The Female Reproductive System Flashcards
Explain five functions of the Female Reproductive System
- Produce ovum
- Recieve sperm
- Provide and environment for fertilisation
- Provide nutrition to the foetus
- Birth the foetus
What are the 5 physiological and physical changes during puberty for females?
- Increased body hair
- Developing breasts
- Acne
- Widening of hips
- Increased Oestrogen & Progesterone
What are the three layers of the Uterus?
- Endometrium
- Myometrium
- Perimetrium
List the external parts of the Female Reproductive System
- Mons Pubis
- Hood of clitoris
- Clitoris
- Perineum
- Labia Majora
- Labia Minora
- Urethral opening
- Anus
List the internal parts of the Female Reproductive System
- Uterine tube
- Fundus of the uterus
- Ovary
- Body of the uterus
- Fimbrae
- Endometrium
- Myometrium
- Perimetrium
- Cervix
- Vagina
Where is the cervix found?
At the bottom of the uterus and the top of the vagina
What is the function of the Endometrium?
This layer is shed during menstruation and provides a suitable environement for implantation
What is the function of the myometrium?
It is a smooth layer of muscle that contracts during labour under the influence of oxytocin
What layer of the uterus does the zygote implant into?
Endometrium
What is the function of the perimetrium?
Constructed of epithelial cells that secrete a lubricating fluid to reduce friction
The average menstrual cycle is ____ days long?
28
In which part of the female reproductive system does fertilisation usually occur?
Fallopian Tube
What hormones do the ovaries produce?
Oestrogen and Progesterone
Is the cervix classed as part of the uterus?
No
What part of the Female Reproductive System dilates during labour?
The Cervix
Which hormone is the corpus luteum responsible for producing?
A - Oestrogen
B - Progesterone
C - Follicle-stimulating hormone
D - Luteinising hormone
B - Progesterone
What are the 4 main hormones?
FSH- Follicle Stimulating Hormone
LH- Luteinising Hormone
Oestrogen
progesterone
What is the main purpose of the follicular phase?
The ovary houses a developing egg, that will then be released during ovulation
What is the activity involving the partial shedding of the endometrium?
Menstruation
What are the four phases during the menstral cycle?
Menstral phase
Follicular phase
Ovulation phase
Luteal phase
In a normal 28day menstrual cycle, when would you expect the LH surge to occur?
Day 11-13
What are the benefits of pubic hair?
Protection against infection
Reduces friction
Signal Reproductive ability
What are the glands in the vulva?
Paraurethral glands
Vestibular glands
What are the purpose of the vulvar glands?
To produce lubrication to reduce friction during sex
What forms the vagina?
Moist epitherial cells
What are the vaginal secretions a mix of?
Cervical mucus
Transudate fluid from surrounding blood vessels
What do the vaginal secretions do along with bacterias in the vaginal microbiome do?
They form a biofilm that covers the vaginal canal and protects the reproductive tract from infections.
What is the natural pH of the vagina?
3.5-4.5
How does the vagina have a acidic pH?
Because the cells in the vagina transform the glycogen into lactic acid.
What happens to the level of bacteria in the vagina during the menstrual cycle?
The levels of bacteria increase with higher levels of oestrogen and then decrease with lower levels of oestrogen
How many nerves are in the clitoris?
8000
What is the top of the uterus called?
The fundus
Describe the uterine tubes
Mobile tubes of smooth muscle that helps to move the egg down to the uterine cavity with a wave like motion. They are not fixed to the ovary
Where does fertilisation happen?
At the ampulla
How does an ectopic pregnancy happen?
Sometimes what the uterine tube opens into the peritoneal space (abdomen) the egg can be released into the abdominal cavity where sperm can still reach it.
What does the ovarian ligament do?
It holds the ovary in place but does not connect it to the uterine cavity
What are the two main parts of the uterus?
The body and the cervix
What are the functions of the cervix?
