Ch. 27 LEC - Female Reproductive System

Lecture Exam 5

Define ovaries

Female gonads that produce gametes known as ova and secrete hormones like estrogen and progesterone

List the components of the female internal genitalia

Ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina

Identify the ligament that anchors the ovary medially to the uterus

Ovarian ligament

Identify the ligament that anchors the ovary laterally to the pelvic wall

Suspensory ligament

Describe the role of the mesovarium

It is a part of the broad ligament that suspends the ovary

Name the large ligament that supports the uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina while containing the suspensory ligament and mesovarium

Broad ligament

Differentiate between the ovarian cortex and medulla

The cortex contains ovarian follicles while the medulla contains large blood vessels and nerves

Define an ovarian follicle

An immature egg called an oocyte surrounded by either follicle cells or granulosa cells

Complete the statement regarding follicle layers - Surrounding cells are called follicle cells if one layer is present and granulosa cells when

More than one layer is present

List the stages of follicle development in order from least to most mature

Primordial follicle, primary follicle, secondary follicle, late secondary follicle, and vesicular or Graafian follicle

Define ovulation

The ejection of the oocyte from the ripening follicle

Identify the structure that develops from the ruptured follicle after ovulation occurs

Corpus luteum

Identify the specific part of the uterine tube that is the usual site of fertilization

Ampulla

Describe the function of the ciliated fimbriae of the infundibulum

They create currents to move the oocyte into the uterine tube

Name the constricted region where the uterine tube joins the uterus

Isthmus

State the two methods by which the oocyte is carried along the uterine tubes

Peristalsis and ciliary action

Name the three major regions of the uterus

Body, fundus, and isthmus

Define the cervix

The narrow neck or outlet of the uterus that projects into the vagina

State the function of the mucus secreted by cervical glands

It blocks sperm entry except during midcycle

Identify the peritoneal pouch located between the bladder and the uterus

Vesicouterine pouch

Identify the peritoneal pouch located between the rectum and the uterus

Rectouterine pouch

List the three layers of the uterine wall from superficial to deep

Perimetrium, myometrium, and endometrium

Identify the uterine layer composed of interlacing layers of smooth muscle

Myometrium

Differentiate between the stratum functionalis and the stratum basalis

The functionalis sheds during menstruation and responds to hormones, while the basalis forms a new functionalis and is unresponsive to hormones

Identify the structure that is embedded in the anterior wall of the vagina

Urethra

Define the vestibule of the external genitalia

The recess located between the labia minora

Name the glands homologous to the male bulbourethral glands that release mucus for lubrication

Greater vestibular glands

Define the perineum

The diamond-shaped region between the pubic arch and coccyx bordered laterally by the ischial tuberosities

Trace the pathway of milk in the mammary glands starting from the glandular alveoli

Alveoli to lactiferous ducts to lactiferous sinuses to the nipple

List four risk factors for breast cancer

Early onset of menses, late menopause, no or late first pregnancy, and family history

Identify the two genes whose mutations are linked to hereditary breast cancer

BRCA1 and BRCA2

Define oogenesis

The production of female gametes

Predict the stage of meiosis in which primary oocytes are arrested until puberty

Prophase I

State the two haploid cells resulting from the completion of meiosis I each month

Secondary oocyte and first polar body

Predict the stage of meiosis in which the secondary oocyte arrests after ovulation

Metaphase II

State the condition required for a secondary oocyte to complete meiosis II

Penetration by a sperm

Name the functional gamete and the non-functional cell produced after the completion of meiosis II

Ovum and second polar body

Compare the follicular phase and the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle

The follicular phase is a period of follicle growth from days 1 to 14, while the luteal phase is a period of corpus luteum activity from days 14 to 28

Define mittelschmerz

A twinge of pain sometimes felt at the time of ovulation

Explain the hormonal cause of fraternal twins

Ovulation of more than one secondary oocyte that is subsequently fertilized

State the two hormones secreted by the corpus luteum

Progesterone and estrogen

Explain the fate of the corpus luteum if pregnancy does not occur

It degenerates into a corpus albicans in about 10 days

State the role of the hormone leptin in establishing the ovarian cycle

It is released from adipose tissue to decrease estrogen inhibition of the hypothalamus

Define menarche

The first menstrual period

Explain the effect of high estrogen levels at midcycle

They exert positive feedback on the pituitary to cause an LH surge

List three major effects of the LH surge on the ovary

Completion of meiosis I, triggering of ovulation, and transformation of the ruptured follicle into the corpus luteum

List the hormones that inhibit FSH and LH release during the luteal phase

Inhibin, progesterone, and estrogen

List the three phases of the uterine cycle in chronological order

Menstrual phase, proliferative phase, and secretory phase

Describe the hormonal state and physical event of the menstrual phase

Ovarian hormones are at their lowest levels and the stratum functionalis is shed

Describe the main events of the proliferative phase of the uterine cycle

Estrogen prompts the generation of a new functional layer and increases spiral artery number

Explain the role of progesterone in the secretory phase

It prompts further endometrial development, glandular secretion of glycogen, and formation of the cervical mucus plug

Describe the vascular changes that occur in the endometrium if fertilization does not occur

Spiral arteries kink and spasm, causing cell death, then open wide to rush blood and slough off the functional layer

List three secondary sex characteristics induced by estrogen

Breast growth, increased subcutaneous fat on hips and breasts, and widening of the pelvis

List two metabolic effects of estrogens

Maintaining low total blood cholesterol with high HDL and facilitating calcium uptake

State two effects of placental progesterone during pregnancy

Inhibiting uterine motility and helping prepare the breasts for lactation

Identify the physiological changes that accompany female orgasm

Muscle tension, increased pulse and blood pressure, and rhythmic uterine contractions

True or False - Females have a refractory period after orgasm similar to males

False

Identify the causative agent of Gonorrhea

A bacterial infection of the mucosae of the reproductive and urinary tracts

Describe the primary sign of Syphilis infection

A painless chancre that appears at the site of infection

Identify the condition characterized by gummas or lesions of the CNS and blood vessels

Tertiary syphilis

Name the most common bacterial STI in the United States

Chlamydia

Identify the virus responsible for genital warts and increased cancer risk

Human papillomavirus or HPV

Define the clinical criteria for menopause

Menses have ceased for an entire year

List three physical effects of declining estrogen levels during menopause

Atrophy of reproductive organs, hot flashes, and gradual thinning of the skin or bone loss

State the total number of chromosome pairs found in human body cells

23 pairs

Identify the specific pair of chromosomes responsible for determining an individual's sex

Sex chromosomes

Name the two distinct types of sex chromosomes

X and Y

Identify the genetic sex of an individual with the chromosome combination XX

Female

Identify the genetic sex of an individual with the chromosome combination XY

Male

Complete the statement - Every egg produced by a female contains a(n)

X chromosome

Describe the distribution of sex chromosomes among sperm cells

Approximately 50 percent of sperm contain an X chromosome and 50 percent contain a Y chromosome

Compare the sex chromosome contribution of eggs versus sperm

Eggs are uniform and always carry an X chromosome, while sperm are diverse and carry either an X or a Y

True or False - A child's genetic sex is determined by the sex chromosome present in the egg

False, it is determined by whether the sperm contains an X or a Y chromosome

Predict the genetic sex of an offspring if an X-bearing sperm fertilizes an egg

Female

Predict the genetic sex of an offspring if a Y-bearing sperm fertilizes an egg

Male