Histology of Vagina
(2) layers
1) muscularis
2) adventitia
Histology of Vagina
1) muscularis
2) adventitia
1) outer circular layer, inner longitudinal layer of smooth muscle
2) superficial layer of areolar CT that anchors vagina to adjacent organs
Hymen of Vagina
thin fold of vascularized mucous membrane forming border around & partially closing vaginal orifice
Vulva (pudendum)
external genitals of female
components of Vulva (5)
1) mons pubis
2) labia majora
3) labia minora
4) clitoris
5) vestibule
6) bulb of vestibule
Components of Vulva
1) mons pubis
2) labia majora
3) labia minora
4) clitoris
5) vestibule
6) bulb of vestible
1) adipose tissue covered by skin & pubic hair
2) homologous to scrotum - oil & sweat glands
3) homologous to spongy (penile) urethra - only few sweat but many oil glands
4) prepuce & glans clitoris - (glans penis)
5) betwen labia minora - (membranous urethra)
6) (corpus spongiosum & bulb of penis)
Perineum
contains?
diamond-shaped area medial to thighs & butt of males & females
contains external genitalia & anus
Breast/Mammary glands
nipple has openings of lactiferous ducts
areola - pigmented area
mammary gland - modified sudoriferous (sweat) glands that produce milk
lobes divided into lobules which are composed alveoli (milk-secreting glands)
When milk is being produced it passes from ___ to...
alveoli → secondary tubules → mammary ducts → lactiferous sinuses → lactiferous duct (lobe → exterior)
Ovarian cycle
series of events in ovaries that occur during & after maturation of an oocyte
Uterine (menstrual) cycle
concurrent series of changes in endometrium of uterus to prepare for arrival of fertilized ovum that will develop there after birth
Female reproductive cycle encompasses...
ovarian & uterine cycles, hormonal changes that regulate them & related cyclical changes in breasts & cervix
What controls the ovarian & uterine cycles?
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secreted by hypothalamus
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates?
release of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from anterior pituitary.
1) Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
2) Luteinizing hormone (LH)
stimulate?
1) initiates follicular growth
2) stimulates further development of ovarian follicles
BOTH stimulate ovarian follicles to secrete estrogens.
Functions of Estrogens
secreted by?
promote development & maintence of female reproductive structures & sex characteristics & breasts
ovarian follicles
1) GnRH
2) FSH & LH
3) estrogens
4) progesterone
5) relaxin
6) inhibin
produced by? function?
1) hypothalamus - controls ovarian & uterine cycles
2) anterior pituitary - follicular growth & further development, stimulate ovarian follicles to secrete estrogens
3) ovarian follicles - develop/maintain female repro. structures & sex characteristics
4) cells of corpus luteum - prep/maintain endometrium for implantation & mammary glands for milk secretion, inhibit GnRH + LH
5) corpus luteum - inhibits myometrium contractions (relax uterus)
6) granulosa cells of growing follicles & corpus luteum - inhibits FSH secretion & LH
Phases of Female Reproductive Cycle (4)
1) menstrual
2) preovulatory
3) ovulation
4) postovulatory
1) menstrual phase
first 5 days
IN OVARIES: FSH → primordial f. → 1º f. →2º f.
IN UTERUS: ↓ progesterone & estrogens → ↑ prostaglandins → uterine spiral arteries constrict → endometrium shedding
2) preovulatory phase
days 6-13 in 28 day cycle
UTERINE CYCLE - proliferative phase (endometrium is proliferating)
IN OVARIES: 2 f. secrete estrogens & inhibin → dominant follicle → ↓ FSH → mature (graafian) follicle
IN UTERUS: estrogens stimulate repair of endometrium
3) ovulation
day 14
high estrogens levels at end of preov. phase exert positive feedback effect on cells that secrete LH & GnRH
↑ estrogens → ↑ GnRH + ↑ LH
↑ GnRH → ↑FSH
↑ LH → rupture of mature (graafian) follicle & release of 2ndary oocyte into pelvic cavity
Follicular phase
with reference to ovarian cycle,
menstrual + preovulatory phase
because ovarian follicles are growing & developing
4) postovulatory phase
lasts 14 days (day 15-28)
IN ONE OVARY: luteal phase (ovarian cycle)
blood clot, LH → theca interna + granulosa → corpus luteum cells
not fertilized: corpus luteum → corpus albicans
fertilized: 2ndary oocyte divides & corpus luteum persists
IN UTERUS: thickening of endometrium,
Secretory phase (uterine cycle) - secretory action of endometrial glands
Hormone cycle:
hierarchy of control?
hypothalamus → pituitary → ovaries → uterus