Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System and Hormonal Control

Vagina

 

Main copulatory organ

Fallopian tube

Receives the released egg and moves it toward the uterus

Uterus

Muscular organ where the embryo is nourished and develops

Cervix

Narrow "neck" between the vagina and the uterus

Endometrium

 

Uterine layer that is shed during menstruation

Ovaries

Carries the eggs and secretes estrogen and progesterone

What is LH?

Pituitary hormone that stimulates estrogen secretion

What is FSH?

Pituitary hormone that stimulates follicle maturation

What is Inhibin?

Inhibits FSH secretion due to Negative Feedback from Low Estrogen Levels.

What is GNRH

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is a Hypothalamic hormone that stimulates the anterior pituitary to secrete LH and FSH.

The maturing follicle secretes this hormone

Estrogen

A spike in this hormone causes the egg to be released from the ovary

LH

Following ovulation, this structure secretes progesterone

Corpus Luteum

Follicular phase

Period of follicle growth and maturation

LH Surge

Causes the most mature follicle to rupture from the ovary

Ovulation

Period where the egg is released from the ovary, and it is the shortest phase

Luteal phase

Period where progesterone and estrogen levels thicken the endometrium

Ovarian Cycle: Corpus luteum

Formed after ovulation and secretes progesterone

Menstraul phase

Uterine lining is shed and expelled

Proliferative phase

Uterine lining rebuilds and thickens

Secretory phase

Mature uterine lining prepares for possibility of implantation

Uterine Cycle: Corpus Luteum

Secretes progesterone that stimulates endometrial thickening

FSH causes the maturation and development of

The Follicle

Corpus luteum secretes progesterone following

Ovulation

Both estrogen and progesterone stimulate growth of the

Endometrial lining

Falling progesterone levels signal the beginning of

Menstruation