The Reproductive System Part 2

What are the main female organs of reproduction?

1. Ovaries (gonads)

2. Uterine (Fallopian) tubes

3. Uterus

4. Vagina

5. Vulva

6. Mammary glands

What are the ovaries and where are they located?

1. Paired glands homologous to the testes

2. Located on the upper pelvic cavity, on either side of uterus

What are the main anchors of the ovaries?

Suspensory ligaments of the ovary (for the pelvic wall attachment) and the ovarian ligament (provides attachment to the side wall of the uterus)

What is the histology of the ovaries?

1. Germinal epithelium covers the ovary, but doesn’t give rise to ova

2. Followed by tunica albuginea

3. Ovarian cortex (contains ovarian follicles)

4. Ovarian medulla (contains blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves

What do ovarian follicles do?

Lie in the cortex and contain oocytes at different stages of gametogenesis

What is in the process of ovulation?

A mature (Graafian) follicle expels a secondary oocyte

What does a corpus luteum contain?

• Remnants of an ovulated follicle and produces progesterone, estrogens, relaxin, and inhibin until it degenerates into a corpus albicans

Describe the process of oogenesis and follicular development

1. Occurs in the ovaries and results in the formation of a single haploid secondary oocyte

2. Includes reduction division (meiosis I), equatorial division (meiosis II), and maturation

What happens while oogensis happens?

The follicle cells surrounding the oocyte are undergoing developmental changes

What is the sequence of follicular change?

1. Primordial

2. Primary

3. Secondary

4. Mature (Graffian) follicles

5. corpus lutetum and corpus albicans

What do uterine tubes do?

Transport ova from the ovaries to the uterus and are normal sites of fertilization

What are the three layers in the uterine tubes?

1. Internal mucosa

2. Middle muscularis

3. Outer serosa

What helps move a secondary oocyte to the uterus?

Ciliated cells and peristaltic contractions

What is the uterus and its functions?

• Organ the size and shape of an inverted pear

• Functions in transport of spermatozoa, menstruation, implantation of a fertilized ovum, development of the fetus during pregnancy, and labor

What are the anatomical subdivisions of the uterus?

1. Fundus

2. Body

3. Isthumus

4. Cervix

   All held together by ligaments

What is the uterine prolapse?

• A downward displacement of the uterus and has many causes and characterized by 1st degree, 2nd degree, and so on

What is the histology of the uterus?

Consists of an outer promethium, middle myometrium, and an inner endometrium

How many layers does the myometrium consist of?

3 muscle layers

What is the endometrium divided into?

Divided into the stratum functionalis (shed during mensturation) and the stratum basalis (gives rise to new stratum functionalis after each menstruationi)

How is blood supplies to the uterus?

By uterine arteries and their numerous branches and is drained by the uterine veins

What do secretory cells of the mucosa of the cervix secrete?

Cervical mucus

• When thin, is more receptive to sperm

• When thick, forms a cervical plug from sperm

What is a hysterectomy?

Surgical removal of the uterus

What is the function of the vagina?

A passageway for spermatozoa and the menstrual flow, the receptacle of the penis during intercourse, and lower portion of the birth canal

The mucosa of the vagina is lined with?

Rugae (transverse folds)

• Large storage of glycogen which decomposes into organic acids that set up a hostile environment for sperm

What is the vaginal orifice usually covered by?

A thin fold of vascularized mucous membranes called the hymen

What is the vulva?

Refers to the external genitalia of the female

Consists of the:

1. Mons pubs

2. Labia major

3. Labia minoria

4. Clitoris

5. Vestibule

6. Vaginal and urethral orifices

7. Hymen

8. Bulb of the vestibule

9. Paraurethral (Skene’s)

10. Greater vestibular (Bartholin’s)

11. Lesser vestibular glands

What is the perineum?

• Diamond shaped area between the thighs and the buttocks of both males and females that contains the external genitals and anus

• EXCESSIVE STRETCHING HERE DURING BIRTH

What are mammary glands and their function?

Modified sudoriferous glands that lie over the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles

• Functions in synthesis of milk, secretion and ejection of milk, which constitute lactation

What are the milk-secreting cells referred to as?

Referred to as alveoli, clustered into small compartments (lobules) within the breast

What surrounds the alveoli?

Myoepithelial cells surround the gland and promote milk expression