Protecting from infection
Keeps the pregnancy inside when closed and opening to allow menstruation or birth
What are the three types of muscle layers in the myometrium?
longitudinal
circular
transverse
Describe the longitudinal layer of the myometrium
Vertical fibres going from top to bottom. There are more present at the fundus. During pregnancy they remain relaxed to allow the uterus to grow
Describe the circular layer of the myometrium
They surround the bottom part of the uterine body and the cervix. During pregnancy they remain contracted to keep the uterus closed and keep the growing baby inside. They are also present around the horns of the uterus
Describe the transverse layer of the myometrium
It’s a mixture of the the longitudinal and circular layers. They are in an oblique direction. They enclose the spiral artery which feeds the uterine muscle and the endometrium where the placenta is. When these fibres are contracted the blood flow in the spiral arteries is reduced. This is an important mechanism in preventing postpartum haemorrhage (these muscles need to contract, squeezing the arteries closed and therefore stopping the bleeding)
Which artery does the ovarian artery feed from?
The abdominal aorta
Where does the uterine and vaginal arteries feed from?
Internal iliac arteries
Where does the vulva get its blood from?
It receives an arterial blood supply from the internal pudendal arteries. This means that it will bleed easily if subjected to trauma but will also heal rapidly
Where do uterine contractions start?
What happens to the ligaments during a uterine contraction at birth?
Instead of the circular muscles being contracted and the vertical fibres being relaxed to grow and keep the baby inside they are reversed and the circular ones relax and the vertical ones start to contract
Describe the broad ligament
Covers the uterus from the top. This ligament keeps the uterus folded anteriorly over the bladder. While also preventing the rectum to fall over the uterus
Which ligament anchors the uterus to the back (the sacrum)?
The utero-sacral ligament
From the sides which ligaments keep the uterus in the centre of the pelvis?
The pubocervical ligament and transverse ligament
From the bottom what ligament keeps the uterus in place?
Superficial and deep pelvic floor muscles
Describe the position of the uterus?
It is anteverted and anterflexed. The top part is flexible but the cervix is anchored in its position and limited to slight changes.
What are the two processes that make up the menstrual cycle?
The development of the egg and the development of the endometrium
What coordinates the two processes?
Hormones
What is the goal of the cycle?
To develop an egg and to prepare for pregnancy
What are the three cycles?
Ovarian, Endometrial and Hormonal
What does menarche mean?
The first period a girl gets
When does the development of an egg starts?
During the fetal stage when a branch of stem cells will specialise and become primary oocytes.
How many chromosomes do primary oocytes have?
46
When is the egg finally mature?
At the point of fertilisation. The mature egg is also called the ovum
What is the process of maturation?
It is what happens to a single cell inside the ovary. This small cell develops inside a ball of cells called a follicle
What part is released during ovulation?
The inside while the follicle will remain in the ovary
How long does the maturation of the follicle take?
Around 3 months
How many follicles start the maturation process?
Several but only one will fully develop into a mature egg in response to hormonal changes
What happens in the first stage of the ovarian cycle?
Activated by the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland starts the cycle by releasing a hormone called FSH. This stimulates the follicle to grow.
What is the second stage of ovulation?
Once the follicles have developed enough they start producing more and more oestrogen which signals they are ready for ovulation. FSH is no longer needed and the levels start to fall.
What happens 12 hours after the peak of oestrogen?
The pituitary gland sends the order of ovulation by releasing a big peak of LH
What happens after 24 hours?
Ovulation will happen and the levels of LH will fall. The oocyte will start its travel through the uterine tube, while the follicle will remain in the ovary, maintaining oestrogen to stimulate the growth of the endometrium to prepare for implantation.
What is stage 5 of the ovulation cycle?
It is now transformed into the corpus luteum. This corpus luteum starts producing progesterone to maintain the endometrium and protect the fertilised egg until it’s able to produce its own hormones in the primitive placenta.
What happens if there is not pregnancy?
The corpus luteum will degenerate in corpus albicums (white body), and the levels of oestrogen and progesterone will fall, finishing the cycle and signalling the pituitary gland to start the next cycle again with FSH.
Reducing the levels of oestrogen and progesterone stimulate prostaglandin which causes the spiral arteries of the endometrium to go into spasm to restrict blood flow and the endometrium dies.
What happens in the proliferative phase?
When the endometrium grows. The endometrium remains at its basal level until the oestrogen level starts to grow again with the follicle development.
What happens if there is a pregnancy?
The corpus luteum continues developing, progesterone levels are maintained and develop the endometrium further to nourish and develop the future placenta. the blastocyte releases human chorionic gonadotrophic (hcG) which stimulates the continuation of progesterone production.
