Female Reproductive

Overview

gonads (ovary)

oviduct (fallopian tube)

uterus

vagina

Ovary

endocrine and exocrine

  • estrogens
  • progestogens

contains 300,000 to 400,000 ova per ovary at birth

  • some texts say about 2 million ova per ovary at birth   * prior to puberty about 11 thousand die each month

capsule called tunica albuginea

  • similar to males but not as thick

germinal epithelium

  • just above the tunica albuginea
  • simple squamous to cuboidal epithelium
  • not actually germinative   * does not give rise to eggs
  • source of 70% of ovarian cancers

Cortex

  • has developing follicles

Medulla

  • loose connective tissue
  • blood vessels

Follicles

  • ova and supporting cells
  • Primordial follicles   * how all follicles begin   * immature ovum     * frozen in meiosis I     * surrounded by simple squamous epithelium   * called granulosa

    large   * what we are born with

  • primary follicles   * granulosa: transitions from simple squamous to simple cuboidal or columnar epithelium   * zone pellucida     * larger of glycoproteins for protection     * between the granulosa and ovum   * later stages have more layers of granulosa and thicker zona pellucida
  • secondary follicles   * 8-12 layers of granulosa     * in these layers, fluid filled spaces       * liquor folliculi       * precursor to antrum (fluid that surrounds ovum         * so can be called antral follicle       * fuse together to make 1 large pocket in mature follicle
  • mature (Graafian) follicle   * after all liquor folliculi spaces fuse   * this is what is ovulated   * corona radiata     * granulosa cells immediately around egg   * ovum and corona radiata are released with ovulation     * some liquor folliculi is released too

What happens to antrum after ovulation?

  • With fertilization   * exists as corpus luteum     * creates hormone progesterone       * to maintain pregnancy
  • without fertilization   * degenerates and forms small scar     * corpus albicans     * no progesterone
Fallopian Tube

aka Oviduct

fimbriae

  • finger like projections on end of oviduct
  • funnels egg in from ovary

Portions

  • infundibulum   * first part after fimbriae
  • ampulla   * after the infundibulum   * where most eggs become fertilized
  • isthmus   * after ampulla
  • uterine   * last portion before uterus

Mucosa

  • simple columnar ciliated epithelium   * move egg
  • Peg cells   * help move egg

Muscularis

  • inner circular
  • outer longitudinal
  • peristalsis like waves to move egg
Hormonal Control

hormones produced by the pituitary gland

  • FSH - build follicles
  • LH - trigger ovulation

before ovulation is the follicular phase

after ovulation is the luteal phase

estrogen promotes build of endometrium

  • secreted by growing follicle in follicular phase
  • secreted by corpus luteum in luteal phase

progesterone maintains endometrium

  • secreted by corpus luteum

Menstrual cycle

  • menstrual phase   * the beginning when bleeding occurs
  • proliferative phase   * while follicle is building endometrium is building
  • secretory phase   * after ovulation when the estrogen and progesterone are promoting growth of endometrium
Uterine Layers

endometrium

  • innermost layer

  • stratum basale   * always present   * regenerative cells for the build of next functionale

  • stratum functionale   * what grows and sheds with cycle

  • simple columnar epithelium

  • extensive lamina propria   * uterine glands     * lined with simple columnar epithelium     * mucoid secretion rich in glycogen

  • no line to divide basale and functionale

  • with proliferation, glands become spiraled   * helps with implantation

  • very vascular with blood filled sinuses (lacunae)

  • menstrual phase, top will look broken   * lose connective tissue, some glands, and blood

myometrium

  • smooth muscle
  • inner parallel (longitudinal)
  • middle circular (spiral)
  • outer parallel (longitudinal)
  • growth ability   * 50 um when not pregnant   * 500 um when pregnant
  • fibroids are benign tumors of this layer
  • cramps and contractions are within this layer

Perimetrium

  • outermost layer
  • continuous with peritoneum
Vagina

fibromuscular tube

external os of cervix to opening called vestibule

layers

  • mucosa - stratified squamous epithelium (non keratinized)
  • muscularis   * inner circular   * outer longitudinal
Accessory Structure

skene (lesser vestibular) glands

  • near vestibule
  • mucous secreting
  • for lubrication of vestibule

Bartholin (greater vestibule) glands

  • counterpart to bulbourethral glands
  • for lubrication of vagina
  • clogged ducts can form Bartholin cyst
Some Gross Anatomy

Uterus

  • fundus means bottom but is the top of the uterus
  • the middle part with the opening is called the body
  • at the bottom where it meets the cervix is called the internal os   * os is the term for the abbreviation for ostium

Cervix

  • between the uterus and vagina
  • top is internal os and bottom is external os
  • cervical glands on each side   * these secretions maintain mucous viscosity     * thinner post ovulation to allow sperm to pass through

Vagina

  • top part is the external os

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