Structural and Functional Organization of the Female Reproductive System Flashcards
Term for external genitals of the female?
Vulva, or pudendum
Which organs produce secondary oocytes?
The ovaries
Which organs arise from the same embryonic tissue as the testes?
The ovaries
What type of hormones are produced by the ovaries?
Progesterone and estrogen (female sex hormones)
Inhibn and relaxin
What is the layer of simple epithelium that covers the surface of the ovary?
Germinal epithelium
What is the region in the ovaries that is a region of dense connective tissue that contains ovarian follicles?
Ovarian cortex
what does each follicle consist of?
an oocyte and a variable number of surrounding cells that nourish it and begin to secrete estrogens as the follicle grows larger.
what type of follicle is a large, fluid filled follicle that is preparing to rupture and expel a secondary oocyte.
a mature (graafian) follicle
what do the remnants of an ovulated follicle develop into?
a corpus luteum
what does the corpus luteum develop?
progesterone, estrogen, relaxin, and inhibin
what will the corpus luteum degenerate into?
a fibrous tissue called a corpus albicans
what is in the ovarian medulla?
loose connective tissue that contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.
what transports the secondary oocytes from the ovaries to the uterus?
the uterine (fallopian) tubes.
what is the open, funnel shaped end of the fallopian tubes called that opens to the pelvic cavity?
infundibulum
what is on the end of the the infundibulum that looks like a fringe of fingerlike projections?
fimbriae
how do secondary oocytes travel into the uterine tube?
by local currents produced by movements of the fimbriae, which surround the surface of the mature follicle just before ovulation occurs.
from the fimbriae, how is the oocyte moved along the tube to the the uterus?
cilia in the tubes mucus lining and peristaltic contractions of its smooth muscle layer
what is the usual site of fertilization of a secondary oocyte by a sperm cell?
in the uterine (fallopian tube)
fertilization can occur any time up to about how may hours after ovulation?
24 hrs.
what are secondary oocytes called once fertilized?
ovum (zygote)
the fertilized ovum (zygote) descends into the uterus within how many days?
7 days
what happens to unfertilized secondary oocytes?
they disintegrate
what is the site of implantation of a fertilized ovum, development of the fetus, and labor?
Uterus
what is the source of menstrual flow?
the uterus
where is the uterus situated?
between the urinary bladder and the rectum
what are the parts of the uterus?
the dome shaped portion superior to the uterine tubes (fundus), the tapering central portion called the body, and the narrow portion opening to the vagina called the cervix.
what is the uterine cavity?
the interior of the body of the uterus
what do you call the layers of the uterus?
the middle muscular layer of the uterus is the myometrium, the innermost portion called the endometrium that has a mucous membrane.
what forms the bulk of the uterine wall?
the myometrium
what does the endometrium contain that nourishes the sperm and zygote?
the secretions of the endometrial glands.
what is the recess called that surrounds the cervix?
the fornix
where is the vagina situated?
between the urinary bladder and the rectum
what does a contraceptive diaphragm rest on when covering the cervix?
the fornix
the decomposition of what on the mucosa of the vagina produces organic acids?
large stores of glycogen.
what is the purpose of the acidic environment within the vagina?
slow microbial growth, but it is also harmful to sperm.
what helps neutralize the acidity of the vagina and increases the viability of sperm in the vagina?
alkaline secretions, mainly from the seminal vesicles.
what is the thin fold of mucous membrane partially covering the vaginal orifice?
the hymen (membrane)
what is the diamond shaped area between the thighs and buttocks of both males and females that contains the external genitals and anus?
the perineum
what is the term for the external genitals of the female?
vulva, or pudendum
what is the elevation of adipose tissue covered by coarse pubic hair, which cushions the pubic symphysis
Mons Pubis
what are the two longitudinal folds of skin extend down from the mons pubis?
labia majora
what is singular for labia majora?
labium majus
the labia majora develops from the same embryonic tissue as what in males?
scrotum
what is the type of tissue and glands on the labia majora?
adipose tissue and sebaceous (oil) and sudoriferous (sweat ) glands
what is contained in the labia minora?
numerous sebaceous (oil) glands, a few sudoriferous (sweat) glands.
where is the clitoris located?
anterior junction of the labia minora
what is formed at a point where the labia minora unite and covers the body of the clitoris?
the prepuce ( or foreskin)
what is the exposed portion of the clitoris called?
the glans
what is the region between the labia minoras called?
the vestibule
what is located in the vestibule?
hymen if present.
vaginal orifice
urethral orifice
the openings of the ducts of the paraurethral glands (Skene glands)
what is on either side of the vaginal opening?
the greater vestibular glands, Bartholin glands
what produces a small quantity of mucus during sexual arousal and intercourse that adds to cervical mucus and provides lubrication?
the Bartholin glands
the males prostate develops from the same embryonic tissue as the females _________ glands.
Skene
what are modified sudoriferous (sweat) glands that produce milk?
mammary glands
Why does the areola appear rough?
because it contains modified sebaceous (oil) glands
how are the mammary glands arranged?
