Female Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology

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Female Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology

• Structures
• Ovaries
• Fallopian or uterine tubes
• Uterus
• Vagina
• External genitalia
• Mammary glands

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The Female Reproductive

• System

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Ovaries

• Female gonads - in pairs
• Produce ova and female hormones
• Endocrine function estrogen, progesterone
• Exocrine function eggs
• Have follicles in various stages of development

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Oogenesis the process of egg formation

• In utero about 5, 000,000
• Born with about 2,000,000
• By puberty only about 400,000
• By age 50,none left
• They left through the excretory system, dried up
  and went away

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Follicles and corpus luteum

• Primary follicle
• Layers of cells around oocyte
• Secondary follicle
• Fluid filled space develops (antrum)

• Graafian follicle
• Mature follicle with the chosen oocyte for
  ovulation
• Corpus luteum
• Once oocyte has left ovary, follicle becomes this
  endocrine tissue(estrogen and progesterone)

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Continued

• Corpus luteum secretes
• Addition ovulation stops
• Uterine wall thickens, mammaries develop
• Corpus albicans

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Ovulation

• FSH and LH cause rupturing of mature follicle
  (Graafian, chosen one)
• Secondary oocyte formed. Others degenerate after
  releasing progesterone and estrogen.
• Rupture site heals, leaving scar on exterior.

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continued

• Twins
• Ordinarily one egg per month
• Fertility drugs
• Genetically predisposed to generating more than
  one egg
• Fraternal twins

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Fallopian Tubes

• Receives secondary oocyte
• Tubes are not directly connected to ovaries
• Superior end opens into cavity
• Inferior end opens into uterus
• Infundibulum fringed with fimbriae which have
  cilia to draw in oocyte

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Fertilization and Implantation

• Carried to Tube by peristaltic contractions and
  cilia because oocyte cannot move on its own
• Fertilization will occur here usually
• Then travel down to uterus to become implanted in
  the wall

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Ectopic pregnancy

• Implantation in fallopian tube
• Terminated because of
• lack of nourishment,
• no space to develop
• Chance of rupturing and endangering mothers life

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Uterus

• Has two linings
• Endometrium tissue
• Myometrium thick muscle
• Has three major parts
• Fundus
• Body and
• Cervix
• Pap test. Cervical cancer is caused by a virus

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Vagina

• Removal of menstrual tissue and blood
• Semen is deposited
• Birth canal for baby

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Mammary glands

• Modified sweat glands
• Produce milk for newborns

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• Disclaimer
• Any numbers shown in the next few slides are
  averages. Most women function in these areas
  however, some do not. Some months stress or
  other factors could cause a change.

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Time line

• Day one to 14 estrogen phase. FSH
• Days 14 to 28 progesterone phase
• Progesterone
• Prepares uterus for egg implantation
• Maintains pregnancy
• Prevents further ovulation during pregnancy
• Made by adrenals, ovaries and placenta

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Dysmenorrhea (Greek for painful menstruation.

• Primary dysmenorrhea most common
• Secondary dysmenorrhea
• Uterus is a muscle, contracts and relaxes
• Strong contractions cause blood supply to be
  temporarily cut off
• Caused by excessive prostaglandins

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Maternal events of pregnancy

• Some signs of pregnancy
• Missed period
• 5th or 6th week prominent superficial veins
• 16th begin to show
• 17th and 20th feel movement
• 26th actually see movement

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Both eggs and sperm

• Are packages for chromosomes
• Cells divide 2-4-8-16, etc.
• Cells are the same for several months,
  differentiation has not occurred
• Stem cells
• Males and females derive from same embryological
  tissue

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More similarities

• Come from the same place
• Develop at the same rate
• Both produce hormones
• Hormones will control primary and secondary sex
  characteristics

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Differences

• Ovaries
• Produce hormone estogen
• Produce sex cell cells, eggs

• Testes
• Produce hormone testosterone
• Produce sex cells, sperm