The Female Reproductive System

1
The Female Reproductive System
-produces and maintains female sex cells, or
oocytes, and transports them to the site of
fertilization
-provides a favorable environment for the
development and delivery of the offspring
-produces female sex hormones
Fimbriae
Rectouterine pouch
Uterine (Fallopian) tube
Fornix
Cervix
Ovary
Uterus
Rectum
Urinary bladder
Symphysis pubis
Vagina
Urethra
Clitoris
Anus
Labium minus
Labium majus
Vaginal orifice
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The Female Reproductive System
I. Ovaries
-primary female sex organs
-develop in the lower abdomen, descend to just
inferior to the pelvic brim, attach to the
lateral pelvic wall, held in place by the broad
ligament, the ovarian ligament, and the
suspensory ligament, which also houses ovarian
blood vessels and nerves
Suspensory ligament (with blood vessels and
nerves)
Ovary
Ovarian ligament
Broad ligament
3
I. Ovaries
-structure
-dense covering layer of connective tissue
A. Tunica albuginea
B. Medulla
-innermost layer housing blood and lymphatic
vessels and nerves
C. Cortex
-outer layer containing masses of cells called
ovarian follicles, each of which include one
primary oocyte about 400,000 primary follicles
at puberty
1. Oogenesis
-the creation of ova, or eggs
Fertilization
Begins in early development, then stops, resumes
at puberty
Ovum (egg)
Secondary oocyte
Zygote
Meiosis I Reduction division
Meiosis II Mitotic division
Primary oocyte
First polar body
Second polar bodies (die)
4
I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
1. Oogenesis
During synapsis of homologous chromosomes during
Prophase I, crossing over occurs, resulting in
new genetic variation
5
I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
1. Oogenesis
Rx Genetic Disorder
-chromosome defects, like those that cause Down
Syndrome, are much more likely to result from
the egg, because each egg is decades old, and
has had so much time to be exposed to
radiation, viruses, and toxins that cause damage
to DNA
-polar body biopsy can allow a couple to select
an egg that does not carry a gene in women
whose genotype is heterozygous for genetic
disorder as in hemophilia (XHXh) or Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy (XMXm) or Sickle-Cell Disease
(SS) if the chromosome with the
disease-causing gene, which is marked with
radioactivity or flourescence, is detected in
the first polar body, it isnt in the secondary
ooctye, and that secondary oocyte is selected
for in vitro fertilization
Secondary oocyte
First polar body
6
I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
2. Follicle Maturation
-during prenatal development, each of the 1
million primary oocytes is surrounded by a layer
of cells called a primordial follicle
Primordial follicles
7
I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
2. Follicle Maturation
-at the onset of puberty, Follicle- Stimulating
Hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland
stimulates the 400,000 follicles to begin
maturing in groups of about 20 at a time
Primordial follicles
Primary oocyte
Maturing follicle
8
I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
2. Follicle Maturation
-one of these secondary follicles outgrows the
others, and, while the other follicles
degenerate, goes on to form a mature follicle
Mature follicle
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I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
2. Follicle Maturation
-the maturing dominant follicle fills with fluid
until, after 10-14 days, it reaches a size of 1
cm in diameter and bulges out the wall of the
ovary
Theca externa
Theca interna
Granulosa cells
Fluid-filled antrum
Corona radiata
Zona pellucida
Secondary ooctye
10

I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
2. Follicle Maturation
-processes of the cells of the Corona radiata
extend through the layer of glycoprotein called
the Zona pellucida to provide nutrition for the
secondary oocyte
Theca externa
Theca interna
Granulosa cells
Fluid-filled antrum
Corona radiata
Zona pellucida
Secondary ooctye
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I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
3. Ovulation
-finally growing fluid pressure from within the
follicle and contact with the waving fimbriae of
the infundibulum cause the follicle to rupture,
releasing the secondary oocyte and some of its
surrounding cells into the body cavity
-1 of 5 women will at some time experience pain
called mittelschmerz (middle pain) at the moment
of ovulation, usually lasting from a few minutes
to a few hours, but sometimes lasting up to a
few days, and alternating from one side to the
other from month to month
Infundibulum
Secondary oocyte
Ovary
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I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
3. Ovulation
-as ovulation nears, the fimbriae of the
infundibulum become engorged with blood, to
increase its chances of catching the oocyte
Corpus lutuem
Fimbria
Uterine tube
Corpus albicans
Ovulation
Primordial follicles
Corona radiata
Primary follicle
Zona pellucida
Secondary oocyte
Secondary follicle
