Reproductive System (Female) Part I Flashcards
What are the female gonads?
The ovaries
(produce gametes - 1/month and sex hormones progesterone and estrogen)
What are the two accessory ducts you would find in the female reproductive system?
- Fallopian (uterine) tubes: transport of ovum and fertilization
- Uterus: implantation & development of fetus (menstrual cycle in no implantation occurs)
What organ is both the female organ of copulation and the birth canal?
Vagina
What are the two accessory glands associated with the female reproductive system?
- Mammary glands = nutrition of newborn
- Pituitary gland = stimulates oogenesis and ovulation
What two hormones are produced by the ovaries?
Estrogen and progesterone
What three things are produced by the ovaries?
- Gametes (~1/month)
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
Where does fertilization occur in the female reproduction occur?
Fallopian (uterine) tubes
The peritoneum over all of the female reproductive organs is called
The Broad Ligament
(over uterus, fallopian tube, ovary)
The uterus has a thickening just before the vaginal canal called the:
Cervix
Between the bladder and the uterus, the parietal peritoneum produces a pouch called the:
Vesicouterine pouch
Between the uterus and rectum, the parietal peritoneum produces a pouch called the:
Rectouterine pouch
What makes up the suspensory ligament?
Ovarian aa and vv
(peritoneum surrounding vasculature)
What connects the ovary to the uterus?
Ovarian Ligament - thickening of peritineum
What is the first portion of the fallopian tubes called?
Infundibulum: has fimbriae (finger projection) - where ovum enters
Following the infundibulum is a thickening of the fallopian tube called the _______ which is the “perfect environment for ______”
Following the infundibulum is a thickening of the fallopian tube called the ampulla which is the “perfect environment for fertilization”
Following the ampulla, the fallopian tube is called the ______ before reaching the transitional portion called ______
Following the ampulla, the fallopian tube is called the isthmus before reaching the transitional portion called intramural
What is implicated by having the parietal peritoneum draped over the reproductive organs in females?
Each time the female ovulates, the peritoneum must be digested in order to offer the ovum to fimbriae (fallopian tube)
- Ovary becomes intraperitoneal
What are the three parts to the broad ligament (formed by two layers of peritoneum)
- Mesosalpinx: over tube
- Mesovarium: over ovary
- Mesometrium: over uterus
The part of the broad ligament that covers the fallopian tubes is called:
Mesosalpinx
(Meso = Mesentery; salpinx = tube)
The mesentery (broad ligament) over the ovary is called the:
Mesovarium
The part of the mesentery (broad ligament) that covers the uterus (and the rest of the reproductive tract) is called the:
Mesometrium
What structure anchors the uterus down?
Broad ligament
What ligament goes to the inguinal canal?
Round ligament of the uterus
Which ligament extends from the wall of the pelvis to the ovary?
Suspensory Ligament
Which ligament connects the ovary to the lateral surface of the uterus?
Ovarian ligament
Part of the broad ligament that attaches to the body wall (on either side of the uterus) is called the:
Transverse Ligament
What ligament joins the uterus to the sacrum? (Posterior)
Uterosacral ligament
What three major ligaments are associated with the ovaries?
- Mesovarium (pink)
- mesentery (broad ligament)
- Ovarian Ligament (purple)
- anchor to the uterus
- Suspensory ligament (orange)
- ovarian blood vessels
The ovaries produce:
Ova, estrogen and progesterone
What are 6 functions of estrogen and progesterone?
- Regulate functions of reproductive system (and other systems)
- Generate secondary sex characteristics
- Generate sex drive
- maintenance of uterus lining (endometrium)
- stimulates growth and metabolism throughout the body
- influence brain development
What are the three processes associated with the female reproductive system?
- Oogenesis
- production of oocytes (gametes)
- Ovarian cycle
- events associated with oocyte maturation
- Uterine (menstrual cycle)
- prep uterus for implantation of fertilized oocyte
What process produces female gametes?
Oogenesis
Production of female gametes (oogenesis)
- Begins during ______
- Dormant until ______
- Ends at ______
Production of female gametes (oogenesis)
- Begins during foetal development (oogenia converted into primary oocytes) born with all gametes
- Dormant until puberty (menarche)
- Ends at menopause
What part of oogenesis happens before birth?
Mitosis and DNA replication (primary oocyte)
At birth, what happens to the primary oocytes?
They are suspended in meiosis I
The ______ undergoes mitosis to become the diploid primary oocyte
The oogonium undergoes mitosis to become the diploid primary oocyte
What is a primordial follicle?
Primary oocyte with cells surrounding it (female is born with all)
What happens to the primary oocyte at puberty?
What is it stimulated by?
During puberty:
- Anterior pituitary starts producing Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- FSH stimulates the completion of meiosis I by the primary oocytes into secondary oocyte
At ovulation, the secondary oocyte is suspended in ______
At ovulation, the secondary oocyte is suspended in meiosis II
What does the secondary oocyte do with its organelles?
- “kicks out” the second nucleus (first polar body)
- ingests all the cytoplasm that was in the second body
In males how many sperm are produced from one germ cell?
