The Female Reproductive System Review Sheet

The Female Reproductive System Review Sheet

The Female Reproductive System Flashcards

  1. What are the 3 primary functions of the female reproductive system?
/
  1. Produces gametes (ova)
  2. Prepares to support a developing embryo
  3. Undergoes changes according to the menstrual cycle

  1. What are the main 7 parts of the female reproductive system?
/
  1. Ovaries
  2. Fallopian tubes (AKA uterine tubes)
  3. Uterus
  4. Vagina
  5. External genitalia
  6. Muscles in the pelvic floor
  7. Perineum

  1. What do the ovaries look like?
  1. Where are they located?
  1. What are they covered by?
  1. What 3 ligaments hold the ovaries in place?
  1. What 2 ligament holds the fallopian tube in place?
/ 1. Small, almond-shaped organs, each 3 ½ cm long, 2cm wide (1 ½” x 1”).
2. Within the peritoneal cavity on the posterior body wall
3. Covered by a superficial epithelium called the visceral peritoneum.
Ovaries are held in place by 3 ligaments:
Broad ligament:
Ovarian ligament
Suspensory ligament
Broad ligament and suspensory ligaments hold up fallopian tubes
  1. Ovaries receive blood supply from what artery?
/ Ovarian artery
  1. Internal structure of the ovary
/
  1. The ovary is covered with what tissue?
/ Visceral peritoneum
  1. What layer of thin dense connective tissue is found deep to the visceral peritoneum?
/ Tunica albuginea.
  1. Internal to the tunica albuginea is the___ and what can be found here?
/ Internal to that is the ovarian cortex, which is where the developing eggs (oocytes) are found.
  1. What layer is deep to the ovarian cortex, and what structures does it contain?
/ Internal to that is the ovarian medulla, which is loose connective tissue with veins, arteries, nerves, and lymphatics.
  1. What is occurring during the ovarian cycle?
  1. What is the medical term for an egg cell?
/ This is the process of egg development on a monthly basis.
Oocyte
  1. How many chromosomes dows the typical (diploid) cell of the developing blastocyte (baby) have?
  1. How many come from each of the gamete cells? (the oocyte and the sperm cell)
/ The typical (diploid) cells of the blastocyte (baby) have 46 chromosomes.
The gametes (oocyte and sperm cells) each contribute typically 23 chromosomes.
  1. The oocyte is surrounded by what type of cells?
  1. What is the whole structure called?
/ The oocyte is surrounded by a group of cells called follicular cells.
The whole structure is called the primary follicle.

  1. What hormone influences the development of female secondary sex characteristics?
/ Estrogen
  1. What happens to the oocytes during puberty?
/ At puberty there is a change in hormones which causes maturing of some of these primary oocytes which will lead to ovulation and then menstruation.
  1. When does ovulation occur and what happens during ovulation?
  1. What is the luteal phase and what happens during this phase?
  1. What does the corpus luteum secrete, and what is the function of that secretion?
/ Ovulation occurs about approx 14 days through each menstruation (28 day) cycle. An oocyte exits from one ovary and enters the peritoneal cavity. It is then swept into the Fallopian tube (uterine tube) waiting to be fertilized by a sperm cell.
The luteal phase occurs after ovulation and the remaining follicle becomes a corpus luteum.
The corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which causes the uterus lining to thicken to prepare for implantation of an embryo.
  1. The ovary during the ovarian (sex) cycle
/
  1. The average ovarian cycle is how many days?
  1. When does the ovarian cycle begin and what occurs?
  1. What happens to the oocytes during days1-7?
  1. What hormone is secreted during days 1-7?
/ The average ovarian cycle is 28 days.
Day 1
The ovarian cycle begins on the first day of menstruation. The primary follicle begins to develop.
Days 1-7
The oocyte grows, especially the follicle cells, which grow and divide.
The adenohypophysis secretes FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). This causes 20-30 eggs to be stimulated in both ovaries
  1. Diagram of ovaries on day 1 and day 7 of ovarian cycle
/ Day 1 day 7

