Female Repro Physiology

What are the functions of the female reproductive system?

make gametes (ova), facilitate fertilization, site for embryo implantations and pregnancy, providing nutrients for fetus and neonate

What leads to sexual differentiation?

genotype XX leads to ovarian development

What makes up the internal female genitalia?

ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, upper 1/3 of vagina

What makes up the external female genitalia?

clitoris, labia majora and minora, mons pubis, prepuce, lower 2/3 of vagina

What are the primary female sex organs?

ovaries

What is the mons pubis?

fatty tissue area located over pubic symphysis

What is the labia majora?

outer and larger folds of the vulva

What is the labia minora?

inner and smaller folds of the vulva

What is the clitoris?

small sensory organ at the top of the vulva

What is the role of the ovaries?

site for oogenesis and hormone production

What are the zones of an ovary?

cortex, medulla, hilum

What is the ovarian cortex?

largest outer zone that is lined with germinal epithelium

contains follicles lined by endocrine cells

What is the ovarian medulla?

the middle zone with different cell types

What is the ovarian hilum?

inner zone where blood and lymphatic vessels pass

What are the parts of a uterine tube?

infundibulum, fimbriae, ampulla, and isthmus

What is the infundibulum?

trumpet shaped outer end of the uterine tube

What are fimbriae?

feathery projections at the end of uterine tubes that help catch an ovulated egg

What is the ampulla?

middle and longest part of a uterine tube, location of fertilization

What is the isthmus?

narrow portion of uterine tube closest to uterus

What is the role of the uterus?

site of embryo implantation and fetal development

What is the role of the vagina?

birth canal

What events occur in stage 1 of folliculogenesis?

primordial follicle becomes a primary follicle

primary follicle becomes a secondary follicle

What events occur in stage 2 of folliculogenesis?

secondary follicle becomes a tertiary follicle

What events occur in stage 3 of folliculogenesis?

mature follicle is ovulated

corpus luteum and corpus albicans form

What is a primordial follicle?

primary oocyte surrounded by a single layer of squamous follicular cells, become primary follicles

What is a primary follicle?

larger oocyte surrounded by cuboidal follicular cells, becomes a secondary follicle with a zona pellucida

What is a secondary follicle?

larger oocyte with multiple layers of granulosa cells and a theca folliculi, becomes tertiary follicles

What is the theca folluculi?

connective tissue around granulosa cells that has condensed into a fibrous husk with 2 layers

What is the theca externa?

outer layer of theca folliculi, fibrous capsule rich in blood vessels

What is the theca interna?

inner layer of theca folliculi, hormone secreting layer that makes androgens

How do granulosa cells work on androgens?

convert androgens to estradiol

What is a tertiary follicle?

formation of fluid-filled antrum with a cumulus oophorus and corona radiata

How does FSH impact preantral secondary follicles?

induces them to become antral tertiary follicles

What is the cumulus oophorus?

mound of granulosa cells on one side of the antrum, covers oocyte and anchors it to follicular wall

What is the corona radiata?

innermost layer of cumulus around the zona pellucida and oocyte, forms protective barrier around the egg

What is a mature follicle (Graafian follicle)?

single dominant follicle destined to ovulate, resulting from increased FSH receptors

What is the corpus luteum?

remaining granulosa and theca cells of ruptured follicle, secretes estrogen and progesterone

What is the corpus albicans?

scar like structure formed when corpus luteum involutes if fertilization does not occur

What is the perimetrium?

external serosal layer of the uterine wall

What is the myometrium?

middle smooth muscle layer of the uterine wall, provides contractions needed for labor and birth

What is the endometrium?

inner mucosal layer of the uterine wall, site of implantation

What are the layers of the endometrium?

stratum functionalis and stratum basalis

What is the stratum functionalis?

layer of endometrium shed in menstruation

What is the stratum basalis?

layer of endometrium that regenerates the functionalis

What is the function of the breast?

produce milk to nurture neonate through lactation

What makes up a nonlactating breast?

adipose and collagenous tissue

What are suspensory ligaments?

attach breast to dermis and fascia, dividing it into lobes

What is located within the lobes of the breast?

lactiferous ducts that drain into lactiferous sinuses

sinuses open at the nipple

What are acini within the breast?

sacs at the end of lactiferous ducts that are surrounded by myoepithelial cells for milk ejection

What is puberty?

period of sexual maturation triggered by activation of the HP axis and pulsatile GnRH release

What physical changes are seen in puberty?

thelarche (breast budding), pubarche (growth of pubic and axillary hair), menarche (menstruation)

What is the role of estrogen in puberty?

growth of reproductive tract

increase cell proliferation and contractility of the uterus

stimulate ciliary activity in fallopian tubes

stimulates epithelial proliferation in the vagina

What is the role of progesterone in puberty?

promotes increased secretory activity and decreased contractility of the uterus

increases secretory activity of fallopian tubes

What is climacteric?

cessation of the menstrual cycle and the end of reproductive capability

What physical changes are associated with climacteric?

preceded by perimenopausal period with irregular and anovulatory periods

What hormonal changes occur with menopause?

estrogen and progesterone decline

LH and FSH levels rise

What is the sexual cycle?