How does this relationship differ to that of females?
- 1 germ cell produces 4 sperm
- 1 germ cell produces 1 secondary oocyte
What hormone stimulates ovulation?
LH (luteinizing hormone)
What has to happen for the secondary oocyte to complete meiosis II?
Fertilization
If there is no fertilization, what happens to the secondary oocyte?
It passes into the uterus as an immature egg and disintegrates = menses
If the secondary oocyte is fertilized as it’s passing through the ________, it completes ______ and forms a _______ and a ______
If the secondary oocyte is fertilized as it’s passing through the fallopian tube, it completes meiosis and forms a mature egg and a second polar body
What process results in formation of the polar body?
Uneven division of the cytoplasm
Where do oocytes develop and mature?
What is this process called?
In ovarian follicles
- ovarian cycle
What part of oogenesis is completed before birth?
What part of oogenesis occurs at puberty?
What happens at ovulation?
- Before birth:
- mitosis
- meiosis I
- Puberty
- completion of meiosis I
- Keeps one nucleus
- Absorbs all cytoplasm
- Ovulation:
- start meiosis II
- Suspend meiosis II
- only completes if secondary oocyte is fertilized
What is the the ovarian cycle?
Monthly series of events associated with maturation of the oocyte
What ligament is associated with the hilum of the ovary?
Suspensory ligament
- entry point for ovarian vessels
What makes up the Ovary?
The ovary itself is a dense connective tissue called tunica albuginea (same as in males)
The ovary is covered in peritoneum
The part of the ovary is closely associated to the peritoneum is called the _______.
What happens in this region?
The part of the ovary closely associated to the peritoneum is called the cortex.
The oocytes mature at different stages in the cortex
What is the primary difference between the ovarian cortex and medulla?
More vasculature (more capillaries) associated with the medulla
- because site where there is exchange of sex hormones from oocyte to vasculature
What are the three stages to the ovarian cycle?
- Follicular Phase
- Ovulation
- Luteal Phase
What is the follicular stage focused on?
What are the four follicles in this stage?
The cells surrounding the oocyte and their maturation - prepping for ovulation
- Primordial follicle - born with
- Primary follicle - differentiation of cells
- Secondary follicle - produce antrum (liquid)
- Mature (Graafian) Follicle
What happens at ovulation?
Follicle ruptures and egg digests through the cortex and peritoneum in order to offer oocyte and associated cells (corona radiata)
What happens in the luteal phase?
- time span
- hormones
- “time between ovulation and start of menstruation”
- ~12 days (uterus is prepping for implantation)
- Ruptured follicle closes - forms corpus luteum - cells from the follicles differentiate
- increase estrogen
- decrease LH and FSH
What happens in the luteal phase if there is no fertilization?
Corpus luteum degenerates into fibroblasts
- forms scar tissue called corpus albicans (stays there entire life - shows how often a woman ovulated)
The tunica albuginea (CT of ovary) has ______ cells that differentiate and surround the primary oocyte - become simple squamous epithelium surrounding oocyte (follicle)
The tunica albuginea (CT of ovary) has Stromal cells that differentiate and surround the primary oocyte - become simple squamous epithelium surrounding oocyte (follicle)
Once the stromal cells differentiate to form the simple squamous epithelium surrounding the oocyte, they are called:
Follicle cells
A primary oocyte surrounded by follicle cells (simple squamous cells) is called a:
Primary follicle
How is the primary follicle developed?
- FSH at puberty stimulates differentiation of follicle cells
- follicle cells go from simple squamous to cuboidal and they become more numerous (lots of layers)
Both the cuboidal cells _____ and oocyte are producing a _______ during primary follicle development, which together produces a basal membrane called the _______
Both the cuboidal cells “Granulosa cells” and oocyte are producing a basal laminal during primary follicle development, which together produces a basal membrane called the zona pellucida
What is the zona pellucida?
What is it produced by and when?
Thick glycoprotein layer surrounding the plasma membrane of the oocyte
- produced by both follicle (differentiated into granulosa) cells and the oocyte during primary follicle development (follicular phase)
What are theca cells?
When do they appear?
Appear during primary follicle development (first appear around follicles that have 2+ layers of granulosa cells)
- associated with capillaries
- endocrine cell that produces the androgen substrate important for the biosynthesis of estrogen
What makes up the primary follicle?
- Primary oocyte
- zona pellucida (protein coat)
- Granulosa cells (cuboidal cells)
- Theca cells (endocrine cells)
What is FSH regulated by?
What is it critical for?
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus.
Critical for the stimulation of follicle development (start of ovarian cycle every month)
What is the difference between the secondary follicle and the primary follicle
Secondary follicles are larger - more granulosa cells
- theca cells associated with vasculature
- accumulation of follicular fluid in intracellular space (called the Antrum)
Which two cells produce and release estrogen into the vasculature?
Communication between Theca and granulosa cells
- theca cells are the ones that release the estrogen into the vasculature
What is the role of estrogen in the ovarian cycle?