  1. The primary follicle develops into a ______
/ Secondary follicle
  1. What hormone is secreted by the secondary follicle?
/ Estrogen
  1. Can more than one follicle develop at once?
/ Sometimes more than one follicle matures causing a double ovulation (one egg from each ovary) which can lead to a multiple birth.
  1. When does the primary follicle begin to develop?
  1. When does the female sex cycle begin?
/ Day 1 of menstruation.
Day 1 of menstruation.
  1. What is it called when a follicle is fully mature, and on what day does this occur?
/ Day 14: a fully mature follicle is called a graafian follicle.
  1. What is the ring that surrounds the oocyte?
/ The oocyte is surrounded by a ring called the corona radiata
  1. What is the function of the corona radiatia?
/ Provides nutrients for the ovum as it travels down the fallopian tube.
  1. What is the name of the space in the graafian follicle that contains a clear fluid?
/ The antrum
  1. What is the antrum surrounded by?
/ The antrum is surrounded by the follicular cells.
  1. By day 14 what starts to form on the outside of the ovary?
/ The mature follicle is still producing estrogen. It has become so big that it forms a blister (cyst) on the outside of the ovary.

  1. On the day of ovulation, the adenohypophysis secretes what hormone?
  1. What effect does that hormone have?
  1. What is this process called?
/ LH (luteinizing hormone).
LH causes fluid to rapidly flow into the antrum, which then expands and pops the blister on the ovary. The egg and corona radiata are released into the peritoneum.
This process is called ovulation; there might be some noticeable discomfort from this.
  1. What is the corpus luteum?
  1. After a pregnancy the corpus luteum will turn into dead tissue; a white scar called what? Does it secrete hormones?
/ The corpus luteum is the leftover follicle cells that remain in the ovary after the oocyte leaves.
After a pregnancy the corpus luteum disintegrates into a white scar called the corpus albicans. The corpus albicans does not secrete hormones.
In autopsy, you can see how many of these scars are present to determine how many pregnancies she had.
  1. What hormone is secreted by the corpus luteum?
/ Progesterone
  1. Ovary diagram
/
  1. What is occurring days 14-21 during the ovarian cycle?
/ The egg takes a few days to make its ways down to the uterus. The follicular cells continue to grow and make estrogen, which continues to build the uterus lining so it’s ready for the egg by the time it gets there.
  1. What happens to the egg on day 23 if there is no fertilization? What is happening to the estrogen levels on day 23?
/ If no fertilization, the egg starts to break down.
The estrogen levels are still elevated until day 27.
  1. What happens around day 27 during the ovarian cycle?
/ Estrogen levels have dropped significantly
  1. What happens on day 28 during the ovarian cycle?
/ Menstruation starts and the uterine lining breaks down this is the start of a new ovarian cycle. (day 1)
  1. Can women get pregnant while they are having a period?
/ A woman is only fertile when the egg is released, but there is an ovarian reflex which is ovulation in response to sex (not necessarily with orgasm). There is no safe time to have unprotected sex, even during menstruation (sperm can live up to ten days in the female.
  1. What is one of the most common causes of infertility in women?
/ One of the most common causes of infertility in women is STD (sexually transmitted disease).
  1. What nutrient is needed for women to have a menstrual cycle?
/ Fat is needed to have the menstrual cycle. Skinny and athletic women may not menstruate.
  1. Which hormone pills can a woman take to increase her follicle stimulation?
  1. How do these pills work?
/ Women who have trouble conceiving can increase their chances by taking fertility pills with fsh hormone.
Fsh causes 100 follicles to develop, 4-5 of which may mature  multiple births
  1. How do birth control pills prevent pregnancy?
  1. How are they taken?
  1. How does norplant prevent pregnancy?
  1. How effective are condoms at preventing pregnancy?
/ Birth control pills are made of estrogen, so they inhibit the development of the follicles, but the uterine lining still grows.
You take them for 3 weeks, then take one week off to allow for menstruation. Some of the new estrogen pills can cause a period only every 3 months instead, but there are side effects.
Implantable birth control = norplant, etc, releases tiny amount of estrogen continuously. Women that have irregular cycles can take bcp to regulate them.
