female reproductive system

Question 1

role of female reproductive system

Answer 1

produces the female gametes (oocytes)
provides the environment for fertilization,
holds the embryo during its complete development through the fetal stage until birth
production and regulation of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
development and maintenance of female sex characteristics

Question 2

briefly explain the female reproductive organs

Answer 2

oviduct:
- aka fallopian tube
- passageway for eggs from the ovaries to the uterus and provides the site for fertilisation by the sperm

uterus:
- fertilised egg implants and grows into a fetus during pregnancy

cervix:
- allows menstrual blood to flow from the uterus and serves as a pathway for sperm to enter the uterus

vagina:
- receives the penis during sexual
- allows the menstrual blood reproduction to exit the body
- lets the baby passes through during childbirth

ovary:
- produces eggs (ova) female sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone

Question 3

ovary
- shape
- location
- size
- lining

Answer 3

• paired almond-shaped bodies
• located in the pelvic cavity’s upper part
• 3 cm long, 1.5cm wide, 1 cm thick
  -simple cuboidal ep called germinal epithelium and a tunica albuginea (dense CT capsule)

Question 4

what do each ovary contains

Answer 4

cortex:
- a region with a stroma of highly cellular CT
- contains many ovarian follicles of different stages
medulla:
- composed of loose CT and blood vessels, nerve fibers, and lymphatic vessels

Question 5

it consists of an oocyte surrounded by one or more layers of epithelial cells with a basal lamina

Answer 5

ovarian follicles

Question 6

Stages of follicle development

Answer 6

Primordial follicle:
- smallest and most numerous type of follicle in the cortex.
- formed during fetal life

Primary follicle (unilaminar & multilaminar):
- develop from a primordial follicle
- each primary follicle consists of:
primary oocyte
granulosa cell - cuboidal follicle cells, somatic cells that support the oocyte

Secondary follicle:
- develop from the continued growth of the multilaminar primary follicle
- theca folliculi develops into:
theca interna
theca externa

Graafian follicle:
- mature follicle also called as preovulatory follicle

Question 7

Oocyte differentiation

Answer 7

1. Growth of the cell and nuclear enlargement.
2. Mitochondria becoming more numerous and uniformly distributed.
3. RER becoming much more extensive and Golgi complexes enlarging and moving peripherally.
4. Formation of specialized secretory granules called cortical granules containing various proteases.

Question 8

what do primordial follicles consists of

Answer 8

germ cell (primary oocyte):
- in a resting state, pale appearance, and a large nucleus with a prominent nucleolus

squamous follicular cells:
- somatic cells that support the oocyte

tunica albuginea:
- CT underlying the epithelium

Question 9

how are primary follicles classified into

Answer 9

unilaminar primary follicle:
- single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells w a smaller oocyte

multilaminar primary follicle:
- has several layers of cuboidal granulosa cells surrounding a relatively large oocyte

Question 10

small spaces between granulosa layers that is filled

Answer 10

follicular fluid (liquor folliculi)

Question 11

a large cavity formed from merged spaces filled with follicular fluid

Answer 11

antrum

Question 12

Graanfian follicles is named after?

Answer 12

17th-century reproductive biologist
Regnier De Graaf

Question 13

what are the changes in Graanfian follicles

Answer 13

increase in size (25mm)
bulges from the surface of the ovary
decreased number of granulosa cells and increased in fluid volume in the antrum
oocyte located at the periphery due to the liquid volume

Question 14

briefly explain the hormonal regulation of ovarian function

Answer 14

ppt

Question 15

it is a paired, muscular, open-ended tubes that receive the ovum and provide an ideal environment for fertilization

Answer 15

oviduct
- aka as uterine tubes and fallopian tubes
- 4 regions
infundibulum
ampulla
isthmus
intramural part/ portion

Question 16

oviducal wall is composed of?

