TEAS Exam - Female Reproductive System

Produce female sex cells, transport egg cell for fertilization, provide environment for developing offspring, move offspring to the outside (birth), and production of sex hormones

What are the 5 functions of the female reproductive system?

Small, paired, almond shaped organs near lateral walls of pelvic cavity

Describe the structure of the ovaries

Production of female gametes (ova) and secretion of female sex hormones

What are 2 functions of the ovaries

Oogenesis

Production of an ovum (egg)

Primordial germ cell, oogonium, primary oocyte, secondary oocyte, and ovum

Starting with a primordial germ cell, what is the order of cells that will form during development of an ovum?

Oogonia

Diploid precursor cells in the ovaries; formed from primordial germ cells that undergo mitosis to develop into primary oocytes during fetal development in females

Primary Oocytes

Diploid cells formed from oogonia in the ovaries, which begin the first meiotic division but arrest in prophase I until puberty, when they resume development during each menstrual cycle

Secondary Oocyte

A haploid cell resulting from the completion of the first meiotic division of a primary oocyte; it begins the second meiotic division but arrests in metaphase II; released during ovulation to be fertilized by a sperm cell

Fertilization

What event triggers the secondary oocyte to complete meiosis II?

Polar body

Small cell that results from the unequal distribution of cytoplasm during meiosis during oogenesis

Cortex of the ovaries, specifically within the ovarian follicles located in this outer layer of the ovaries

Where does oogenesis occur?

Primordial Follicle

Follicle cells that surround a primary oocyte; earliest stage of follicle development in the ovaries

Ovarian Cycle

Cycle of follicle growth resulting in ovulation and corpus luteum formation

Formation of primary follicles, formation of secondary follicles, formation of tertiary follicle, ovulation, and formation of corpus luteum

List the steps of the ovarian cycle

Ovulation

Release of egg from the ovary into a uterine tube

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Which hormone helps to trigger ovulation?

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Which hormone will trigger the development of the follicles in the ovary?

Produce progesterone to maintain the uterine lining while it waits for implantation

What is the function of the corpus luteum?

It will degrade; progesterone levels will decrease

What happens to the corpus luteum abt 12 days after ovulation if fertilization doesn’t happen?

Forms an expanded tunnel called infundibulum with numerous projections called fimbriae that extend into the pelvic cavity

Describe structure of uterine tubes

Tube is lined with ciliated epi that beat to move the egg and peristaltic contractions by smooth muscle also help move egg

What helps move the egg thru the uterine tube (fallopian tubes)?

Muscular chamber with 2 regions - body and cervix

Describe the structure of the uterus

Fundus

Superior portion of the uterus

Cervix

Inferior portion of uterus

Endometrium

Inner layer of uterus

Myometrium

Muscular layer of uterus

Perimetrium

Tough, membranous outer layer of the uterus

Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle

Cyclic series of changes in endometrium that occur in response to fluctuating ovarian hormone levels

Uterine tubes

Where does fertilization typically take place?

About 12-24 hours

How long does the window of fertilization last for a secondary oocyte?

Menarche

First menstrual period at puberty

Menstruation (1-7), Proliferative (7-15), and Secretory (15-28)

List the 3 stages of the menstrual cycle and what days they span

Menstruation

Degeneration and shedding of superficial layer of endometrium; triggered by decline in progesterone and estrogen levels as corpus luteum disintegrates

Proliferative Phase

Surviving endometrial epithelial cells multiply and spread across the surface of endometrium and stimulated by rising estrogen levels

Secretory Phase

Uterine glands enlarge and endometrial lining reaches max thickness - stimulated by progestins and estrogens from corpus luteum

Elastic, muscular tube extending between uterus and vestibule; vaginal walls contain a network of blood vessels and layers of smooth muscle; moist lining is maintained by secretions from cervical glands; pH is slightly acidic

Describe the structure of the vagina

Labia majora

Folds of skin that enclose external reproductive organs

Labia minora

Flattened longitudinal folds between labia majora

Clitoris

Small projection of sensitive erectile tissue that corresponds to penis in males

Lactation

Milk production

Mammary gland function

Specialized to secrete milk after pregnancy