Reproduction system: Female's Flashcards
What is the difference between oocytes, eggs and ovum?
They are all the same
What are the main female reproductive organs?
Vagina, uterus, Uterine tubes and ovaries
What is the physical description of the vagina?
An elastic muscular tube extending from the cervix to the exterior of the body
What are the functions of the vagina?
Eliminates menstrual fluid, receives the penis during sexual intercourse and holds the spermatozoa before they pass into the uterus
What is the shape of the uterus?
A small pear shaped organ
What is the function of the uterus?
Pathways for sperm transport
provides mechanical protection, nutritional support and waste removal for the developing embryo and fetus
Contracts enabling the fetus to be ejected during birth
Source of menstrual flow
What is the normal and abnormal positioning of the uterus?
Normal = anti flexed (90º angle to the cervix pointing anteriorly)
Abnormal = retroflexed (pointing posteriorly)
Can/how does a retroflexed uterus correct itself?
During child bearing it will go back to be anti-flexed
What is the uterine tube?
A tube that connect the ovaries to the uterus
What is the function of the uterine tube?
Provides a rich nutritive environment for the sperm, oocyte and developing embryo while it transports these into the uterus
What are the two types of cells in the uterine tube? What do each do?
Ciliated and non-ciliated
The ciliated grab the egg and transport it down into the uterus (FYI there is also smooth muscle that perform peristaltic action), the non-ciliated provides nutrients for the egg
What can cause the ciliated cells in the uterine tube to be less effective? What can this lead to?
Women who smoke, are older and have pre-eisting damage in their uterine tube (i.e. from STI’s) have cilia that don’t beat as much therefore the egg doesn’t move down the tube fast enough which can lead to an ectopic pregnancy
What are the ovaries?
Small oval structure at the end of the uterine tube
What is the function of the ovaries?
Stores and maintains the eggs
What is the cervix?
The narrow passage way into the uterus
What does the cervix have in it most of the month and why?
Normally blocked off with a mucosal plug to prevent sperm, bacteria etc. getting into the reproductive tract
What is an old fashioned method for predicting fetal growth?
Some women are able to feel the fundus of their uterus (the top of their uterus) and the height in centimetres is approximately the number of weeks of gestation (FYI greater than usual height may indicate twins, breech birth etc., less than may indicate underdevelopment)
Label the diagram
What is the endometrium?
The mucosal inner membrane layer of the uterus
What is the structure of the endometrium? What is the function of each component?
Inner functional zone, stratum functionalis (on the inside of the uterus) - Contains most of the uterine glands
Outer basilar zone, stratum basalis (i.e. base of endometrium) - attaches the stratum functionalis to the myometrium
How does the structure of the endometrium change? Why?
In the lead up to ovulation the endometrium develops a thicker stratum functionalis so that the uterus is more well nourished for the potential implantation of an embryo. During menstruation this thicker layer of stratum functionalis is removed
Label the diagram