Dominant follicle
First polar body
Mature (Graafian) follicle
Infundibulum
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I. Ovaries
C. Cortex
4. Corpus luteum
-yellow body
-after ovulation, remains to secrete large
amounts of progesterone, which stimulates the
endometrium in the uterine lining to become more
vascular and glandular to create a favorable
environment for development of the embryo, if
fertilization takes place
-releases progesterone and estrogen, which
together to inhibit the release of Follicle-
Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and (LH) Luteinizing
Hormone (gonadotropins) and prevent the
development of more follicles
4. Corpus albicans
-the remnant of the Corpus luteum after it
degenerates and is replaced with scar tissue,
after fertilization does not occur
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II. Uterine (Fallopian) Tube
-passageway for the ovulated secondary oocyte
lying between the ovaries and the uterine horns
-site of fertilization
-lined with cilia, which beat towards the uterus
to create a current which draws the oocyte into
the infundibulum, and along with peristaltic
contractions of the wall of the tube, propel the
oocyte and the embryo towards the uterus
Uterine horns
Uterine tube
Infundibulum
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III. Uterus
-receives the embryo that develops from a
fertilized egg and sustains its development
-site of implantation of the embryo
-forms maternal portion of placenta during
pregnancy contracts to expel menses and fetus
during delivery
A. Endometrium
-inner layer of mucous membranes
-thickens in response to estrogen secreted by
granulosa cells of the developing follicle
1. Proliferative phase
Uterine horns
Uterine tube
Infundibulum
Endometrium
Myometrium
Perimetrium
Fundis
Cervix
Body
Cervical orifice
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III. Uterus
A. Endometrium
-becomes more vascular and glandular in response
to progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum
2. Secretory phase
-produces and secretes glycogen, lipids,
electrolytes, and other nutrients to create an
environment favorable for embryonic development
Uterine horns
Uterine tube
Infundibulum
Endometrium
Myometrium
Perimetrium
Fundis
Cervix
Body
Cervical orifice
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III. Uterus
A. Endometrium
-if corpus luteum ceases to function, the
concentrations of estrogen and progesterone
drop, causing blood vessels in endometrium to
constrict, restricting blood flow and oxygen
dying tissues disintegrate and slough away,
and, along with blood from broken capillaries,
create menstrual flow
3. Menstruation
Uterine horns
Uterine tube
Infundibulum
Endometrium
Myometrium
Perimetrium
Fundis
Cervix
Body
Cervical orifice
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III. Uterus
3. Increased release of FSH stimulates a new
follicle to develop.
5. The developing follicle secretes increasing
levels of estrogen
1. Low concentration of estrogen
and progesterone allow pituitary to become
unhibited, increasing the release of FSH and LH.
7. Increased levels of estrogen stimulate
proliferative phase in uterus, endometrium
thickens
Proliferative phase
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III. Uterus
12. Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary to release
LH, causing the follicle to rupture, triggering
ovulation.
15. Increased levels of progesterone and
estrogen released by corpus luteum after
ovulation stimulate secretory phase in uterus,
and inhibit secretion of FSH and LH by anterior
pituitary gland
10. Increasing levels of progesterone and
estrogen inhibit release of FSH and LH by
pituitary.
Proliferative phase
Secretory phase
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III. Uterus
24. Fertilization must take place during a 72
hour window between Day 12-14. If it doesnt,
the corpus luteum begins to degenerate around Day
24
28. Degeneration of the corpus luteum causes
decreases in estrogen and progesterone, leading
to blood vessel constriction in the endometrium
of the uterus
1. Low blood supply to tissues of endometrium
cause tissues to die and slough away, leading
to the formation of the menses
Proliferative phase
Menstruation
Secretory phase
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IV. Vagina
-female copulatory organ receives penis during
sexual intercourse
-passageway for the menses and other secretions
of the uterus
-acts as the birth canal lying between the cervix
of the uterus and the vulva
-protected from infection by the mutualistic
bacteria Lactobacillus sp., which ferment
lactose produced by the cells of the vagina into
lactic acid, pH 5
Uterine horns
Uterine tube
Infundibulum
Endometrium
Myometrium
Perimetrium
Fundis
Cervix
Body
Cervical orifice
Vagina
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IV. Vagina
-vaginal orifice further protected and closed off
by the hymen, a thin membrane with a small
central opening to allow uterine and vaginal
secretions to pass outside often used
culturally as an indicator of virginity
-houses erectile tissues around its outer opening
