Female Reproductive System

Front 1

Female Gross anatomy

Back 1

Uterus:
*Body
1. Endometrium
(Endometriosis- fragments of tissue lining the uterus migrate to other areas such as oviducts or ovaries)
2. Myometrium- muscular portion
* Fallopian tubes (oviducts)
1. Fimbriae- covering the ovaries
(Ectopic pregnancy- embryo implants outside the uterus)
(Tubal Ligation)
* Ovary
*Certix (cervical cancer and Pap smear)
*Vagina

Front 2

A spermatozoan moving through the female

Back 2

A spermatozoan ejaculated into the female reproductive tract must move through the cervix and uterus before it can fertilize an ovulated egg that has been moved from the ovaries into the uterine tube by the combined actions of fimbrial contractions and the oviduct's "ciliary escalator"

Front 3

Early Embryonic Stage:
Wolffian Duct-->
Mullarian Duct -->

Back 3

- Male (turns into epididymus and vas deferens)
- Female (turns into the uterine duct)

Front 4

Female External Anatomy

Back 4

- opening of urethra
- mons pubis
- clitoris (female equivalent to glans penis)
- labia minora
- labia majora
- hymen
- opening of vagina
*The external genitalia of the female accommodate the reproductive processes at the time of sexual intercourse and at the time of birth. The tract is somewhat protected from invasion by pathogenic organisms by an acidic mucus.

Front 5

Oogenesis

Back 5

oogenia--> (mitosis and differentiation) --> primary oocyte --> (1st meiotic division, begins in utero, completed prior to ovulation) --> secondary oocyte --> (2nd meiotic division, completed after fertilization)--> Ovum

Front 6

Ovary

Back 6

* Ovarian Ligament:
microanatomy:
- Graafian follicles
- Estrogen production by follicular cells: Thecal cells (covering), Granulosa cells
- Zona pellucida
- Ovum
- Antrum

Front 7

The two-stage model of estrogen synthesis holds that androgen precursors are synthesized in the outer layer (theca cells) of the ovarian follicles and diffuse to the inner layer (granulosa cells) for converion to estrogens

Back 7

LH-- theca cells synthesize androgens -->
FSH- granulosa cells convert androgens to estrogen

Front 8

Summary of the hormonal control of ovarian function during the follicular phase

Back 8

hypothalamus secreted GnRH --> Anterior pituitary secretes FSH and LH --> LH: stimulates theca cells to produce androgens. FSH: stimulates the conversion of androgens into estrogen, also influences oocytes and inhibin production. --> reproductive and other organs respond to estrogen

Front 9

Stages of the follicle

Back 9

1. developing follicle
2. mature follicle
3. ovulating follicle
4. corpus luteum:
- stimulated by LH
- produces progesterone (maintains the uterine wall and lets embryo develop)
5. Corpus albicans
- spent and inactive corpus luteum

Front 10

The menstrual cycle

Back 10

- on average is a 28 day cycle
- considerable variability in length
- on average ovulation occurs on the 14th day

Front 11

Ovarian events/ menstrual cycle

Back 11

Follicular Phase: bleeding starts--> multiple follicles develop--> dominant follicle selected --> dominant follicle matures--> ovulation occurs.
Luteal Phase: ovulation occurs--> corpus luteum functions (progesterone)--> corpus luteum degenerates

Front 12

Ovulation

Back 12

- ovulation is provoked by a surge in LH and marks the transition to the luteal phase of the cycle; characterized by high levels of progesterone
- eventually, a decrease in LH leads to luteolysis, and the withdrawl of steroid support for a thick, active uterus
- Small increases in the secretion of gonadotropins (LH and FSH) lead to follicular maturation, including an increase in the synthesis and secretion of ovarian steroid hormones.
- the feedback relationship between the ovarian steroid hormones and secretion from the hypothalamus/anterior pituitary gland reverses in mid-cycle, eliciting the large, ovulatory surge in LH.

Front 13

Uterine phase of ovulation

Back 13

menstual --> proliferative --> secretory --> menstrual

Front 14

Ovarian phase of ovulation

Back 14

Follicular--> Luteal