Chapter 16 Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System
dilation stage
10 cm, enough to fit the baby's head, amnion ruptures and lasts 6-12 hours
Gestation period
280 days or 9 months
Breast cancer
2nd leading cause of women death because of the BRCA 1 and 2 genes. Signaled by a change in skin texture, puckering, or leakage from nipple. early examination and mammography are key
Reproductive life of a female
40 years, meaning 500 of 300,000 eggs are released
Uterine tubes
AKA fallopian tubes that receive the ovulated oocyte and provide the site of fertilization. 10 cm long and extend medially from ovary to superior uterus. enclosed and supported by the broad ligament.
Childbirth
AKA parturition
External genitalia and female perineum
AKA vulva that includes mons pubis, labia, clitoris, urethral and vaginal orifices, and greater vestibular glands
Placental functions
after the third week to deliver oxygen, nutrients, and remove waste from the blood. It becomes an endocrine organ
Anatomy of the ovaries
almond shaped but twice as large. contain tiny sac like structures called ovarian follicles
Clitoris
anterior to vestibule, hooded by a prepuce, and is composed of sensitive erectile tissue
Myometrium
bulky inner layer that is composed of smooth muscle and plays an active role in childbirth
Ovarian follicles
consists of one immature egg called and oocyte surrounded by one or more layers of follicle cells. center becomes a fluid filled antrum and becomes a graafian or vesicular follicle
Vesicular follicle
contains secondary oocyte that protrudes from external surface of the ovary and ovulation occurs to LH
Labia minora
covered by labia majora
Primary oocyte continues meiosis
creates a large ovum and a tiny polar body
Placental stage
delivery of the placenta, approximately 15 minutes
Cervical cancer
detected by a pap smear and is prevalent in women ages 30-50. prevented by guardasil
Stages of labor
dilation, expulsion, and placental
Primary germ layers
ectoderm that forms mucosa and glands and the mesoderm that forms everything else
Vestibule
enclosed by labia and contains urethral and vaginal orifices
Layers of the uterus
endometrium, myometrium, and perimetrium
Pregnancy
events that occur from the time of fertilization
Infundibulum
expanded distal end of the uterine tubes that contain fingerlike fimbriae
Labor
expulsion of the infant from the body
Cryptochidism
failure of testes to make normal descent
Mons pubis
fatty rounded external covered in pubic hair
Vagina
female organ of copulation and a thin walled tube that is located between the bladder and the rectum. Provides a passageway for child or bloodflow and distal end is covered by a highly vascularized hymen
oogonia
female stem cells that multiply rapidly to produce primary oocytes that are pushed into ovary to become enveloped into a single layer of cells to become primary follicles
Embryonic period
fertilization to week 8
Fimbriae
fingerlike projections of the fallopian tube that create fluid currents to carry the oocyte.
Location of the ovaries
flank the uterus laterally and are secured to pelvis by the suspensory ligaments and anchored medially to the uterus by the ovarian ligaments. enclosed by a fold of perineum called the broad ligament
Trophoblast
forms chorionic villi that connect with mother's tissue to become the placenta
Expulsion stage
full dilation to delivery, passes through cervix and vagina
Days 1-5: Menstrual phase
functional layer of endometrium is shed and leaves the vagina as blood flow
Developmental aspects
gonads do not form until eighth week of fertilization, they are considered indifferent.
Pseduohermaphrodites
gonads do not match the genitalia
Endometrium
inner mucosal lining that embryo implants in or is sloughed off if fertilization does not occur.
oogenesis and the ovarian cycle
meiosis in the ovaries when oogonia multiply to become oocytes after birth
Physiological changes
morning sickness, heartburn, stress incontinence, and increase in pulse, cardiac output, but a decrease in blood pressure
Greater vestibular glands
mucus producing glands that flank the vagina and secrete lubrication
Initiation of labor
myometrium forms oxytocin receptors and interferes with the effects of progesterone. placenta releases oxytocin and prostaglandins. provides positive feedback for the hypothalamus that causes vigorous contractions
Phimosis
narrowing of the foreskin and misplaced urethral openings due to absence of a second sex chromosome
Anatomical changes as the uterus grows
occupies entire abdominal cavity, changes center of gravity, pelvic ligaments relax, and cravings and hunger kick in
perimetrium
outermost serous layer that is also referred to as the visceral peritoneum
Gonads
ovaries. have and endocrine and exocrine function. produce ova and estrogen and progesterone
Hermaphrodites
possess ovarian and testicular tissues
Conceptus
pregnant woman's developing offspring
Mammary glands
present in both sexes but typically only function in women. are modified sweat glands that contain an areola and a nipple. consists of 15-25 lobes that contain lobules that contain alveolar glands.
Function of follicle cells
produce estrogens that cause the appearance of secondary sex characteristics, decrease cholesterol levels, and facilitate calcium ion uptake to sustain bone density
Alveolar glands
produce milk during lactation that runs through the lactiferous ducts to the lactiferous sinus
Function of the female reproductive system
produce ova and nurture and protect the fetus during pregnancy
Progesterone
produced by glandular corpus luteum and remains that way until the LH is no longer in the blood
Perineum
region between anterior end of labial fold, anus, and ischial tuberosities
Day 15-28: Secretory phase
rising level of progesterone by corpus luteum. causes endometrial glands to grow and secrete nutrients into the uterine cavity
Uterus
rounded region is the fundus, the body is the major portion, and the narrow outlet is the cervix. composed of three layers
Labia majora
runs posteriorly to mons pubis
Corpus luteum
ruptured follicle that is a yellow body that degenerates
Uterine/menstrual cycle
series of cyclic changes the endometrium endures each month in response to the changing levels of ovarian hormones
Fertilization
sperm reaches oocyte in the uterine tube and breaks down the connection between the follicle cells of the corona radiata. When a single sperm reaches the nucleus of the oocyte and completes meiosis to form ovum and polar body
Day 6-14: Proliferative phase
stimulated by rising level of estrogen, basal layer of endometrium is regenerated and forms glands and becomes highly vascularized again. ovulation occurs at the end of this stage.
Secondary oocyte
surrounded by corona radiata in the follicle cell capsule
Components of the duct system
uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina
Fetal period
week 9 to birth
Ovarian cycle
when FSH is released because of puberty and a few eggs mature and ovulation begins to occur
Ovulation
when the developing egg is ready to be rejected from ovary every 28 days or so
Morula
when the embryo reaches the uterus and is a tiny ball of 16 cells that is the shape of a raspberry. Develops until it is 100 cells and hollows out to become a blastocyst with a trophoblast region and an inner cell mass
Cleavage
when the embryo undergoes rapid division through the uterine tube