Chapter 16, Reproductive System, Part B

Chapter 16: Reproductive System
Part B: Female System
1. Overview
a. Ovaries (2)—produce eggs and female sex hormones
b. Duct system: (transportation)
i. Fallopian tubes (2)—egg transport
ii. Uterus (1)—embryo/fetal development
iii. Vagina (1)—copulation, birth canal
c. External genitalia—copulation
2. Ovaries
a. Composed of ovarian follicles (sac-like structures):
i. Oocyte (immature egg)
ii. Follicular cells—surround the oocyte
iii. Follicular stages
1. Primary follicle—contains an immature oocyte
2. Graafian (vesicular) follicle—growing follicle with a maturing oocyte
3. Ovulation—when the egg is mature, the follicle ruptures (about every 28 days).
4. The ruptured follilcle is transformed into a Corpus luteum
b. Support
i. Suspensory ligaments—secure ovary to lateral walls of the pelvis
ii. Ovarian ligaments—attach to uterus
iii. Broad ligament—a fold of the peritoneum, encloses suspensory ligament
3. Duct system
a. Fallopian tubes
i. Receive the ovulated oocyte
ii. Provide a site for fertilization
iii. Attach to the uterus
iv. Little or no contact between ovaries and uterine tubes
v. Supported and enclosed by the broad ligament
vi. Anatomy & physiology
1. Fimbriae
a. Finger-like projections at the distal end of the uterine tube
b. Receive the oocyte from the ovary
2. Cilia
a. Located inside the uterine tube
b. Slowly move the oocyte towards the uterus (takes 3-4 days)
3. Fertilization occurs inside the uterine tube since oocyte lives about 24
b. Uterus
i. Located between the urinary bladder and rectum
ii. Hollow organ—pear shape
iii. Functions
1. Receives a fertilized egg
2. Retains the fertilized egg
3. Nourishes the fertilized egg
iv. Support
1. Broad
2. Round
3. Uterosacral
v. Regions of
1. Body—main portion
2. Fundus—superior rounded region above where uterine tube enters
3. Cervix—narrow outlet that protrudes into the vagina
vi. Walls of
1. Endometrium
a. Inner layer
b. Allows for implantation of a fertilized egg
c. Sloughs off if no pregnancy occurs (menses)
2. Myometrium—middle layer of smooth muscle
3. Perimetrium (visceral peritoneum)—outermost serous layer of the uterus
c. Vagina
i. Extends from
ii. Located between
iii. Serves as
iv. Receives
v. Hymen
4. External genitalia = vulva
a. Mons pubis
i. Fatty area
ii. Covered with
b. Labia =
i. Majora
ii. Minora
iii. Corresponds to
iv. Majora encloses vestibule
1. Contains external openings of
c. Clitoris
i. Contains
ii. Corresponds to
1. Hooded
2. Composed of
3. Becomes swollen
d. Greater vestibular glands
i. One found on
ii. Secretes
e. Perineum
i. Diamond-shaped defined by:
1. Anterior:
2. Posterior:
3. Lateral:
ii. Urethral orifice
iii. Vaginal orifice
5. Oogenesis and ovarian cycle
a. Total supply of eggs are present at birth
b. Ability to release eggs begins at puberty
c. Reproductive ability ends at menopause
d. Oocytes are matured in developing ovarian follicles
e. The process and steps of oogenesis
i. Oogonia—female stem cells found in a developing fetus
ii. Oogonia undergo mitosis to produce primary oocytes
iii. Cells surrounding primary oocytes that form primary follicles in the ovary
iv. Oogonia no longer exist by the time of birth
v. Primary oocytes are inactive until puberty
vi. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) causes some primary follicles to mature each month
vii. Cyclic monthly changes constitute the ovarian cycle
f. Meiosis
i. Starts inside maturing follicle
ii. Produces a secondary oocyte and the first polar body
iii. Development to mature stage takes about 14 days
iv. Secondary oocyte ovulates with the release of luteinizing hormone (LH).
1. Surrounded by a corona radiate (nurturing cells)
v. Is completed
1. Ovum = egg
2. Two additional
vi. Zygote (fertilized egg) =
vii. If no fertilization
viii. Comparison
1. Males
2. Females
ix. Sperm and egg comparison
1. Sperm
2. Egg