Animal Reproduction 2: Oogenesis, Menstrual Cycle & Endocrinology Study Guide

What are the primary functions of the female reproductive system?

Produce ova, receive sperm, facilitate fertilization, house and nourish developing embryo, give birth, and lactate.

What are the main components of the female reproductive anatomy?

Ovaries, oviducts (fallopian tubes), uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva.

What hormones are produced by the ovaries?

Estradiol and progesterone.

What is the role of the oviducts?

To collect secondary oocytes from the ovaries and move them to the uterus; they are also the site of fertilization.

What are the two layers of the uterus?

Myometrium (smooth muscle) and endometrium (connective tissue, glands, blood vessels).

What happens to the endometrium if fertilization does not occur?

It is sloughed off during menstruation.

What is oogenesis?

The development of mature eggs (ova).

What is the fate of the secondary oocyte if sperm enters?

It completes meiosis II, resulting in an ovum and a polar body.

What is the menstrual cycle?

A complex sequence of events involving the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, ovaries, and uterus that prepares the female body for pregnancy.

What are the two overlapping parts of the menstrual cycle?

The ovarian cycle and the uterine cycle.

What occurs during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle?

Follicles mature, and one primary oocyte is released during ovulation.

What is the role of estrogen in the female reproductive system?

It stimulates growth of sex organs, secondary sex characteristics, and prepares the body for pregnancy.

What triggers ovulation?

A surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) caused by high levels of estradiol.

What happens during the luteal phase if no pregnancy occurs?

The corpus luteum disintegrates, leading to decreased levels of estradiol and progesterone, and the menstrual cycle restarts.

What is the purpose of the proliferative phase of the uterine cycle?

To prepare the endometrium to support an embryo.

What occurs during the secretory phase of the uterine cycle?

Endometrial development is completed, and if no pregnancy occurs, the lining disintegrates.

What is the significance of the cervix in the female reproductive system?

It closes the uterus and separates it from the vagina; it is also a common site of cancer linked to HPV.

How many primary oocytes are present at birth?

About 1-2 million.

What happens to the primary oocyte during puberty?

It resumes meiosis and continues to develop within a follicle.

What is the role of the corpus luteum?

It acts as a temporary endocrine gland that secretes progesterone and estradiol to prepare the endometrium for pregnancy.

What is the duration of the menstrual cycle?

It typically repeats every 28 days unless fertilization and implantation occur.

What initiates the ovarian cycle at the start of a new cycle?

The hypothalamus secretes GnRH, stimulating the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH.

What is the role of progesterone during the menstrual cycle?

It prepares the endometrium for pregnancy and stimulates the secretion of nutrient-rich fluid.

What is the significance of the menstrual flow phase?

It marks the shedding of the endometrial lining and the beginning of a new ovarian and uterine cycle.