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