Female Reproductive System

Question 1

What are the main reproductive structures in females?

Answer 1

uterus, ovaries

Question 2

What structures produce the female gametes (oocytes)?

Answer 2

ovaris

Question 3

Once expelled from the surface of an ovary, an oocyte is swept up by the _________ _____ and transported to the ________.

Answer 3

uterine tube ; uterus

Question 4

The posterior uterus and associated structures are collectively called the…

Answer 4

adnexa

Question 5

What gives the ovaries a whitish color?

Answer 5

covering of tunica albuginea, much like with the testes

Question 6

Where is the uterus?

Answer 6

it sits in the floor of the female pelvis, between the urinary bladder and the rectum

Question 7

The dome-like top of the uterus is called the…

Answer 7

fundus

Question 8

Inferiorly, the uterus tapers into the…

Answer 8

cervix

Question 9

What structure extends inferiorly from the cervix?

Answer 9

vagina

Question 10

What is in the center of the cervix?

Answer 10

cervical canal

Question 11

The cuff around the cervix, where the vagina connects, is called the…

Answer 11

fornix

Question 12

The wall of the uterus has thick ______ muscle that contracts with menstruation and childbirth.

Answer 12

smooth

Question 13

The inner lining of the uterus is called the…

Answer 13

endometrium (which is highly vascular and glandular tissue)

Question 14

There are three pairs of structures attached to the superior-lateral aspect of the uterus collectively called the adnexa. What are they?

Answer 14

round ligaments, ovarian ligaments, uterine (fallopian) tubes

Question 15

Round Ligaments

Answer 15

• travel anteriorly, through the inguinal canal on each side
• exit the canal and attach to the skin
• thought to provide positional support to the uterus

Question 16

Ovaries

Answer 16

• attached to the uterus through the ovarian ligaments
• primary sex organs in female
• produce female gametes (oocytes)

Question 17

Uterine (Fallopian) Tubes

Answer 17

• transport oocytes from the ovaries to the uterine cavity
• have finger-like projections, called fimbriae, that undulate and create currents to draw the oocyte into the tube at ovulation
• muscular contractions and ciliated columnar epithelia (part of the mucosa) move the oocyte towards the uterine cavity

Question 18

If you can see the ovaries, are you looking at the anterior or posterior uterus?

Answer 18

posterior

- in the anterior view, the ovaries are blocked by the broad ligament

Question 19

The ovaries get their blood supply from the…

Answer 19

ovarian arteries

Question 20

The ovarian arteries branch from the…

Answer 20

abdominal aorta, just inferior to the renal arteries

Question 21

The right ovarian vein drains into the…

Answer 21

inferior vena cava

Question 22

The left ovarian vein drains into the…

Answer 22

left renal vein

Question 23

The uterus gets its blood suppl from the…

Answer 23

uterine arteries

Question 24

The uterine arteries are branches of the…

Answer 24

internal iliac artery

Question 25

The ovarian artery and vein are covered by peritoneum, forming a fold called the...

Answer 25

suspensory ligament

Question 26

The ovarian artery and vein travel over (anterior to) the...

Answer 26

common iliac vessels

Question 27

The broad ligament is formed by the _________ that drapes over the uterus and adnexa.

Answer 27

peritoneum

Question 28

The broad ligament is comprised of two layers of peritoneum and is divided into three parts, which are...

Answer 28

mesometrium, mesovarium, and mesosalpinx

Question 29

This is part of the broad ligament attached to the sides of the uterus.

Answer 29

mesometrium

Question 30

This part of the broad ligament is attached to the ovary and ovarian ligament.

Answer 30

mesovarium

Question 31

This part of the broad ligament is attached to the uterine tube.

Answer 31

mesosaplinx

Question 32

The broad ligament provides some support to the...

Answer 32

uterus and adnexa

Question 33

When the peritoneum drapes over the organs in the pelvis, it forms a pouch between the bladder and the uterus. What is this called?

Answer 33

vesicouterine puch

Question 34

When the peritoneum drapes over the organs in the pelvis, it forms a pouch between the rectum and the uterus. What is this called?

Answer 34

rectouterine pouch

Question 35

When a female reaches puberty, the hypothalamus releases..

Answer 35

gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Question 36

GnRH stimulate the (anterior) pituitary gland to release..

Answer 36

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and lutenizing hormone (LH)

Question 37

Which hormones initiate the changes in the ovaries during oogenesis?

Answer 37

FSH and LH

Question 38

Oogenesis

Answer 38

the formation and development of the oocytes

Question 39

Oogonia

Answer 39

Mitotic cells which produce the oocytes found in the ovaries before birth

Question 40

Primary Oocytes

Answer 40

cell that starts meiosis I and is suspended halfway through. These cells are found in the ovaries of newborn females and do not change until puberty.

Question 41

Secondary Oocytes

Answer 41

cell that starts meiosis II, is arrested, and leaves the ovary during ovulation. Does not finish meiosis II unless it becomes fertilized.