Unit B - Reproduction (Female system) Flashcards
What is the menarche?
The first period
What is the function of the ovaries?
Carries egg cells (ova) which mature in the ovaries.
What is the function of the Fallopian Tube?
Pathway for the movement of the ovum to the uterus.
How does the ovum move in the fallopian tube?
through cilia in the tube.
What is the function of the fimbria?
Fishes for the egg expelled from the ovary.
Think sea anemonie
Where is the ovum usually fertilized?
In the Fallopian Tube.
What happens if the egg is not fertilized in the fallopian Tube?
It deteriorates (in 48 hours)
What is the function of the Uterus?
Site of embryo development
What are the 2 major tissues in the Uterus? What are their functions?
- Myometrium
- Endometrium
What is the Myometrium and what is its function?
The muscular outer layer of the uterus
Provides support for the embryo & causes contractions
What is the Endometrium and what is its function?
The inner lining of the uterus.
Provides nourishment for the embryo & Sheads if no pregnancy
What is the cervix and what is its function?
The muscular band that separates the vagina from the uterus.
Holds the fetus in place & dilates in pregnancy
What is the function of the Vagina? Ph?
Sexual intercourse as well as being acidic to create a hostile environment for microbes.
Do females make eggs after puberty?
No
They will have 400 000 follicles for the rest of their lifetime.
In a menstrual cycle, how many eggs will be stimulated?
How many will mature?
100 follicles will be stimulated, but only one will mature.
What are the two cells a follicle is composed of?
- Oocyte → undergoes meiosis to become a mature oocyte (ovum)
- Granulosa cells → provide nutrients for oocyte
Like spermatocytes → spermatogonium, and sertoli cells
What are the 4 steps of the Ovarian Cycle?
- Follicle matures
- At Ovulation, the follicle ruptures and the oocyte is released
- The remaining follicular cells develop into a corpus luteum
- If pregnancy does not occur the corpus luteum degenerates after 10 days
how long is the average menstrual cycle?
28 days
What are the four phases of the menstrual cycle (in order)?
- Flow phase
- Follicular phase
- Ovulation
- Luteal phase
What does the flow phase do in the menstrual cycle? How is it initiated? How long does it last?
Shedding of the endometrium. Initiated by a decrease in progesterone and estrogen causes it.
Lasts 5 days
What does the Follicular phase do in the menstrual cycle? How is it initiated? How long does it last?
The development of follicles within the ovary causing an increase in
mostly estrogen and some progesterone. Initiated by FSH hormone.
Lasts 13 days
What does the Ovulation phase do in the menstrual cycle? How is it initiated? How long does it last?
Oocyte bursts from the ovary. Initiated by a spike in LH (and a little spike in FSH). The remaining follicular cells from the mature ovum began to form the corpus luteum.
Lasts a day
What does the Luteal phase do in the menstrual cycle? How is it initiated? How long does it last?
The Corpus Luteum in the Ovary releases mostly progesterone and some estrogen. Initiated by the releasing of the egg.
lasts 13 days
What is the importance of progesterone?
Stimulates and maintains the endometrium → prepares for the possible embedding of the embryo by inhibiting uterine contraction and ovulation.
Contractions help the sheading process
What happens to progesterone if someone is or isn’t pregnant?
Pregnant - Progesterone levels are maintained
Not Pregnant - Corpus luteum disintegrates and ↓ progesterone & estrogen, uterine contractions ↑ cause the endometrium to pull away from the wall, and return to the flow phase.
What is the key hormone in women for developing secondary sex characteristics at puberty?
Estrogen
Lable the ovarian cycle hormone feedback loop of a female.
Did you do it?
What does GnRH do in the female reproductive system?
Stimulates release of FSH and LH
What does FSH do in the female reproductive system?
Stimulates maturation of 100 follicles per cycle. Stimulates the release of estrogen from maturing follicles.
What does LH do in the female reproductive system?
Stimulates ovulation resulting in the corpus luteum. Stimulates corpus luteum to produce mostly progesterone and some estrogen.
What does estrogen do in the female reproductive system? What’s its feedback loop?
Stimulates thickening of endometrium. Exerts positive feedback on LH.