Answer 16

mucosa
- simple columnar epithelium and lamina propia

muscularis
- inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle

serosa
- visceral peritoneum wih mesothelium

Question 17

a pear-shaped organ with thick, muscular walls

Answer 17

uterus
- muscular walls consists of:
endometrium (mucosa)
myometrium (muscularis)
serosa

Question 18

it connects to the two oviducts and to the vagina via the cervix

Answer 18

utrerus
- site for implantation and placentation
- 3regions:
fundus
body
cervix

Question 19

lower, cylindrical part of the uterus

Answer 19

cervix
- differs histologically from the rest of the uterus

Question 20

linings of cervix

Answer 20

endocervical mucosa
- simple columnar epithelium on a thick lamina propria, with many large, branched, mucus-secreting cervical glands

exocervical mucosa
- nonkeratinized stratified sq ep

transformation zone
- junction between this squamous epithelium and the mucus-secreting columnar epithelium of the endocervix

Question 21

The junction between this squamous epithelium and the mucus-secreting columnar epithelium of the endocervix

Answer 21

transformation zone

Question 22

briefly explain the menstrual cycle

Answer 22

menstrual phase:
- initial stage (from days 1 to 4 of the cycle).
- functional layer (functionalis) of the endometrium sloughs off and bleeds about 2 weeks after ovulation if fertilization does not occur.

proliferative phase:
- following the menstrual phase (days 5–14 of the cycle)
- the functionalis of the endometrium recovers and rebuilds itself.
- its glands appear straight, and its surface is smooth.

secretory phase:
- this phase (days 15–28 of the cycle)
- endometrium becomes ready for implantation, thickens, and the glands appear coiled with large lumens and a sawtooth appearance, mainly influenced by progesterone.
- blastocyst becomes embedded in the endometrium (implantation), the development of the placenta takes place within a short time.

Question 23

tubular organ that connects the cervix of the uterus to the external genitalia

Answer 23

vagina

• function as a copulatory organ and birth passage
• consists of:
  mucosa - nonkeratinized stratified sq ep and lamina propia
  muscularis - mainly longitudinal and some oblique smooth muscle
  adventitia - both dense (elastic fibers, and loose CT)

Question 24

it is a paired exocrine glands located beneath the skin on the chest

Answer 24

mammary gland
- classified as compound tubuloalveolar gland
- each gland consist of 15-25 lobes that
- functions to secrete nutritive milk for newborns

*structure of the mammary glands varies according to sex, age, and physiologic status.

Question 25

small projection at the center of the breast

Answer 25

nipple - covered by thin skin and surrounded by the areola (pigmented skin) - many sensory nerve endings that receive stimulation during suckling that results in release of oxytocin from the pars nervosa of the pituitary

Question 26

what is responsible for the contraction of myoepithelial cells for milk ejection reflex

Answer 26

oxytocin (in the nipple)

Question 27

true or false: size and position of the ovary varies depending on the age and the reproductive state of the indiv

Answer 27

true

Question 28

how are the ovaries are held in place inside the body in two ways

Answer 28

Mesovarium of the broad ligament – little flap or sheet of tissue that helps suspend or hold up the ovaries from above. Ligament of the ovary – small cord that connects each ovary directly to the uterus (the womb).

Question 29

which hormone signals the brain to release when a girl reaches puberty

Answer 29

FSH, follicle stimulating hormone from pituitary gland as the follicles grow: - egg cell (oocyte) inside gets bigger - cells around the egg multiply and change - supporting tissue (called stromal fibroblasts) around the follicle also grows and changes to help support the developing egg

Question 30

what forms around the egg as it grows bigger

Answer 30

a jelly-like layer around it called the zona pellucida - made of special proteins, glycoproteins, includes ZP3 and ZP4 (help the sperm recognize and bind to the egg

Question 31

what protein start a reaction in the sperm, which is needed for fertilization

Answer 31

glycoproteins *reaction in sperm is called acrosomal activation

Question 32

what are the cells outside the granulosa cells called

Answer 32

stromal cells (supporting tissue cells) - bcm flat and form a protective layer arnd follicles called the theca folliculi Theca interna – the inner part, which helps produce hormones. Theca externa – the outer part, which provides structure and support. (CT layer, collagen and sq cells w few smooth muscles)

Question 33

it is the inner vascular layer containing cuboidal (steroid-producing) secretory cell

Answer 33

theca interna - secretes androstendione, which diffuse into the granulosa cells - converted into estradiol (a type of estrogen) with the help of the enzyme aromatase in response to FSH