reproduction - march 12th Flashcards
What is the broad ligament? What does it do?
- Folding of the peritoneum
(mesothelium and connective tissue). - Supports several anatomical
components of the reproductive tract - Houses vascular supply, lymphatics and nerves
- Provides protection and structural support
What do the ovaries do?
- Glandular organ that houses oocytes and ovarian follicles.
- Production of gametes (oogenesis)
- Follicle development
- Hormone production
What produces the hormones secreted by the ovaries?
- Granulosa cells
- Theca cells
- Corpus luteum
What are steps of oogenesis (formation and genotypic maturation of the female gametes), and what does each step entail?
- Oocytogenesis:
- Mitotic divisions resulting in more oogonia
- Occurs during embryonic development - Ootidogenesis:
- First meiotic division
- Results in secondary oocyte and
polar body
- Occurs after puberty, cyclically - Oogenesis
- Completes second meiotic division
- Results in a mature ovum and polar body
How does the embryo acquire nutrients?
the yolk (cytoplasm)
polar bodies are composed of what?
genetic information only (no cytoplasm)
At what phase of the cell cycle does the oocyte arrest in the follicular phase of oogenesis?
metaphase II
What are the functions of the fallopian tubes?
- Oocyte capture and transport
- Sperm storage and transport
- Early embryo transport
Where does fertilization occur?
The ampulla of the fallopian tube
What captures the CoC?
Fimbriae of the infundibulum
What is the role of the Isthmus?
sperm storage in females (for about 3 days in humans)
What are the functions of the uterus?
- Site of embryo implantaton and fetal development
- Mucus secreton for optmal environment (conceptus or sperm)
- Uterine glands produce prostaglandins to control CL
- Mediates sperm transportation
- Hormone responsive, mediates contractions
What are the functions of the cervix?
- Flushes foreign materials, protecting developing conceptus.
- Protects sperm from hostile vaginal environment.
- Filters defective, abnormal and immotile spermatozoa.
- Inhibits sperm migration during the menstrual cycle.
What are the functions of the vagina?
- Provides passageway for extrusion of blood and mucosal tissue during menses
- Copulatory organ (possesses multiple nerve endings, expansive, mucus producing epithelium for lubrication)
- Sperm storage
- Parturition (birth) canal
What is the role of FSH in the Follicular Phase?
- Stimulates the growth and proliferation of granulosa cells (GCs) in recruited primary ovarian follicles
- Stimulates production of FSH receptors on GCs (results in increased sensitivity to FSH / less FSH required to stimulate selected follicles)
- Stimulates aromatase production and increased enzymatic activity in the GCs (converts testosterone to estradiol)
What is the role of LH in the Follicular Phase?
- Stimulates production of LH receptors on outer GCs (results in lower cGMP production which signals oocyte to reduce cGMPs – results in oocyte meiosis resumption)
- Stimulates theca interna cells to produce testosterone (testosterone diffuses into GCs and gets converted to estradiol via aromatase
enzymes)