Female Reproductive Physiology

Question 1

oogenesis

Answer 1

production of female game

Question 2

____ oocytes undergo meioisis 1 to produce: ___ oocytes that undergo meiosis 2 to produce: ____

Answer 2

primary, secondary, ova

Question 3

Three key differences between oogenesis and spermatogenesis

Answer 3

(1) production of primary oocytes occurs only in fetus (2) in primary oocytes, meiosis is arrested in late prophase 1 and resumes years later, if at all (3) in secondary oocytes, meiosis is arrested in metaphase 2 and is only completed if fertilization occurs

Question 4

ovarian follicle

Answer 4

functional unit of ovary that encloses a single oocyte; surrounded by pre-granulosa and granulosa cells

Question 5

pre-granulosa cells

Answer 5

if single layer of cells present

Question 6

granulosa cells

Answer 6

if more than one layer present

Question 7

primordial follicle

Answer 7

single layer of squamous pre-granulosa cells surrounding primary oocyte

Question 8

primary follicles

Answer 8

have single layer of cuboidal pre-granulosa cells surrounding primary oocyte

Question 9

secondary follicles

Answer 9

have multiple layers of granulosa cells surrounding primary oocyte

Question 10

vesicular (antral) follicles

Answer 10

(tertiary follicles) have a fluid-filled cavity called an antrum

Question 11

follicles have two fates

Answer 11

atresia, ovulation

Question 12

atresia

Answer 12

apoptosis of oocyte and surrounding cells

Question 13

ovulation

Answer 13

each month after pubery, a select few primary oocytes are activated

Question 14

After division of meiosis 1 is completed, two haploid cells of different sizes are produced

Answer 14

first polar body, secondary oocyte

Question 15

first polar body

Answer 15

smaller cell that is almost devoid of cytoplasm

Question 16

secondary oocyte

Answer 16

large cell with almost all of mother cell cytoplasm and organelles

Question 17

If penetrated by sperm, secondary oocyte quickly completes meiosis 2, yielding:

Answer 17

ovum or second polar body

Question 18

ovum

Answer 18

large cell with enough cytoplasm to nourish fertilized egg for 6-7 day journey to uterus

Question 19

second polar body

Answer 19

small cell lacking cytoplasm degenerates and dies

Question 20

Two phases of maturation of follicles

Answer 20

pre-antral phase (involves intrafollicular paracrines); antral phase (stimulated by FSH and LH)

Question 21

antral phase

Answer 21

dominant follicle is selected, primary oocyte resumes meiosis 1

Question 22

primordial follicles

Answer 22

squamous like cells surrounding primary oocyte become cuboidal, and oocyte enlarges

Question 23

zona pellucida

Answer 23

encapsulates oocyte, formed when oocyte secretes glycoprotein-rich substances

Question 24

corona radiata

Answer 24

isolated oocyte with its surrounding granulosa cells

Question 25

after oocyte and corona radiata are ejected, ruptured follicle transforms into glandular structure called ___ ___

Answer 25

corpus lutem

Question 26

ovarian cycle

Answer 26

monthly series of events associated with maturation of egg

Question 27

follicular phase

Answer 27

period of vesicular follicle growth

Question 28

luteal phase

Answer 28

period of corpus lutem activity

Question 29

Mittelschmerz

Answer 29

twinge of pain sometimes felt at ovulation by some women

Question 30

What happens during ovulation?

Answer 30

ballooning ovary wall ruptures, expelling secondary oocyte with its corona radiata into peritoneal cavity

Question 31

corpus hemorrhagicum

Answer 31

after ovulation, ruptured follicle collapses, and antrum fills with clotted blood

Question 32

corpus lutem

Answer 32

remaining granulosa cells and internal thecal cells enlarge to form this

Question 33

corpus albicans (scar)

Answer 33

corpus lutem degenerates into this if no pregnancy occurs

Question 34

Establishing the ovarian cycle

Answer 34

Before puberty, ovaries secrete small amounts of estrogen, inhibiting hypothalamic release of GnRH; As puberty nears, if leptin levels are adequate, hypothalamus becomes less estrogen-sensitive, so GnRH is released, stimulating FSH and LH release by pituitary that then acts on ovaries

Question 35

hormonal interaction during ovarian cycle

Answer 35

(1) GnRH stimulates FSH and LH secretion (2) FSH and LH stimulate follicles to grow, mature, and secrete sex hormones (3) negative feedback inhibits gonadotropin release (4) positive feedback stimulates gonadotropin release (5) LH surge triggers ovulation and formation of the corpus luteum (6) negative feedback inhibits LH and FSH release

Question 36

uterine (menstrual) cycle

Answer 36

cyclic series of changes in endometrium that occur in response to fluctuating ovarian hormone levels

Question 37

three phases of uterine cycle

Answer 37

days 1-5 menstrual phase; days 6-14 proliferative (preovulatory) phase; days 15-28 secretory (postovulatory) phase

Question 38

menstrual phase

Answer 38

(1) ovarian hormones are at lowest levels (2) gonadotropin levels are beginning to rise (3) stratum functionalis detaches from uterine wall and is shed (4) by day 5, growing ovarian follicles start to produce more estrogen

Question 39

proliferative (preovulatory) phase

Answer 39

(1) rising estrogen levels prompt generation of new stratum functionalis layer (2) estrogen also increases synthesis of progesterone receptors in endometrium (3) thins out normally thick, sticky cervical mucus to facilitate sperm passage

Question 40

secretory (postovulatory) phase

Answer 40

(1) phase that is most consistent in duration (2) endometrium prepares for embryo to implant (3) rising progesterone levels from corpus luteum prompt several things

Question 41

In the secretory phase, rising progesterone levels from corpus luteum prompt:

Answer 41

(1) functional layer to become a secretory mucosa (2) endometrial glands to enlarge and secrete nutrients into uterine cavity (3) thickened mucus to form cervical mucus plug that blocks entry of more sperm, pathogens, or debris

Question 42

What happens during the secretory phase if fertilization doesn't occur?

Answer 42

(1) corpus luteum degenerates toward end of phase and progesterone levels fall (2) endometrial cells die, and glands regress (3) spiral arteries constrict again, then relax and open wide, causing a rush of blood into weakened capillary beds (4) blood vessels fragment, and functional layer sloughs off and uterine cycle starts over

Question 43

Extremely strenuous physical activity can delay menarche in girls and disrupt normal menstrual cycle in adult women. It can cause..

Answer 43

amenorrhea (cessation of menstruation)