Condoms are also 99% effective if used correctly; if not, only 85% effective. Solution = put the woman in charge of the condom, and the failure rate drops dramatically.
  1. How does the morning-after pill work to possibly prevent a pregnancy?
/ This method involves a woman taking a higher than usual dose of the same hormones used in birth control pills within 72 hours (ideally, 24 hours) of unprotected sex. It greatly reduces the chance of pregnancy by preventing implantation of any fertilized egg.
  1. How does estrogen affect a woman’s body?
/ The estrogen allows for deposition of subcutaneous fat, which is what gives women their curves.
In pregnancy, it causes the breasts get larger, the mammary glands get bigger.
  1. How long before planning conception should a women stop taking BCP?
  1. There is a ____% chance of getting pregnant if you had unprotected sex twice a week for a Year.
  1. BCP/condoms are __% effective.
/ 6-12 months before planning conception.
90% chance of pregnancy. (if not, may have fertility
Problem)
BCP are 99% effective.
Condoms up to 99% effective if used correctly
  1. In breast cancer, the cancer cells usually originate from where?
/ Cancer cells usually originate from the milk ducts.
  1. What is a symptom of breast cancer?
/ The skin of the breasts will dimple because the suspensory ligaments of the breast are involved.
  1. Fallopian (uterine) tubes
  1. What structure in the fallopian tube drags the egg in?
/ The fallopian tube has fimbriae (“fingers”) that surround the ovary. When the egg is released, it goes into the peritoneal cavity.
Cilia that line the fallopian tube create a current that drags the egg in.
  1. What are the 3 parts of the fallopian tube made of?
/ It is made of the infundibulum (funnel), the ampulla (most of the tube), and the isthmus (the part of the tube closest to the uterus).
  1. What part of the fallopian tube is usually the area where fertilization occurs?
/ The ampulla is where fertilization usually occurs.
  1. On cross section, lumen of the fallopian tube is lined by what?
  1. Deep to the epithelium is what layer?
  2. What is the function of this layer?
/ Ciliated simple columnar epithelium.
Deep to the epithelium are two layers of muscle; the inner circular layer and the outer longitudinal layer, for peristalsis.
  1. What occurs when there is an ectopic pregnancy?
/ If the egg implants outside of the uterus or on the external surface of the wall of the uterus, it is called an ectopic pregnancy.
  1. Where is the most common area for an ectopic pregnancy to occur?
/ The most common location for an ectopic pregnancy is the fallopian tubes.
  1. What is a tubal pregnancy?
/ A tubal pregnancy is a type of ectopic pregnancy where the egg implants in the lining of the fallopian tube.
  1. What are the dangers of ectopic pregnancies
/ A woman who goes into the er with abdominal pain will always get a pregnancy test and they will do surgery to remove the embryo. The egg can also implant into the wall of the peritoneal cavity; also fatal. If left undiagnosed the fallopian tube will burst and can be fatal to the women.
  1. Where do sperm go once they reach the end of the fallopian tube?
/ Sperm swim out of the opening of the fallopian tube and into the peritoneal cavity.
  1. What is pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) caused by?
/ Any STD (sexually transmitted disease)
  1. What organs are not affected by PID?
/ It could then continue to all organs in the pelvis except those organs which are retroperitoneal (kidney, ureter, and urethra).
  1. What is salpingitis?
/ Inflammation of the Fallopian (uterine) tube
  1. Why is the pelvic cavity at risk for disease and how does it protect itself?
/ A woman’s peritoneal cavity is open to the external world; that’s why the lumen of the fallopian tube has to be so narrow, and the cervix also has mucous for protection
  1. What is the most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease (pid)?
/ Sexually transmitted disease (std), usually chlamydia or gonorrhea.
  1. What are four characteristics of pelvic inflammatory disease?
/ 1) it can lead to sterility.
2) it is usually caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea.
3) it includes salpingitis (inflamed fallopian tube).
4) it does not inhibit ovulation.
  1. What happens during a tubal ligation?
/ A permanent way to prevent pregnancy by surgically removing a piece of the fallopian tube so the sperm cannot reach the egg. Only 1 in a million does not work.
