A and P II Female Reproductive System

What determines if someone is female?

• gonads

• XX chromosomes

purpose of the system

• procreate: to make another life

• need to have mature follicles that meet the mature male’s follicles

• fused: ovum is fertilized, fetus develops

ovary

oocyte development, production, and release of sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone)

• to get to the egg

• primary reproductive organ

• one on each left and right

• endocrine: estrogen and progesterone released from tissue

• exocrine: ovum, starts as a follicle and develops and ovulated out 

uterine/fallopian tube

• transport oocyte

• site of fertilization

uterus

• distensible muscular organ that provides nourishment and protection for the implanted egg

vagina

• mucosal muscular-lined tissue that allows for movement of uterine contents out of the body, canal for birth

• receptacle for penis

labia

• outer lips on the vaginal region, protect the region

clitoris

• erectile tissue, highly nerve innervated, purpose is pleasure

vestibular glands

secretes fluid to moisten and lubricate vestibular structures

vestibule

space between labia minora that contains vaginal and urtheral openings 

reproductive organs

• primary: ovaries

• secondary: uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, breast

divisions of the ovary

• medulla: inner

• cortex: contains the follicles, where ovulation occurs

diploid cell

• 46 chromosomes 

• division process, create haploid cells with 23 chromosomes

• half from a female’s ovum and half from a male’s

follicle developement

• females born with all follicles (about 2 million)

  • start with primordial follicles: surrounded by squamous granulosa cells

  • FSH wakes up the cells, develop primary follicles

  • surrounded by cuboidal granulosa cells

• secondary follicle: starts to develop fluid filled sac, has both granulosa and theca cells 

  • still going through mitosis

• Graafian follicle: final stage before ovulation

GnRH

34:30

LH

• what stimulates ovulation

• released during it

follicular phaee

• change in level of estrogen: will have increased secretion of inhibin, estrogen, and progesterone

  • all three inhibit the release of GnRH

• when it is developing

female cycle

• 28 days 

• ovulation: day 14

  • body temp increases, stays during the luteal phase

• first day of bleeding: first day of cycle

• follicular phase: when the follicle is developing, first 14 days

• luteal phase: last 14 days, development of corpus luteum, release of progesterone

anterior pituiutary hormones

• FSH: slight increase during bleeding, large increase and peak during ovulation

• LH: very large spike during ovulation

• estradiol: ovarian hormone, gradual increase up til ovulation, large drop right on day 14, long and gradual after

• progesterone: ovarian hormone: starts to rise after ovulation, long and gradual after, higher than estradiol

• drop in progesterone level is what stimulates the menstrual cycle

high levels of estrogen

• will close feedback loop for FSH

what secretes progesterone?

corpus luteum

• stops producing when it stops getting the hormonal signal

fertilization

• have had ovulation: ovum interacts with sperm, and we develop the zygote (fertilized egg)

• proceeds down the fallopian tube, initial development of components for the fetus

• reaches blastocyte stage: in the uterus, implantation occurs (6-10 days)

  • start to see the cells create HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin hormone) (pregnancy tests)

  • tells it to continue to secrete progesterone

• only one sperm is capable of entering the egg

  • head of the sperm fuses with the egg, and a chemical reaction, the egg repels all other sperm 

  • acrosome 

accessory organs

• fimbria: finger-like projections, capture the ovum

• infundibulum: funnel-shaped opening

• ampulla: widest section, usual location of fertilization

  • takeas a few days for ovum to make its way through

• isthmus: narrow section connected to the uterus

layers of uterine tubes

• inner mucosa: lined with ciliated cells

• smooth muscle: contracts to move the ova and sperm

uterus layers

• endometrium: mucous membrane lining, inner layer of the uterus

  • thickens during the menstrual cycle

  • very vascular

  • where estrogen and progesterone attach, create a fertile environment

    • superficial functionalis: shed monthly, 2/3 of the lining

    • deep stratum basalis: attaches to myometrium and remains constant

• myometrium: smooth muscle of the uterus, involuntary control, oxytocin

  • pliable

• perimetrium: outer coating, holds everything together, allows for attachment sites

