the reproductive system

what is the overall function of the female reproductive system?

to produce eggs and estrogen and to maintain development of fetus

what are the internal organs of the female reproductive system?

ovaries, oviducts, uterus, vaginal canal

what is the external organ of the female reproductive system?

vulva

what is the structure of ovaries?

two almond shaped glands on each side of the uterus

what is the function of ovaries?

main reproductive organ in females, release a mature egg during ovulation

what are ovarian follicles?

follicles inside each ovary which hold an immature egg

what is a corpus luteum?

an egg that has been released after ovulation

what is the function of the corpus luteum?

to maintain pregnancy in a fertilized egg, to disintegrate if there is none

what are the three sections of the oviducts?

infundibulum, ampulla, and isthmus

what is the function of the infundibulum

fimbrae capture egg from ovary and sweep into oviduct

what is the function of the ampulla?

most often to fertilize, and also to nourish the zygote through the mucus layer

what is the function of the isthmus?

muscular contractions, delivering fertilized egg to implant in uterine cavity, delivering unfertilized egg to uterine cavity for removal

what are the three layers of the oviducts?

outer serous coat, middle muscular coat, inner mucosa coat

what is the structure of the uterus?

hollow, thick walled, muscular, connects uterine tubes to vaginal canal

what are the layers of the uterus?

perimetrium, myometrium, endometrium

what are the functions of the myometrium?

to expand during pregnancy and to contract during childbirth

what is the function of the endometrium?

to shed if not pregnant, and to facilitate embryo development if pregnant

what are the regions of the uterus?

fundus, body, and cervix

what is the function of the cervix?

to connect the uterus to the vaginal canal, to soften and secrete mucus before ovulation so sperm can get to it, and to develop a mucus plug after pregnancy to protect

what is the function of the vaginal canal?

receive male penis during intercourse, and to be an outlet from menstrual blood.

what is the function of the vaginal canal’s inner mucosal layer?

to extend during birth process and intercourse, becomes the birth canal

what is the function of the middle muscular layer

to allow for expansion!

how many lobules are in each mammary gland?

12-24

what is the structure of mammary ducts?

begins at nipple, divides into other ducts ending in sacs called alveoli

what is the structure of mammary alveoli?

made up of cells that produce milk

true or false: in a non lactating breast, there are more alveoli than ducts

false!

why is milk not produced during pregnancy

because estrogen and progesterone are being released, both suppress prolactin

what hormone is needed for lactation?

prolactin!

when does milk production begin?

a few days after delivery

what is colostrum?

a watery, protein rich fluid that mothers produce prior to milk production

what is oogenesis?

the production of eggs in the ovaries

what is menarche?

the beginning of a female’s reproductive lifetime, marked by first menstruation

what is menopause?

the end of the female’s reproductive lifetime

what do oogenecytes turn into at puberty?

primordial follicles

what do primordial follicles eventually turn into?

eggs

if the secondary oocyte is fertilized, what occurs?

a second meiotic division, which produces an ovum and a secondary polar body

How many chromosomes does an ovum contain?

23

what is the structure and function of polar bodies?

much smaller than egg, donate cytoplasm to egg

how many chromosomes does a zygote contain?

46, 23 from mom and dad

what is mitosis?

cell division, two identical cells with 46 chromosomes

what is meiosis?

cell division, four unique cells with 23 chromosomes

what is the function of FSH in the female reproductive cycle?

causes a few follicles to mature and develop each month

when and where is FSH secreted?

secreted by the anterior pituitary at the beginning of pubery

when and where is LH secreted?

secreted by anterior pituitary gland around ovulation

what is the function of LH in the female reproductive cycle?

causes follicle to release oocyte and helps develop the corpus luteum

when do LH levels spike during the female reproductive cycle?

during ovulation

where is estrogen produced?

the ovaries

what is the function of estrogen in the female reproductive cycle?

maintains the menstrual cycle, allows for development of secondary sex characteristics

what are the secondary sex characteristics?

enlarged breasts, widening of pelvis, fat deposits in hips and buttocks

when do estrogen levels spike?

a little before ovulation

when and where is progesterone produced during the female reproductive system?

produced in ovaries and placenta during pregnancy

what is the function of progesterone?

maintain pregnancy

which two hormones help thicken the uterine lining?

estrogen and progesterone

what are the phases of the menstrual cycle?

menstrual phase, proliferative phase, and secretory phase

what occurs during the menstrual phase

day 1-5, all but innermost layer of uterus has been shed

what happens during proliferative phase?

day 6-14, endometrial lining being rebuilt and LH spike triggers ovulation

what happens in the secretory phase?

day 15-28, corpus luteum secretes progesterone

what happens to hormone levels if there is no implantation of a zygote?

hormone levels drop, corpus luteum will die and dissolve