  1. What is the least effective method of birth control?
/ Withdrawing the penis before ejaculation. Statistics say that there is a 30% chance of pregnancy with this method.
  1. What are the 5 parts of the uterus?
  1. The largest gross region of the uterus is where?
/ Fundus, body, cervix, cervical canal, and vagina.
The largest gross region of the uterus is its body.
  1. Uterus diagram
/ Description layers 20of 20the 20uterus
  1. Most support of the uterus is provided by what two structures?
/ It is held in place by the round ligament and by mesentery; the broad ligament.
  1. When a woman is standing, what organ does the uterus sit on top of?
/ When a woman stands upright, the uterus sits on top of the urinary bladder.
  1. What are the 2 layers of the endometrium?
  1. Which of these two layers can divide and replace itself?
  1. What layer goes through changes during menses?
/ Endometrium (two layers)
  1. Stratum functionale
  2. Stratum basale
The stratum basale is the inner layer, and can divide and grow to replace itself.
On top of it is the stratum functionale, which undergoes the changes during menses.
  1. What is the stratum functionale lined by?
  1. What is the function of the lamina propria?
  2. What does the stratum functionale maintain?
  1. What is left over after the stratum functionale breaks down?
/ It is lined by simple columnar epithelium, under which is the lamina propria with lots of uterine glands which has lots of blood vessels.
The lamina propria secretes nutrients and coats and protects the uterine lining.
The stratum functionale develops with the hormone cycle, which causes it to grow, along with its glands and blood vessels.
When the hormones stop, the stratum functionale breaks down, leaving only the stratum basale.
  1. Deep to the endometrium is the what?
  1. When are these smooth muscles used?
/ Deep to the endometrium is the myometrium, made of smooth muscles which contract during birth.
  1. What is another name for the perimetrium (besides epimetrium)?
/ Visceral perineum. This is a general term that applies to any organ, whereas perimetrium or Epimetrium is specific for the uterus.
  1. What is endometriosis and how does it occur?
  1. Where can pieces of tissue from endometriosis be found?
  1. How is endometriosis diagnosed?
  1. How is endometriosis treated?
/ Pieces of the endometrium are supposed to fall down the vagina, but sometimes its cells go up the fallopian tube and enter the peritoneal cavity.
They can lodge anywhere: on top of the fundus, in the lung pleura. These cells still respond to hormone changes, grow, and break down and die, causing pain during menstruation or other parts of the body.
It’s difficult to diagnose because the pain goes away before the doctor appointment. The symptoms vary, depending on the location. One lady had it on her lung pleura and got a collapsed lung every month.
Treatment is to give hormones to prevent menses. Surgery to remove it, if possible.
  1. What are fibroids and where are they found?
  1. When are fibroids most painful?
  1. What is the most common reason women get a hysterectomy?
/ These are benign tumors like scar tissue in the myometrium.
They can get large and be painful, especially during contraction of menses and pregnancy.
Fibroids are the most common reason for hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).
  1. What happens during a hysterectomy?
/ The surgery involves going through the abdominal wall, cut the broad ligament and fallopian tubes, and removing the uterus by pulling it out through the vagina.
  1. What is the function of the vagina?
  1. How long is the vagina?
  1. Lined by what and for what reason?
  1. How is the vagina able to stretch during the birthing process?
  1. What is rugae and what is its function?
  1. What attaches the vagina to surrounding structures?
/ The function is to receive the penis and sperm.
It’s about 9 cm long.
It is lined by mucosa made of non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium, therefore its function is to protect against abrasions.
Below it is a lamina propria with some glands (most secretions are from the uterus). It has lots of elastic fibers since it has to stretch during the birth process.
The vagina also has rugae. There is a muscularis layer around it which allows for peristalsis during orgasm and menses, which helps sperm move into the uterus.
Surrounding that is an adventitia layer which is dense connective tissue with elastic fibers. This attaches the vagina to surrounding structures.
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