The Female Reproductive System Flashcards
At what phase are oocytes arrested at?
Prophase I: it’s living, just not dividing
What is the process of egg creation and when does it occur?
oogenesis, which occurs during gestation
Where do the oocytes mature and reside?
within the ovaries
What is the polar body?
similar to in the male reproductive system, the germ cells undergo mitosis; here, the oocyte divides in half, but only one cell receives the majority of the cytoplasm while the other cell is much smaller and slowly withers away
True or False: the polar body receives 23 chromosomes
True - it just does not receive adequate cytoplasm
What is the difference between the oocyte and the follicle?
The oocyte is the primordial cell that develops into the ovum, while the follicle is the secretory capsule that surrounds the oocyte
What are the 2 main cells that comprise the layers of the follicle?
granulosa cells and theca cells
What is the function of granulosa cells?
granulosa cells are stimulated by FSH, and secrete a substance around the egg called the “zona pellucida”
When does the primary oocyte become the primary follicle?
after the creation of the zona pellucida
When does the primary follicle become the secondary follicle?
when theca cells grow around the zona pellucida
What cells secrete Androgen?
theca cells
What is the process of how estradiol enters the blood?
- theca cells grow around the zona pellucida
- LH stimulates theca cells to secrete androgen
- when FSH is released, the granulosa cells convert androgen into estradiol
What are the 3 phases of the menstrual cycle?
- Follicular phase
- Ovulation
- Luteal phase
“I feel FOL”
What is “menarche?”
a female’s very first period
Which hormone is responsible for thickening of the endometrium?
estrogen
