Human Female Reproductive System

ovaries

gonads located in the female pelvic cavity

ovarian follicles

Where does oogenesis occur?

germinal epithelium

Where do follicles arise from?

ovarian cortex

Where do follicles undergo development?

estrogen, progesterone, and inhibin

What sex hormones does the ovaries secrete?

primary oocyte surrounded by a single layer of follicular cells

primordial

primary oocyte surrounded by a zona pellucida and several layers of follicular cells

primary

primary oocyte surrounded by zona pellucida with fluid-filled cavities forming in the layers of follicular cells

secondary

secondary oocyte surrounded by a zona pellucida and corona radiata with a single fluid-filled antrum surrounded by a follicle wall

tertiary

million primordial before birth, many primary during each ovarian cycle, a few secondary, and one tertiary

How many of each type of follicles are there in a female?

uterine tube

an egg moves along this tube through ciliary action

fallopian tubes or oviducts

the uterine tubes that attach to the uterus are also called...

houses a developing embryo/fetus

What does the uterus do?

perimetrium

outermost; serous membrane of the uterine wall

myometrium

layer of smooth muscle in the uterine wall

endometrium

mucus membrane of the uterine wall

fundus

small top region of the uterus

body

the main middle region of the uterus

cervix

region in the uterus right above the vagina

about 28 days

How long does the reproductive cycle last?

ovarian cycle and uterine cycle

two parts of the reproductive cycle that occur simultaneously

follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase

phases of the ovarian cycle

promoted by FSH, results from production of a tertiary follicle, and the developing follicles secrete estrogen

follicular phase

promoted by LH and the secondary oocyte is released from the tertiary follicle at ovary's surface

ovulation

promoted by LH and the wall of the tertiary follicle changes into a corpus luteum and secretes progesterone

luteal phase

menses, proliferative phase, and secretory phase

phases of the uterine cycle

blood and tissue form the endometrium pass out of the vagina and occurs because of low levels of estrogen and progesterone

menses

promoted by estrogens and the endometrium becomes more vascular

proliferative phase

promoted by progesterones and glands begin secreting a mucus coat while the endometrium continues to develop

secretory phase