Female Reproductive Physiology ML:2 Flashcards
What are the ovarian functions?
production of ova (eggs)
How do eggs develop?
-before birth oogonium divides mitotically to give rise to 2-4 million oogonia
-just before birth oogonia begins first meiotic division but do not complete it
What are oogonia known as until puberty
primary oocytes and are in a state of meitoic arrest
What are the two faces the ovaries alternate between?
follicular phase and luteal phase
What is the follicular phase?
produces a mature follicle
What is the luteal phase
prepares for pregnancy if fertilization occurs
What is step 1 of the follicular phase?
the primary oocyte exits a primordial follicle
Step 2 of the follicular phase
in childhood and during menstrual cycle a portion of the resting primordial follicle turns into early antral follicle
Step 3 of follicular phase
in the growing follicle granulosa cells secrete hormones estrogen and inhibin
Step 4 of follicular cycle
at beginning of the menstrual cycle 10-25 follicles that made it out of the early antral stages begin to enlarge, only one survives and becomes the dominant follicle
Last step of the follicular phase
if the follicle does not become dominate it undergoes atresia and dies
What are the three steps if an egg will become fertilized?
-prior to ovulation the primary oocyte completes its first meiotic division to yield a secondary oocyte
-secondary oocyte is ovulated and fertilized if sperm is present
-fertilization triggers the second meiotic division to yield a zygote
What happens during the luteal phase
old granulosa and theca cells form the corpus luteum
Characteristics of the corpus luteum
- storage sites of cholesterol
-secretes estrogen, inhibin and progesterone
What is the hormone before ovulation
estrogen
