Female Reproductive Systemm

Question 1

What is oogenesis

Answer 1

Development of ova
(mature unfertilized egg cells)
Oogonia = stem cells in embryo (form ova)
Oogonia multiply and undergo meiosis This stops at prophase I (Primary oocytes)
These remain ‘arrested’ in follicles
until puberty

Question 2

What happens during oogenis

Answer 2

FSH stimulates follicle growth
↓
Completion of meiosis I and the start of meiosis II
Arrested at metaphase II (Secondary oocyte)
What happens when an egg is penetrated by a sperm?
Completion of 2nd meiotic division triggered
Fertilized egg
(oogenesis complete)

Question 3

regulation of female reproduction

Answer 3

One ovum released per cycle
-regulation is complex and requires hormones

Question 4

What hormones are involved in the reproduction in females

Answer 4

-oestrogens(oestradiol)+ progesterone released from the ovary
-luteinixing hormone(LH) + follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) released from anterior pituitary gland
-gonadotropin -releasing hormone released from the hypothalamus

Question 5

Name the phases of the ovarian cycle

Answer 5

Follicular phase
Ovulation
Lute all phase

Question 6

Name the phases of the menstrual cycle

Answer 6

Menses
Proliferative phase
Secretory phase

Question 7

The ovarian cycle

Answer 7

-follicular phase: Several follicles begin to grow
Only one continues to develop, others disintegrate! OESTROGEN dominant
-ovulation: Release of the secondary oocyte
-lute all phase: Follicular tissue remaining in the ovary Release of the secondary oocyte develops into the corpus luteum
PROGESTERONE dominant

Question 8

Menstrual cycle

Answer 8

Refers to uterine changes
Day 1 of the cycle = 1st day of menstruation
Menstrual flow phase 3 – 7 days
Loss of the functional endometrial layer
↓
Proliferative phase 1 or 2 weeks
Regeneration of the endometrium
↓
Secretory phase 2 weeks
Vascularization and glandular development of the endometrium

Question 9

Menstrual flow phase

Answer 9

-shedding of the previous endometrium(endometrium shedding)
And the corpus luteum(hormone secreting cells In the ovary

Question 10

What hormones regulate menses

Answer 10

-LH=acts on thecal cells
-testesterone produced in the Theca acts on the granulosa?
-fsh regulates aromatise expression which is converted to oestradiol via aromatase in granulosa cells

Question 11

Follicicles in the menses phase

Answer 11

-preantral stage of follicle development
-oocyte surrounded by multiple layers of cells
-layers inward to outward =granulosa,theca,stroma

Question 12

Follicular phase

Answer 12

Watch lecture

Question 13

Luteal phase

Answer 13

Watch lecture

Question 14

Female contraceptive

Answer 14

Watch lecture

Question 15

Amenorrhea

Answer 15

-Is a menstrual disorder where there is absence of menstruation
-primary amenorrhea is where a girl never had a period age 15+
-secondary amenorrhea is more than 3 consecutive missed periods(previously menstruated)

Question 16

Normal physiological causes of amenorrhea

Answer 16

-pregnancy
-menopause
-breastfeeding

Question 17

Oligomenorrhea

Answer 17

-menstrual disorder describing infrequent and inconsistent menstruation
-affects around 14% of those who menstruate at some point and 10-20% of those with fertility
-it is a common feature of PCOS

Question 18

Normal physiological occurrences of oligomenorrhea

Answer 18

-early menstruation
-postpartum
-perimenopausal women

Question 19

Causes of primary amenorrhea

Answer 19

-genetic abnormalities eg androgen insensitivity
syndrome causing High testosterone
-impaired hypothalamus or pituitary gland function
-hormone imbalance
-anatomical problems(rarer)
>uterine scarring from c section/fibrosis which results In abnormal endometrium shedding
>blocked reproductive tract(appear to not menstruate)
>missing or abnormal development of reproductive Organs

Question 20

Influence of lifestyle factors on menstruation

Answer 20

-largely due to impaired hormonal regulation(hypothalamic amenorrhea)
>underweight women’s
>athletes=strenuous activity and restricted diet
>low fat reserves resulting in less adipose tissue resulting in less leptin secretion causing less GNRH release subsequently resulting in delayed or no ovulation and menstruation
-psychological stress which alters hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal(HPA) signalling lowering GNRH
-Drugs
>contraceptives
>cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy which destroy oestrogen producing cells/follicles
>blood pressure drugs as they can raise prolactin and cause a negative feedback on the hypothalamus
>obesity linked with hypertension causing the increase in oestrogen disrupting the ovarian cycle resulting in oligomenorrhea increasing the risk of miscarriage

Question 21

PCOS

Answer 21

-effects 6% of pre-menopausal woman
-abnormal hormone levels
>LH and FSH imbalance which interferes with ovulation,can cause oligomenorrhea in most cases or hyperinsulinimia which results In weight gain
>High androgen resulting in enhanced,dysfunctional follicular development causing cyst formation and discrete in functional ovarian reserve(infertility)

Question 22

Male infertility factors

Answer 22

-poor mobility
-low concentration
-poor morphology

Question 23

Assisted reproductive techniques

Answer 23

-concentrating sperm and selecting best swimmers
-sperm obtained surgically from the testis/male reproductive tract
-intrauterine insemination(IUI)
-In vitrofertilazation(IVF) hyper -stimulate egg production(hormone therapy)
>oocyte retrieval
>fertilise in vitro
>introduction into the uterus
-Intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) used for cases with severe lack of sperm mobility

Question 24

List the compartments of the female reproductive anatomy

Answer 24

-uterus(the womb) A thick muscular organ
lined by the endometrium (rich in blood vessels)
-vagina(the birth canal) receives sperm during copulation
-cervical canal(cervix);neck of the uterus
-external features such as labia and vaginal opening

Question 25

Ovaries

Answer 25

Attached to the uterus by mesentery

Question 26

The oviduct

Answer 26

The opening of the Fallopian Tube Ciliated funnel-like ‘Collects’ the egg by drawing in fluid