Components and Ovaries

What are the main structures of the female reproductive system?

ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, vulva/pudendum, and mammary glands 

What is the process of producing eggs that begins before birth?

oogenesis

When does oogenesis begin?

• type of division, in what stage?

begins before birth

meiosis starts during fetal development

Oogenesis 

• How many eggs at birth?

approximately 200,000 to 2,000,000 primary oocytes remain in each ovary.

Oogenesis 

• how many at puberty?

about 40,000 primary oocytes

Oogenesis 

• how many are ovulated

400 will mature and ovulate in a woman’s reproductive life time

(secondary oocytes)

What hormones do the ovaries produce? in response to what?

estrogen, progesterone (renin and inhibin)

in response to luteinizing hormone

What is an ovum?

haploid, mature egg

ovum plural

ova

(O) Corpus luteum

• what is it?

• what does it produce 

contains the remnants of a mature/graafian follicle after ovulation  

Granulosa cells

• what do they secrete?

secrete estrogen 

(O) A mature follicle is also called?

• what is the process?

graafian follicle

ovulation: follicle ruptures and releases its secondary oocyte

Vocab: Ovarian ligament

anchors the ovaries to the uterus

Vocab: Suspensory ligament 

attaches ovaries to the pelvic wall.