reproduction Lectures 2021 - FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Flashcards

1
Q

Female reproductive system is much more complex than male reproductive system - why?

A

not just gametogenesis; a lot more going on & a much greater energy investment

  • fetal development, parturition and nursing
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2
Q

Two critical differences in gametogenesis:

A

– In females the number of available gametes is set at birth (conventional view)

– Female reproductive potential ceases in middle age (menopause)

  • red. in estrogen is a result of the red. in repro. potential in females (pre & post menopause)
  • males repro. potential is until the day they die
  • but ADAMS can occur
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3
Q

ADAMS

A

the potential for producing motile & fertile sperm decreases as males age but there is still a potential that they may be able to reproduce as they age

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4
Q

Which 3 parts of the female reproductive system are embryologically derived from the SAME tissues in males as the penile head, penile shaft & scrotum?

A
  • Clitoris - penile head
  • Labium minora - penile shaft
  • Labium majora - scrotum
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5
Q

During early dev. as an embryogenesis there is a phase known as a bipotential phase:

A
  • where the developing embryo could go either way & develop as a female phenotype or a male phenotype
  • the tissues that are involved in developing the male or female phenotype could go either way & are dependent on the expression on specific genes in that developing embryo
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6
Q

Fallopian tube

A

AKA oviduct

- connects to the ovaries

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7
Q

Ovary

A
  • paired organs

- held to fallopian tubes by fimbriae

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8
Q

Uterus

A
  • has 4 main aspects

- has 2 main linings

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9
Q

What are the 4 main aspects of the uterus?

A
  1. Uterine artery
  2. Outer connective tissue
  3. Myometrium
  4. Endometrium
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10
Q

Uterine artery

A
  • imp. for providing energy & nutrients to the developing fetus if pregnancy occurs
  • also imp. for removing those products in terms of the fetus side of things
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11
Q

Myometrium

A
  • is smooth muscle

- interconnected - imp. during parturition in females

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12
Q

Endometrium

A

where the developing blastocyte will embed during early dev.

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13
Q

The connection b/t the ovary & the fallopian tube is not as tight & so occasionally, when eggs are ovulated, they are dropped & they don’t make it into the oviduct or fallopian tube & they will end up in the body cavity
- & then v. rarely you get:

A

ectopic pregnancy

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14
Q

Ectopic pregnancy

A

pregnancy occurs where it shouldn’t
- eggs can be fertilized in fallopian tube (can damage mother (can be fetal) or body cavity (v. rare - normally fetal in the absence of medical intervention)

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15
Q

Normal pregnancy should occur in the…

A

uterine cavity

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16
Q

Oogenesis

A
  • All available gametes usually produced by the fifth month of gestation (cerca 6-7 million) – oogonia but only about 1 million PRIMARY OOCYTES survive at birth
  • Meiotic division begins just before birth but is not completed – primary oocytes
  • Maintained in a state of meiotic arrest (in prophase I) until puberty
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17
Q

By the time females reach puberty, how many primary oocytes do they have?

A

~300-400 000

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18
Q

Of those 300-400 000 primary oocytes at puberty, females on average will ovulate _______ in their lifetime…

A

~400 oocytes

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19
Q

Prophase I

A

arrested in 1st meiotic division

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20
Q

After puberty ____ primary oocyte is ovulated about once a month before menopause

A

1

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21
Q

What is ovulated?

A

23 (haploid) & polar body

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22
Q

All primary oocytes are surrounded by a single cell layer known as the…

A

zona pellucida

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23
Q

The primary follicle encompasses the…

A

primary oocyte a single layer of granulosa cells and thecal cells separated by a basement membrane

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24
Q

Thecal cells are v. important for…

A

steroidogenesis

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25
Q

Steroid synthesis is critical in both the…

A

granulosa & thecal cells

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26
Q

Basal lamina

A

separates the thecal & granulosa cells

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27
Q

Antral fluid

A
  • not all follicles have this
  • primary follicles don’t have this space
  • only when they dev. into secondary/antral/graffian will the space become apparent
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28
Q

One of two fates for developing follicles:

A

1) Normal development - ovulation
- oocyte is ovulates

2) Degeneration - atresia
- without granulosa cells in the follicle, the follicle is unprotected & will rapidly degrade & be absorbed within the ovarian tissue

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29
Q

Astresia

A

degradation of the tissue

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30
Q

Research is ongoing to understand the endocrine mech’s asociated with determining which follicle gets “chosen” to be promoted toward ovulation. We know though that:

A

SIZE MATTERS & as follicles grow they become the dominant follicle & the smaller follicles regress & can assist in further dev. & aid in the dev. of the follicle that goes on to be ovulated

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31
Q

Ovarian cycle

A

• Three main components and it last ~28days

  • The follicular phase
  • Ovulation
  • The luteal (postovulatory) phase
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32
Q

The follicular phase within the ovarian cycle

A

preparation of oocyte (& dev. of that follicle)

- dominated by presence of developing follicles

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33
Q

Ovulation within the ovarian cycle

A 
release of (SECONDARY) oocyte
- very short!
34
Q

The luteal (postovulatory) phase

A

preparation of reproductive tract for pregnancy by hormones from the corpus luteum

35
Q

Corpus luteum

A

where the follicular cells has differentiated into luteal cells

36
Q

The expectation of the repro. system is that the…

A

ovulated oocyte will be fertilized & therefore will req. nurturing & appropriate environment for dev. & embryogenesis & ultimately fetal dev. & parturition of birth

  • so the system has evolved to ready the repro. tract for that to happen & that is where the 3rd phase comes in (the luteal (postovulatory) phase within the ovarian cycle)
37
Q

What is the ovarian cycle interrupted by?

A
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Nutritional balance, training (amenorrhea)
38
Q

FSH & LH are governed by…

A

GnRH

39
Q

The gonadotrophic hormones (FSH & LH) are produced by…

A

Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadol (HPG axis)

40
Q

So these pituitary hormones; FSH & LH will govern syn. & release of…

A

primarily estrogens in the 1st instance but also inhibins & progesterones later on in the cycle
- but estrogens are the main one that are driving this

41
Q

As the follicle grows, estrogen levels ______

A

increase

42
Q

The increase in estrogens within the circulation of females is a function of ___________

A

increasing follicular size

43
Q

Uterine cycle AKA…

A

menstral cycle

44
Q

Why do we begin at menses?

A

b/c menses is a v. obvious signal at the onset or start of this cycle (uterine cycle)

45
Q

As the follicle grows we get the…

A

proliferative phase

46
Q

Secretory phase

A
  • predominant 1 during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle
  • secretion of the endometrial lining in anticipation of a fertilized oocyte being implanted in that endometrium lining
  • if that doesn’t happen, then the cycle goes all the way back to the start
47
Q

Core body temp of females will…

A

INCREASE just AFTER ovulation

48
Q

Females trying to get pregnant will target this phase/period (just after ovulation) in their ovarian cycle as this is the period called oestrous where…

A

they make most likely to have success in getting pregnant

49
Q

Oestrous

A
  • a period of enhanced sexual receptivity
  • in non-humans/mammals/primates this period is extremely on a signalling in many cases by females
  • but also, the males have evolved to also be attracted to subtle signs & changes in females during that period of ovulation where the egg is most likely to be fertilized
50
Q

Correlation b/t tip earnings & lap dancer menstrual cycle

A

Miller et al in 2007

  • interested in groups of woman on oral contraception or cycling normally (not on oral contraception where they throw off the hormonal cycles that prevents pregnancy essentially)
  • interested in their signalling b/t males & females using lap dancers & tips earned
    • suggestion there was: if the individual was cycling normally, there would be more oestrous signalling produced by the lap dancer which might be more attractive to the male in partic. during that period of oestrous & indeed that is exactly the case
    • suggests a period of oestrous did exist & were more attractive to the males - hence greater earnings
51
Q

Uterine cycle

A

• Three main components and it last ~28days

  • Menses
  • Proliferative phase
  • Secretory phase
52
Q

Menses within the uterine cycle

A

beginning of the follicular phase

53
Q

Proliferative phase within the uterine cycle

A

latter part of the follicular phase (additional endometrial lining laid down)

54
Q

Secretory phase within the uterine cycle

A

After ovulation during the luteal phase

- prepares uterus for implantation if fertilization happens

55
Q

Uterine cycle is interrupted by:

A
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • Nutritional balance – training (amenorrhea)

*all true for ovarian cycle as well

56
Q

Nutritional balance & training can be…

A

reversed & return to cycling normally & the same with training, it can return to normal cycling (take time but will return)

57
Q

Amenorrhea

A
  • lack of menstration in these individuals
  • gymnasts & ballerina’s in partic. that were training intensively as younger females, in their early teens (maybe even prepubescent) & their menstrual cycle was abnormal & often didn’t exist
  • reason for that: even though extrem. athletically fit, may lack the resources avail. for appro. cycling & ultimately if that egg is fertilized, the resources avail. to maintain pregnancy
  • evolution sense
58
Q

The primary oocyte is contained in the…

A

primary follicle

59
Q

Zona pellucida

A

single cell layer
- will increase in width throughout dev. largely through the proliferation of granulosa cells & those cells directly dev. of the follicle

60
Q

These 2 cell layers are directly developing. Where we have syn. of steroids & conversion of those steriods in further directing of dev.