which respond to sexual stimulation by becoming
engorged with blood, causing the vagina to
expand and elongate
-just prior to female orgasm, tissues of the
outer third of vagina become engorged with blood
to increase friction on the penis and trigger
male orgasm
Mons pubis
Labium majus
V. Vulva
-external female genitalia
Clitoris
-structure which surrounds outer openings of
both the urethra and the vagina
Urethral orifice
Vaginal orifice
A. Labium majus
-larger lips of the vulva
Perineum
Anus
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V. Vulva
A. Labium majus
-enclose and protect the other external
reproductive organs
-separated by pudendal cleft, which includes the
urethral and vaginal orifices
-covered on the outside with pubic hair,
sebaceous glands, and apocrine sweat glands,
which secrete high volumes of sweat as part of
the sexual response
Mons pubis
Pudendal cleft
Labium majus
Clitoris
Urethral orifice
Vestibule
Labium minus
Vaginal orifice
Perineum
Anus
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V. Vulva
B. Labium minus
-smaller, inner lips of the vulva
-enclose the vestibule and merge anteriorly to
form a hoodlike covering for the clitoris
C. Clitoris
-structured similarly to the penis, only 2 cm long
-contains erectile tissues that become engorged
with blood in response to sexual stimulation
-has glans on anterior end, containing highly
concentrated nerve ending
D. Vestibule
-space enclosed by the labia minora containing
vaginal and urethral orifices
-vestibular (Bartholins) glands empty into
vestibule on either side of the vaginal orifice,
secreting mucus into vestibule to provide
lubrication for sexual intercourse
-contain masses of erectile tissues on either
side called vestibular bulbs
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VI. Mammary Glands
-similar in males and females, stimulated to
develop in females by estrogen secreted by
ovaries at the onset of puberty
-each breast composed of 15-20 lobes, which
contain alveolar glands
-alveolar glands empty into alveolar ducts,
which drain into lactiferous ducts, which open
to the outside through the nipple
Alveolar glands
Pectoralis major
Areola
Alveolar duct
Nipple
Pectoralis minor
Ampulla
Ampulla
Alveolar duct
Lactiferous duct
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VI. Mammary Glands
-during puberty, glands and ducts enlarge,
become surrounded with adipose tissue
-during pregnancy, placental estrogen,
progesterone, and lactogen stimulate breasts to
develop further, possibly doubling in size and
replacing adipose tissue with glandular tissue,
milk production stimulated by prolactin is
inhibited until after birth by high levels of
estrogen and progesterone
Adipose tissue
Alveolar glands
Pectoralis major
Areola
Alveolar duct
Nipple
Pectoralis minor
Ampulla
Ampulla
Alveolar duct
Lactiferous duct
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VI. Mammary Glands
Rx Breast Cancer
-most common cancer among women after skin
cancer, with 178,000 new cases and 40,000 deaths
each year in the U.S. 1 in 13 women in the U.S.
will get breast cancer some time during their
life, North America has highest rate of breast
cancer in the world, leading cause of cancer
death among women, only 1 of breast cancers are
in men
-5 - 10 causes by an inherited tendency
-treated by lumpectomy (removal of tumor) or
mastectomy (removal of breast) and sometimes
accompanying lymph nodes, followed by radiation
and chemotherapy
-prevented by early detection, breast self-exam
and yearly mammograms for women over 40,
knowing risk factors age, family history, and
especially being female (growth-triggering
hormones)
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The Female Reproductive System
Rx Uterine Cancer
-most common cancer of the female reproductive
tract, with about 39,000 new cases and 7,400
deaths each year in the U.S.
-most uterine cancers are endometrial
carcinomas, with some uterine sarcomas (cancer
of the myometrium)
-84 survival rate
-often treated by hysterectomy (surgical excision
of the uterus), often with both ovaries and
uterine tubes, sometimes accompanied by
radiation and chemotherapy
Rx Amenorrhea/Oligomenorrhea
-complete stoppage or diminished menstrual flow
due to reduced estrogen levels
-more common to elite female athletes with low
body fat
29
Rx Amenorrhea/Oligomenorrhea
-higher levels of estrogen stimulate greater
deposition of fat in breasts, thighs, buttocks,
and under skin
-higher percentage body fat in women contains
calorie reserve required to sustain a pregnancy
-diminished fat reserves result in decreased
secretion of the hormone leptin by adipose
cells, which leads to decreased secretion of
Follicle- Stimulating Hormone by the anterior
pituitary, leading to decreased follicle
development and decreased estrogen production,
leading to decreased thickening of endometrium
during proliferative phase in uterus
-can also be caused by eating disorders,
especially Anorexia nervosa
30
Rx Ovarian Cancer
-9th-most common cancer among women, 5th-leading
cause of cancer death among women, causing
22,000 new cases each year in the U.S., and
15,000 death per year in the U.S.