28 day cycle of events in the female body

ovarian and uterine cycles

What is the ovarian cycle?

events occurring in the ovaries

follicular development, ovulation, corpus luteum activity

What is the uterine cycle?

monthly changes in the endometrium

menstrual, proliferative, secretory phases

What is oogenesis?

process by which oogonium becomes a mature oocyte

What occurs in oogenesis before birth?

oogonia multiply via mitosis and enter meiosis I to become primary oocytes

primary oocytes are arrested in prophase I

What occurs in oogenesis from puberty to menopause?

one primary oocyte completes meiosis I to become a secondary oocyte each month (under control of FSH and LH)

secondary oocyte is arrested in metaphase II

What occurs in oogenesis at ovulation?

secondary oocyte is release from mature follicle

meiosis II is completed at fertilization

What is the role of theca cells in oogenesis?

produce androstenedione under LH stimulation

What is the role of granulosa cells in oogenesis?

convert androstenedione to estrogen

What is the role of cholesterol desmolase?

converts cholesterol to pregnenolone

What enzyme converts cholesterol to pregnenolone?

cholesterol desmolase

What is the role of 17 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase?

converts androstenedione to testosterone

What enzyme converts androstenedione to testosterone?

17 beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

What is the role of aromatase?

converts testosterone to estrogen

What enzyme converts testosterone to estrogen?

aromatase

What is the role of FSH in the sexual cycle?

follicle maturation

What is the role of LH in the sexual cycle?

ovulation

What is the role of Estrogen in the sexual cycle?

endometrial proliferation

What is the role of Progesterone in the sexual cycle?

maintenance of the uterine lining

What occurs in the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle?

FSH and LH stimulate follicle growth

FSH increases granulosa cell synthesis and subsequent estrogen secretion

dominant follicle becomes main source of estrogen

What occurs in ovulation of the ovarian cycle?

estradiol levels reach a critical peak and trigger positive feedback, causing an LH surge

dominant follicle ruptures

What causes the increased basal body temp at ovulation?

increased levels of progesterone

What occurs in the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle?

ruptured follicle becomes the corpus luteum

corpus luteum degenerates if no pregnancy occurs

What are the levels of LH, FSH, Estrogen, and Progesterone in the early follicular phase?

LH: low

FSH: moderately elevated

Estrogen: starts low, then rises

Progesterone: low

What are the levels of LH, FSH, Estrogen, and Progesterone in the late follicular phase?

LH: slightly elevated

FSH: slightly decreased

Estrogen: high

Progesterone: low

What are the levels of LH, FSH, Estrogen, and Progesterone in ovulation?

LH: massive increase

FSH: small increase

Estrogen: peaks then falls

Progesterone: slightly elevated

What are the levels of LH, FSH, Estrogen, and Progesterone in the early luteal phase?

LH: low

FSH: low

Estrogen: moderately elevated

Progesterone: very high

What are the levels of LH, FSH, Estrogen, and Progesterone in the late luteal phase?

LH: low

FSH: starts low then slightly increases

Estrogen: falling

Progesterone: falling

What occurs in the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle?

spiral arteries constrict and cause shedding of stratum functionalis

What occurs in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle?

endometrium starts to regrow and thin watery cervical mucus forms

estrogen dominates

What occurs in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle?

corpus luteum induces glandular growth and glycogen storage to prepare for implantation

cervical mucus thickens into a protective plug

What occurs in the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle?

progesterone and estrogen levels drop as corpus luteum dies, causing tissue necrosis

What are the levels of LH, FSH, Estrogen, and Progesterone in the menstrual phase?

LH: low

FSH: slightly elevated

Estrogen: very low

Progesterone: very low

What is fertilization?

when sperm penetrates an ova inside the ampulla of a uterine tube, occurs within 24 hours of ovulation

What occurs in implantation?

blastocyst arrives in uterus and implants 5-6 days after ovulation

peak progesterone is released from the corpus luteum

What is the fate of the inner blastocyst cell mass?

becomes the fetus

What is the fate of the trophoblast?

becomes fetal portion of the placenta and forms syncytiotrophoblast to penetrate the endometrium

What is the role of HCG in pregnancy?

maintains corpus luteum so it continues making estrogen and progesterone in the first trimester

What is the role of estrogen in pregnancy?

maintains endometrium, stimulates breast development, increases uterine contractility toward term, stimulates PRL secretion, blocks PRL action on breast

What is the role of estrogen, excluding its role in pregnancy and puberty?

development of secondary sex characteristics, proliferation of granulosa cells, up regulation of estrogen/progesterone/LH receptors, feedback for FSH and LH secretion, anti-osteoporosis, decrease LDL

What is the role of progesterone, excluding its role in pregnancy and puberty?

breast development, negative feedback for FSH and LH secretion in luteal phase

What is the role of progesterone in pregnancy?

maintains endometrium and inhibits uterine contractions to prevent premature labor

What is the role of relaxin in pregnancy?

relaxes pelvic ligaments, softens cervix for delivery, and acts as a vasodilator

What secretes relaxin?

corpus luteum and placenta