Female Reproductive System

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Female Reproductive System
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Anatomy Ovaries

• Ovaries
• Shape and size of almonds
• Many saclike ovarian follicles w/ oocyte
  (immature egg) surrounded by follicle cells
• As egg matures, develops a fluid filled region
  now mature its called a Graafian follicle
• Graafian follicles are ready to be ejected from
  ovary (ovulation)occurs every 28 days
• Corpus luteum ruptured follicle which degenrates

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Anatomy Duct System

• Uterine (fallopian) tubes
• 4 long
• Receive mature oocyte
• Distal end has funnel shaped infundibulum
  w/finger-like fimbriae w/fluid currents to carry
  oocyte into uterine tube
• uses cilia and peristalsis to carry oocyte (3-4
  day journey)
• Site for fertilization
• Uterus (womb)
• Size and shape of pear in never-pregnant woman
• Fundus (entrance), body, cervix (outlet)
• Receives, retains, and nourishes a fertilized egg
• Wall composed of 3 layers
• Endometrium implantation of fertilized eggif
  not pregnant lining sloughed off every 28 days
  (menstruation)
• Myometrium smooth muscles
• Perimetrium outermost layer
• Vagina (birth canal copulation organ)
• Thin walled tube (3-4long)
• Distal end covered by hymen (ruptures during the
  first sexual intercourse, or sports)

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Vulva External Genitalia

• Mons pubis
• fatty round area covering pubic symphysis
• Labia majoria
• hair covered skin folds, protect labia minora
• Labia minora
• hair free skin folds protects urethral and
  vaginal orifices
• Greater vestibular glands
• secrete mucosal lubricant during intercourse
• Clitoris
• Hooded by prepuce, composed of erectile tissue

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Oogenesis

• Females have total supply of eggs at birth (2
  million)
• Ability to release eggs begins at puberty,
  declines, and ends 50 yrs old (menopause)
• Oogenesis production of gametes (eggs)
• Oogenia (female stem cells) undergo rapid mitotic
  divisions producing primary oocytes during fetal
  development and surrounded by cells to form
  primary follicles
• Primary oocytes must wait 10-14 years to mature,
  at puberty FSH stimulates primary follicles to
  grow, mature, and ovulation begins to occur
  monthly

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Ovarian Cycle

• At puberty 400,000 oocytes remainfewer than 500
  will actually be released during a womens
  lifetime
• FSH stimulates primary oocyte to undergo meiosis
  I ? Two uneven sized daughter cells (14 days)
• Polar Body (very tiny cell), deteriorates
• Secondary oocyte (the larger cell)
• arrested in metaphase II
• Surrounded by corona radiata
• LH stimulates ovulation (rupture and release of
  oocyte)
• If not fertilized, deteriorates
• If ovulated secondary oocyte is fertilized, it
  undergoes meiosis II
• Polar body (very tiny cell) deteriorates
• ovum

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Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle

• Cyclic changes to endometrial lining in response
  to ovarian hormones
• 21-40 days depending on individual
• Uterus receptive for implantation for only a
  short period each month7 days after ovulation
• Days 1-5 Menstrual phase
• Functional endometrial layer sloughs off
• .25 - .5 cup of blood loss
• Days 6-14 Proliferative phase
• Rising estrogen produced by growing follicles
• Endometrial layer regenerates
• Increase LH, ovulation occurs
• Days 15-28 Secretory phase
• Increase progesterone
• Ednometrial glands secrete nutrients to sustain
  developing embryo until implanted
• If fertilization doesnt occur, corpus luteum
  degenerates as LH decreases
• Endometrial bv spasm and kink, cells begin to die

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Ovaries Hormone Production

• Become active at puberty
• Estrogens secondary sex characteristics
• Enlargement of female reproductive organs
• Breast development
• Increase hair growth
• Increase fat deposits (hips and breasts)
• Widening and lightening of pelvis
• Onset of menstrual cycle
• Progesterone produced by corpus luteum
• Works w/estrogen to establish menstrual cycle
• Maintains pregnancy
• Prepares breasts for milk production

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Mammary Glands

• Mammary glands normally only function in females
• Produce milk to nourish a newborn baby
• Areolar pigmented areas surrounding the
  protruding nipple
• Ea/gland consists of 15-25 lobes which radiate
  around nipple
• Lobes are padded and separated by fat
• Lobules small chambers containing clusters of
  alveolar glands that produce milk during
  lactation
• Milk passes into the lactiferous ducts which open
  to the outside at the nipple