Female Reproductive System Flashcards

Flashcards on the Female Reproductive System for exam review.

Ovaries

Female gonads that produce mature 2o oocytes and secrete female hormones.

Uterine Tubes

Also known as fallopian tubes/ducts, they provide a site for fertilization.

Uterus

A pear-shaped organ between the urinary bladder and the rectum, serving as the site of implantation for a fertilized ovum and development of the fetus.

Vagina

A fibromuscular canal lined with mucous membrane, extending from the exterior of the body to the cervix, serving as a passageway for menstrual flow, to receive sperm and as the lower birth canal.

Vulva

Female external genitalia, including the mons pubis, clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, vestibule, and vaginal orifice.

Ovarian Cortex

The outer portion of the ovary, containing ovarian follicles.

Ovarian Medulla

The inner portion of the ovary, containing blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.

Ovulation

The release of a mature 2o oocyte from the ovary during each monthly ovarian cycle.

Estrogen, Progesterone, Inhibin, and Relaxin

Female hormones secreted by the ovaries.

Infundibulum

The structure that the 2o oocyte enters in the uterine tubes.

Ampulla and Isthmus

Segments of the uterine tube through which the ovum is transported to the uterus.

Fundus

The dome-shaped superior portion of the uterus.

Body of Uterus

The central portion of the uterus, tapering to a narrow isthmus.

Cervix

The inferior portion of the uterus that opens into the vagina through the cervical canal.

Uterine Cavity

The interior of the body of the uterus.

Cervical Canal

The canal of the cervix, having an internal os to the uterine cavity and an external os to the vagina.

Mons Pubis

A mound of adipose tissue that is part of the vulva.

Clitoris

Erectile tissue located within the vulva.

Labia Majora

The outer limits of the vulva.

Labia Minora

Covers the vestibule.

Vestibule

Area between the labia minora.

Vaginal Orifice

Opening of the vagina.

External Urethral Orifice

Anterior to the vaginal orifice and posterior to the clitoris.

Paraurethral Glands

Mucus-secreting glands flanking the external urethral orifice, homologous to the prostate gland in males.

Greater Vestibular (Bartholin’s) Glands

Glands on either side of the vaginal orifice that produce lubricating mucous during sexual arousal.

Breasts (Mammary Glands)

Modified sudoriferous glands that produce milk.

Alveoli

Milk-secreting glands composed of lobules.

GnRH, FSH, LH

Hormones secreted in the brain during the hypothalamic/pituitary cycle.

Oogenesis

Formation of gametes in the ovaries.

Oogonia

Diploid (2n) stem cells that divide mitotically during early fetal development.

Primordial Follicle

A 1o oocyte surrounded by follicular cells.

2o Oocyte

Oocyte produced from completed meiosis I along with a polar body.

Corpus Luteum

Structure formed from a mature Graafian follicle after ovulation, essential for establishing and maintaining pregnancy, secretes estrogen and progesterone to thicken and develop the endometrium..

Corpus Albicans

A mass of fibrous scar tissue that is the result of corpus luteum degeneration when fertilization does not occur.

Zygote

The new diploid cell after a sperm penetrates the plasma membrane of the 2o oocyte.

Estrogen

Ovarian hormone responsible for the presence of secondary sex characteristics.

Progesterone

The principal hormone responsible for maturation of the uterine endometrium and stimulating breast development.

Relaxin

Hormone released by the corpus luteum that relaxes the myometrium and the pubic symphysis at the end of pregnancy.

Inhibin

Hormone released by granulosa cells and the corpus luteum that inhibits FSH and LH.

Uterine Cycle

Cyclic events of the uterine lining under the influence of ovarian hormones, including menses, pre-ovulatory phase, ovulation and post-ovulatory phase.

Menses

The beginning of the uterine cycle.

Pre-Ovulatory Phase

Phase of the uterine cycle after menses.

Post-Ovulatory Phase

Phase of the uterine cycle after ovulation.

Homologous Structures

Equivalent structures during fetal development (e.g., testes ≈ ovaries, sperm ≈ ovum).

Female Sexual Response

Sexual stimulation leads to stimulation of sacral parasympathetic fibers and nitric oxide dilation of the erectile tissues – in this case, of the clitoris. Orgasm requires activity of the sympathetic nervous.