15-20 lobes arranged radially, separated by adipose tissue and strands of connective tissue
what are the suspensory ligaments of the breast called?
Coopers ligaments
what are the smaller lobules called that secrete milk?
alveoli
what hormones contribute to the development of female breasts?
estrogen and progesterone
what is the function of the mammary glands?
synthesis, secretion, and ejection of milk (lactation)
milk production is stimulated by which hormone?
prolactin from the anterior pituitary
the ejection of milk is stimulated by what hormone?
oxytocin, released from the posterior pituitary in response to the sucking of an infant on the mothers nipple.
what is the term for formation and development of gametes in females?
oogenesis
what body structures control the hormonal main events of oogenesis?
hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and ovaries
steroid hormones released by the _______ control the uterine (menstrual) cyle
ovaries
if fertilization does not occur, the levels of ______ hormones decrease which causes part of the endometrium to slough off
ovarian
what does the term “female reproductive cycle” encompass?
the ovarian and uterine cycles, the hormonal changes that regulate them, and the related cyclical changes in the breast and cervix.
GnRH secreted by the _______ controls the ovarian and uterine cycles?
hypothalamus
GnRH stimulates the release of _________ and ___________ from the anterior pituitary gland
Follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone
what initiates follicular growth and the secretion of estrogens by the growing follicles?
FSH
what stimulates the further development of ovarian follicles and their full secretion of estrogens after FSH?
LH
at mid cycle, ______ triggers ovulation and then promotes formation of the corpus luteum, the reason for the name.
LH
stimulated by LH, the ________ produces and secretes estrogen’s, progesterone, relaxin, and inhibin
corpus luteum.
what promotes the development and maintenance of female reproductive structures, feminine secondary sex characteristics, and the mammary glands?
Estrogens
what do the “secondary sex characteristics” include
distribution of adipose tissue in the breasts, abdomen, mons pubis, and hips, a broad pelvis, and the pattern of hair growth and the head and body.
_____________ stimulate protein synthesis. Acting together with insulin like growth factors, insulin, and thyroid hormones
estrogens
__________ lowers blood cholesterol level.
Estrogens
progesterone, secreted from the corpus luteum, act together with what to prepare and maintain the endometrium for implantation of a fertilized ovum
estrogens
what relaxes the uterus by inhibiting contractions of the myometrium?
relaxin, produced by the corpus luteum during each monthly cycle
what helps dilate the uterine cervix and increases the flexibility of the pubic symphysis at the end of pregnancy?
relaxin
what is secreted by growing follicles and by the corpus luteum after ovulation?
inhibin
what does inhibin, inhibit?
secretion of FSH and to a lesser extent LH
the duration of the female reproductive cycle is how many days?
varies from 24 to 36, but usually we say 28.
what are the four phases of the reproductive cycle?
menstrual phase, pre ovulatory phase, ovulation, and the post ovulatory phase
what marks the first day of a new cycle?
the first day of menstruation
menstrual flow from the uterus consists of tissue from the endometrium and how much blood?
50-150 mL of blood.
why does the discharge of menstrual flow occur?
because of the declining levels of ovulation hormones (progesterone and estrogen) cause uterine arteries to constrict. as a result the cells they supply die and slough off.
what is the time called between the end of menstruation and ovulation?
pre ovulatory phase
the preovulatory phase is which days of the cycle?
6 to 13
what hormone influences the growth of follicles and helps them begin to secrete estrogen and inhibin?
FSH
by which day has a single follicle outgrown the others?
day 6
what decreases the secretion of FSH?
estrogen and inhibin secreted by the dominant follicle decreases the secretion of FSH, which causes other follicles to stop growing and die.
what is another term for the mature follicle?
graafian
during maturation, the follicle continues to increase its production of estrogen under the influence of what?
LH
with reference to the ovarian cycle, which parts of the female reproductive cycle are grouped together to be called the follicular phase?
the menstrual phase and the pre ovulatory phase.
what stimulates the repair of the endothelium?
estrogens liberated into the blood by growing ovarian follicles.
the ovulation period falls on which days in the cycle?
the 14th day.
what brings about the rupture of the mature (graafian) follicle and it’s expulsions of a secondary oocyte?
the surge of LH promoted by GnRH release.
how long is the postovulatory phase?
14 days
which phase of the reproductive cycle is the most constant in duration?
the postovulatory phase
stimulated by LH, the remaining follicular cells in the ovaries form what?
the corps luteum, which secretes progesterone, estrogen, relaxin, and inhibin.
what do you call the phase which the corpus luteum secretes hormones after ovulation (in reference to the ovulation cycle)
the luteal phase
if they oocyte is not fertilized, how long does the corpus luteum last?
for only two weeks
what causes the release of GnRH, FSH, and LH to rise postovulatory?
the drop of progesterone, estrogens, and inhibin. the lack of negative feedback suppression.
what happens to the corpus luteum if the secondary oocyte is fertilized?
it is “rescued” from degeneration by hCG, a hormone produced by the embryo. HCG stimulates secretory activity of the corpus luteum.
