STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Flashcards
The organs of the female reproductive system
(1) Include the ovaries; the uterine (fallopian) tubes, (or oviducts); the uterus; the vagina; and external organs, which are collectively called the vulva, or pudendum.
(2) The mammary glands also are considered part of the female reproductive system
paired organs that produce secondary oocytes (cells that develop into mature ova, or eggs, following fertilization) and hormones, such as progesterone and estrogens (the female sex hormones), inhibin, and relaxin.
ovaries (egg receptacles)
a layer of simple epithelium (low cuboidal or squamous) that covers the surface of the ovary.
germinal epithelium
a region of dense connectivetissue that contains ovarian follicles.
Deep to the germinal epithelium
ovarian cortex
Each ovarian follicle (folliculus little bag) consists of
an oocyte and a variable number of surrounding cells that nourish the developing oocyte and begin to secrete estrogens as the follicle grows larger.
a large, fluid-filled follicle
that is preparing to rupture and expel a secondary oocyte.
mature (graafian) follicle
produces progesterone, estrogens, relaxin, and inhibin until it degenerates and turns into fibrous tissue called a corpus albicans (white body).
corpus luteum
consists of loose connective
tissue and contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.
deep to the ovarian cortex
ovarian medulla
The open, funnel shaped end of each tube, lies close to the ovary, but is open to the pelvic cavity.
the infundibulum,
It ends in a fringe of fingerlike projections
fimbriae
How is the secondary oocyte directed to the uterine tube
After ovulation, local currents produced by movements of the fimbriae, which surround the surface of the mature follicle just before ovulation occurs, sweep the secondary
oocyte into the uterine tube
The oocyte is then moved along the tube by cilia in the tube’s mucous lining and ____ of its smooth muscle layer
peristaltic contractions
The usual site for fertilization of a secondary oocyte by a sperm cell is in the
uterine
tube
Fertilization may occur any time up to about ____ after ovulation
24 hours
The fertilized ovum (zygote) descends into the uterus how many days. Unfertilized
secondary oocytes disintegrate.
within seven days
Parts of the uterus
the dome shaped portion superior to the uterine tubes called the fundus, the tapering central portion called the body, and the narrow portion opening into the vagina called the cervix
interior of the body of the uterus
uterine cavity
The middle muscular layer of the uterus, consists of smooth muscleand forms the bulk of the uterine wall.
myometrium
innermost part of the uterine wall, is a mucous membrane. It nourishes a growing fetus or is shed each month during
menstruation if fertilization does not occur.
endometrium
What layer of the uterus contains many endometrial glands whose secretions nourish sperm and the zygote.
endometrium
A recess surrounds the cervix.
fornix
The mucosa of the vagina contains large stores of
glycogen
the decomposition of which
produces organic acids.
What about the vaginal environment retards microbial growth, but it also is harmful to sperm.
The resulting acidic environment from the decomposition of glycogen
the diamond-shaped area between the thighs and buttocks of both males
and females that contains the external genitals and anus
perineum