Estrogen supports the regrowth of the endometrium (layer in uterus) after menstruation
What is the antrum?
Fluid-filled space
rich in plasma
super “sticky”
What happens during mature follicle development?
Granulosa cells prepare oocyte for ovulation:
- differentiate into cumulus oophorus (egg on a cloud) and raise the oocyte
How many secondary follicles develop into a mature (graafian) follicle?
Only one
the rest degenerate by atresia
What happens once the oocyte is projected into the antrum (by cumulus oophorus - granulosa cells)?
The complex pushes against the ovary - starts to eat through the cortex
- Mature follicle starts meiosis II (stops at metaphase)
- granulosa cells degenerate
- oocyte separates from wall
- oocyte is now free-floating in antrum with corona radiata
- Ready for ovulation
What is the function of non-ovulated follicles?
They are all secreted estrogen
- many small follicles are required in early stages of the ovarian cycle to secrete required estrogen
- as follicles enlarge, one becomes dominant and takes over estrogen secretion
What stimulates ovulation?
- follicle matures - increasing estrogen secretion
- high [estrogen] cases anterior pituitary to release luteinizing hormone (LH)
- LH induces the final maturation and ovulation of the follicle
What happens during ovulation (2nd stage of ovarian cycle)
- The granulosa cells chew through the cortex and peritoneum of the ovary
- Follicle ruptures
- oocyte released with its corona radiata onto surface of ovary
- sticky antrum allows oocyte to be offered to the fimbriae
As long as the corpus luteum is active (about 12 days) it produces: (hormone)
As long as the corpus luteum is active (about 12 days) it produces: progesterone
-prepares uterus for implantation
What happens during the Luteal phase?
- empty follicle collapses and ruptures blood vessels
- Remaining granulosa cells proliferate and create corpus luteum
What is the corpus luteum maintained by?
Luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary
or
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from implanted embryo
What hormone is tested for by pregnancy tests?
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
-released as soon as there is implantation of embryo
Both FSH and LH are regulated by what hormone?
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (from hypothalamus)
ovarian cycle and endocrine integration
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus stimulates the ________ to release FSH which kickstarts the ________ phase of the ovarian cycle
- these follicles produce ______ which stimulates the hypothalamus to release GnRH which causes release of ___ from the ______.
- LH stimulates _________ (second phase of ovarian cycle)
- The _______ produces a bunch of progesterone and estrogen to prepare uterus for implantation (_____ phase)
- After ____ days, if there is no fertilization, the amounts of progesterone and estrogen produced is _____ and the ________ dies off becoming the scar tissue ________
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary to release FSH which kickstarts the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle
- these follicles produce estrogens which stimulates the hypothalamus to release GnRH which causes release of LH from the anterior pituitary.
- LH stimulates ovulation (second phase of ovarian cycle)
- The corpus luteum produces a bunch of progesterone and estrogen to prepare uterus for implantation (Luteal phase)
- After 12 days, if there is no fertilization, the amounts of progesterone and estrogen produced is reduced and the corpus luteum dies off becoming the scar tissue corpus albicans
What stabilises the fallopian (uterine) tubes?
Mesosalpinx
The ____ of the fallopian tubes is considered “outside world”
The lumen of the fallopian tubes is considered “outside world”
The fallopian tubes are ______ ______ tubes that _____ the oocyte
The fallopian tubes are hollow, muscular tubes that nourish the oocyte
During ovulation, the ______ and ______ (of fallopian tubes) sweep over the surface of the ovary.
The oocyte is captured by the _____ and transported into the fallopian tube by __________
During ovulation, the infundibulum and fimbrae (of fallopian tubes) sweep over the surface of the ovary.
The oocyte is captured by the infundibulum and transported into the fallopian tube by simple ciliated columnar epithelium
What is the effect of estrogen on smooth muscle?
Estrogen stimulates smooth mm contraction
- causes fimbriae to contract
The fallopian transports the _____ (_____ if meiosis II is completed) to the uterus
The fallopian transports the secondary oocyte (ovum/zygote if meiosis II is completed) to the uterus
What are the four regions of the fallopian tubes?
- Infundibulum
- Ampulla
- Isthumus
- Intramural
What is the infundibulum?
How does it respond to high estrogen levels?
- First portion of the fallopian tube- begins with fibriae
- When estrogen is high, smooth mm contract = fimbriae sweeps over ovary
- Epithelium has ciliated and secretory cells; cilia beat in direction of the ampulla (second region of fallopian tube)
What is at the ampulla of the fallopian tube?
- secretes?
- movement of oocyte?
- lumen?
- enlargement
- complex lumen
- mucosal folds - where fertilization usually takes place
- secretes nutrient rich mucus
- Cilia and muscle contraction move oocyte
What is the isthmus of the fallopian tube?
Narrowest point of the fallopian tube
- thick muscularis
- peristaltic contraction moves oocyte towards uterus
What is the intramural>
Part of fallopian tube - duct that penetrates the wall of the uterus
Zygote implants in the ______ of the uterus
Zygote implants in the mucosa of the uterus
- thick because of progesterone