myometrium layers

• outer: horizontal fibers

• middle: mesh fibers/oblique

• inner: circular fibers

  • all three helps to push baby out

uterus regions

• top: fundus, domed 

• body: where implantation happens, middle

• cervix: narrowing in 

  • at the distal end, a selective entry way into the uterus

  • very good at guarding from debris 

cervical mucous

• changes throughout the menstrual cycle

• infertile: cervix firm closer

• fertile: cervix soft open

relaxin

• released during cervical dilation

• helps to relax the cervix to pass the head through

pelvic cavity ligaments

• broad: envelope over the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and attaches to the uterus

  • holds everything down 

• ovarian: holds ovaries in place, attaches from 

• suspensory: attaches to the ovary and the pelvic cavity

• round: not much supper, uterus to pelvic cavity

• cardinal transverse, uterosacral, pubocervical: at base of structures, provide support to pelvic floor

pelvic muscles

• lapse: muscle damage, cannot hold pee

• prolapse: vaginal muscles pop out the other way

vagina

• connects the uterus and cervix to the vestibule

  • receives the penis

  • birth canal

• mucosal layer (stratified squamous)

• fibromuscularis: circular and longitudinal

• adventitia: outer fibrous coat

• at rest: walls collapsed and are touching each other

• posterior fornix: reservoir for semen 

  • vagianal: acidic and semen: alkylitic

  • liquidifies semen more

external reproductive

• mons pubis: lies over pubic symphysis, pads everything

• labia majora: skin and adipose tissue, enclose and protect

• labia minora: flattened longitudinal fold/lips

• glands: vestibular and sene

  • vestibule contains vaginal opening and urethra

• clitoris: anterior to vulva

• perineum: between the vestibule and the anus

mammory glands

• found on the thoracic cavity

• surrounded by adipose and subcutaneous tissue

• glands: start between 2nd and 6th rib

  • sternum to axilla

• glands: go into ducts, feed into the nipple

  • surrounded by erectile tissue and areola

• size of breast has no relation to production of milk

mammory hormones

• prolactin and oxytocin

  • only 2 on a positive feedback loop

puberty

• age 9-10

• increase of GnRH: to the pituitary, stimulates an increase in FSH and LH

  • increase of estrogen (ovaries) and androgens (adrenal glands)

  • estrogen: blocker of testosterone

  • androgen: promotes hair growth, an increase in skin turnover, and oil production, can get stuck in follicles and produce acne

  • progesterone: builds up the endometrium lining, dropping is the release of menstrual blood

  • inhibin: secreted by granulosa cells, inhibiting FSH in the luteal phase

  • ages 18-20: fully matured

androgens

• released mainly from the adrenal cortex, and ovaries, and adipose tissue

• cause public and auxiliary hair

• result in widening of the pubic inlet, increase in adipose tissue (protective)

estrogens

• feminizing 

• estridol (E2): strongest, released during the start of the period til menopause, regulates our cycle, impacts the follicles and ovaries

• estriol (E3): pregnancy, secreted by the placenta, maintain the uterine lining

• Estrone (E1): released during menopause

• don’t have to know for exam

thelarche

• starts at puberty through year 20

• development of breast tissue

• mammary or lactiferous glands

• include epithelial cells: produce milk, put in the sack, oxytocin moves it in the ducts and out the nipple

colostrum

first thing released from the breast when the infant is born

• no caloric value, maternal immunity

menarche

• menstrual cycle

• 3-8 days

• need 17% body fat

• 1-3oz blood loss

climacteric

• change in hormone secretion accompanied by menopause, ovary involution

menopause

• ages 42-55

• number of eggs decreases, change in hormonal secretions

• change in atrophy of vaginal and breast areas

• uncomfortable intercourse

• skin thins

• rise in cholesterol

• bone mass decline

• hot flashes