-risk factors include age (67 of ovarian
cancers occur in women over 55), obesity, and
family history (1 in 10 ovarian cancers linked
to a change in genetics that can be tested for)
-treated most often with surgical excision
(oophorectomy) in which one or both ovaries are
removed, sometimes along with the uterine tubes
and the uterus, followed by chemotherapy
-9 out of 10 women treated for early ovarian
cancer will live more than five years after
detection, but early detection is difficult,
because symptoms are vague
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Rx Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
-affects ____ (________) of ________ women
sometime during their ____ or so ________ cycles
80
40 million
American
Hysterectomy
-the surgical removal of the uterus
400
menstrual
Hysterics
-a fit of uncontrollable laughter or crying
-affects only ________ women, not ________ or
______________ women
ovulating
Hysteria
-from the former notion that hysterical women
were suffering from disturbances of the womb
pregnant
post-menopausal
-thought to be caused by _________ _________
causing _________ of ________ and ____________
too much ________ or too little ___________
imperfect
ovulation
imbalance
estrogen
progesterone
estrogen
progesterone
-thought to _____, and be ______ by ________
amounts of the ________ ______________ ________,
which causes the _____ ______ to become
__________, causing a woman to ____________
_______
cause
caused
decreased
inhibitory
neurotransmitter
serotonin
limbic
system
uninhibited
feel too much
emotion
32
Rx Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
-________ symptoms include ________, ________,
_____ ________, __________, ________ ______,
______, ________, _____ __________, and
__________
physical
headache
joint pain
fluid
retention
constipation
abdominal
cramps
fatigue
backache
heart
palpitations
weight gain
-____________ symptoms include _________,
_________, ______, ___________, ______, ____ of
___________, decreased _____
psychological
irritability
depression
anxiety
panic attacks
tension
lack
coordination
libido
-__________ _________ is a much ______ form of
____ linked to ________ changes after _______
post-partum
depression
deeper
PMS
hormone
delivery
-______ with ___________ to ____ (____ in ____,
___ in ___, ______, _______, ____, _______, and
______), _______ (_______ _____ of _________),
__________ like ______, ___________ therapy
treated
modifications
diet
high
fiber
low
salt
sugars
starches
fats
caffeine
alcohol
exercise
increase
release
endorphins
tranquilizers
Valium
progesterone
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The Reproductive Systems
Rx Sexually Transmitted Diseases
1. Chlamydia
-caused by the ________ ____________________
bacterium
Chlamydia trachomatis
-__________ by ______, ____, or ____ ___, can be
__________ to an ______ ____ from its _______
______ during _________
transmitted
vaginal
anal
oral
sex
transmitted
unborn
baby
infected
mother
pregnancy
infects
2.8 million
U.S.
-______ an estimated _________ in the ____ each
____, but only __________ _____ are _______
year
0.9 million
cases
reported
-____ of ______ and ____ of ____ _______ show __
_________, _________ ______ in ___ ______ after
________
75
women
50
men
infected
no
symptoms
symptoms
appear
1-3
weeks
exposure
-_________ include _______ _________ during
________ and ________ ________ from _____ or
______, leads to ______ ___________ _______
(___) in ______ when left ________ in ____ of
_____, can lead to ______
symptoms
burning
sensation
urination
abnormal
discharge
penis
vagina
pelvic
inflammatory
disease
PID
women
untreated
40
cases
sterility
-______ with _________
treated
antibiotics
34
Rx Sexually Transmitted Diseases
2. Gonorrhea
-______ by _________ ___________________
caused
bacterium
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
-_______ ____ _____ each ____ in the ____ with
about ____ being ________
700,000
new
cases
year
U.S.
half
reported
-__________ by ______ with _____, ______,
______, or ____ of _______ ______, and from a
______ to her ____ as it ______ through the
_____ _____
transmitted
contact
penis
vagina
mouth
anus
infected
person
mother
baby
passes
birth
canal
-_________ in ____ include _______ ________
while ________, ________ (___) from the _______,
and ______ and _______ ________
symptoms
men
burning
sensation
urinating
discharge
pus
urethra
painful
swollen
testicles
-_________ in ______ may include ______ ________
while ________, increased ______ ________, and
________ between ________ ______, but ____
______ show __ _________, or _________ are ____-
_______ and ________ for _________ ____
symptoms
women
burning
sensation
urinating
vaginal
discharge
bleeding
menstrual
periods
most
women
no
symptoms
symptoms
non
specific
mistaken
something
else
-can lead to ____ and _______ in ______
PID
sterility
women
treated
antibiotics
-______ with _________, which is getting more
difficult due to the emergence of drug-resistant
strains