Female Reproductive System Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards for the female reproductive system lecture notes.

Oocytes

Female gametes; the sex cell of the female reproductive system.

Gestation

The period between conception (fertilization and implantation) up until the day of birth.

Ovary

Female gonads that produce oocytes and hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

Mesovarium

A tissue layer that surrounds the ovary, made up of areolar connective tissue and simple squamous epithelium; part of the broad ligaments.

Ovarian Cortex

The outer layer of the ovary where oocytes are made, stored, and matured.

Ovarian Medulla

The inner layer of the ovary through which the ovarian artery and veins travel, made up of areolar connective tissue.

Oogenesis

The process of making and maturing oocytes.

Primordial Follicle Stage

The state in which oocytes are arrested during fetal development.

Primary Oocytes

Oocytes that have restarted their development from the primordial follicle stage.

Follicular Cells

Cells that surround the primary oocytes, providing support and nourishment.

Primary Follicle

An oocyte with the supportive follicular cells surrounding it.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland that allows follicles to grow, replicate, and mature.

Secondary Follicle

A follicle stage where the oocyte is slightly bigger, and there are many follicular cells surrounding it, which also produce estrogen.

Antrum

A small cavity that develops within the secondary follicle and eventually fills with fluid, contributing to the process of ovulation.

Antral Follicle

A follicle that has an antrum.

Graafian Follicle

A follicle that has grown large due to the antrum getting bigger and storing more pressure.

Luteinizing Hormone

Hormone released from the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the antrum to fill up with more fluid and pressure, causing ovulation.

Ovulation

The process where the oocyte bursts out of the follicle due to the pressure within the antrum.

Fimbria

Extensions at the distal ends of the fallopian tubes that increase the surface area and create an external current to draw the oocyte into the fallopian tubes.

Corpus Luteum

Structures that follicular cells turn into after ovulation, producing estrogen and progesterone.

Secondary Sex Characteristics

Development of breasts and sexual dimorphic anatomy, example ileum flaring out, fat metabolism, and fat storage.

Corpus Albicans

A structure that is scar tissue that the corpus luteum turns into if pregnancy does not occur.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

A peritonitis caused by an STD or bacterial infection entering the peritoneal cavity via the female reproductive system, leading to abdominal pain and infertility.

Ectopic Pregnancy

A pregnancy where the fertilized oocyte implants in an improper place, such as the fallopian tube or peritoneal cavity.

Tubal Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy within the fallopian tubes.

Peritoneal Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy within the peritoneal cavity.

Perimetrium

The outermost layer of the uterus, made up of simple squamous epithelium and areolar connective tissue.

Myometrium

The muscular layer of the uterus responsible for contracting during childbirth, made up of smooth muscle.

Endometrium

The innermost layer of the uterus that has the strata basal and the stratum functional layers .

Strata Basal

The layer of the endometrium that produced new cells made of areolar connective tissue that replicates for tissue growth.

Stratum Functional

The layer of the endometrium that grows in response to hormones and is shed during menstruation, made up of squamous and simple columnar tissues with blood vessels and glands.

Menstruation

The process of shedding the stratum functional from the endometrium of the uterus due to decreased estrogen and progesterone levels.

Uterine Fibroids

Lumps of dense irregular connective tissue that can develop in the uterus, causing pain and discomfort.

Hysterectomy

Complete removal of the uterus; used to resolve uterine fibroids.

Endometriosis

A disorder where cells that are capable of dividing rapidly due to the presence of estrogen are found in places where they don't belong.

Uterine Cancer

Second most common type of cancer that women experience; occurs because of replication of cells.

HPV

A virus that triggers proliferation and metastasis of cells inside of the cervix, potentially leading to cervical cancer.

Pap Smears

A procedure where cells are scraped off from the cervix and examined under a microscope to check for abnormalities, such as HPV and cervical cancer.

Vagina

A muscular tube in the female reproductive system made up of noncorrect isotrified squamous epithelium that's about 9 centimeters long.

Rugae

Folds found in the vagina that stimulate the male reproductive organs during sexual intercourse and allows for stretching to accommodate intercourse or childbirth.

Vulva

The external genitalia of the female reproductive system.

Labia Majora

The outer lips also known as the major lips of the vulva, equivalent to the male scrotum.

Labia Minora

The inner lips of the vulva, containing erectile tissue equivalent to the corpora cavernosa in males.

Clitoris

A tiny button-like structure found anterior to the labia minora that is the female equivalent of the glans penis, highly sensitive and associated with orgasms.

Vestibule

The area between the two labia minora, containing vestibular glands, the external urethral orifice, and the external vaginal orifice.

Vestibular Glands

Glands found in the vestibule that produce mucus for lubrication during sexual intercourse, equivalent to the bulbourethral glands in males.

Bulbospongiosis Muscle (female)

Muscle that constricts the vaginal opening

Episiotomy

A medical procedure where the vaginal orifice is cut to prevent breaking or rupturing of the central tendon of the perineum during childbirth.

Kegel Exercises

Exercises involving the use of pelvic floor muscles to aid in healing, often prescribed after childbirth or episiotomy.

Prolapsed Uterus

A condition where the uterus falls out of the vaginal orifice due to weakened pelvic muscles.