A

theca & granulosa cell layer

61
Q

Theca cell layer is analogous to ______ in males

A

leydig cells

62
Q

Granulosa cell layer is analogous to ______ in males

A

sertoli cells

63
Q

Basal lamina in females

A
  • like the basal lamina within the seminiferous tubule in males
  • analogous to the blood brain barrier
  • layer of tissue that prevents immune system getting into this area (if it gets in it will probably attack the unknown cell type - oocyte - as it is unfamiliar to the immune system
64
Q

Follicular development

A
  • Theca & granulosa cells begin to synthesise and secrete ESTROGENS
  • Follicle increases in diameter ~12-16mm (b/c of the synthesis)

• (as it grows, we get a:) Estrogen rich antrum
- & as it grows again, we get more & more estrogens that is produced - so the conc. of estrogens slowly & steadily rises as the cycle progresses

65
Q

All estrogens are syn. & present within that….

A

antrum space

Estrone
Estradiol - highest concen.
Estriol

66
Q

Ovulation itself is controlled by…

A

LH – main target thecal cells and FSH – main target granulosa cells

67
Q

Just prior to ovulation…

A

first meiotic division completed (as the eggs are expelled into the oviduct)

68
Q

Collagenases secreted by the follicle allows…

A

the mature follicle to break free (rupture)

69
Q

The secondary oocyte is…

A

expelled into the abdominal cavity and quickly drawn into the oviduct (fallopian tube) (speaks to that ectopic pregnancy)

70
Q

But, occasionally we will get 2 secondary oocytes expelled…

A

will lead to fraternal cells

- but if we get 1 egg that is expelled (same embryo divides twice) –> maternal twins (dizygotic twins)

71
Q

Granulosa and thecal cells differentiate into…

A

corpus luteum

• Synthesise and secrete mostly progesterone with some estrogens

72
Q

Why is the corpus luteum yellow?

A

b/c it’s full of LIPIDS

- lipids provide a precursor molecule for the steroids (a super steroid factory producing progesterones & estrogens)

73
Q

The corpus luteum is fully functional within…

A

4 days & keeps going for another 5 days whether or not the egg is fertilized

74
Q

If the egg is fertilized (fertilization) then…

A

the corpus luteum continues to grow (& continues to syn. steroids in support of the developing embryo within the uterus)
- develops into mature corpus luteum

75
Q

If no fertilization occurs then…

A

we get degradation of the corpus luteum to the corpus albican (starts to rite? & will degrade & the cycle goes back to the start)

76
Q

List the female sexual act phases:

A
  1. Excitement
  2. Plateau phase
  3. Orgasmic phase
  4. Resolution phase
77
Q
  1. Excitement:
A

arousal and erection increase in PSNS and decrease in SNS
- CLITORIS is 1 tissue that will be engorged by blood & there is a # of nerve endings in the clitoris that are v. similar to the penile head

78
Q
  1. Plateau phase:
A

continued arousal includes increased heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, respiration rate and muscle tension
* - can also be increases in circulating levels of OXYTOCIN (can also happen in males)

79
Q

What are the 2 possible effects from these increased levels of oxytocin?

A
  1. Oxytocin can promote pair bonding (b/t mother & child) & is v. relevant in young moms & suckling infants
  2. That during the sexual act, that increase in oxytocin can promote pair bonding b/t couples
  • Another aspect of oxytocin is a promotion of transport of sperm within the female repro. tract (as the male will ejaculate into the female repro. tract - if there’s an increase in oxytocin, that promotes constriction of vascular smooth muscle
  • promotes constriction of muscle that lines cervical canal & promotes constriction of the muscle that lines the endometrium/uterus & so will promote movement of sperm up through the female repro. tract
  • & so potentially can promote the potential for fertilization
80
Q
  1. Orgasmic phase:
A

unlike males this is not essential for successful fertilisation, however, it does aid in sperm transport.

  • females can go through multiple orgasms
  • there may be an increase in vasoactive hormone like oxytocin released into the female circulation, again further promoting movement of sperm through the female repro. tract & further enhancing the potential for fertilization of that egg
81
Q
  1. Resolution phase:
A

if stimulation is sufficient arousal decreases but females do not have a period of latency as in males

Human Physiology 1 (32 decks)

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