Female Reproductive Anatomy

Fallopian tube

Fallopian tube

Ovum

Internal Genitals

Internal GenitalsDucts or duct structures that extend from ovaries to exterior

• Essential Organs• ______________________ (2) – female gonads; house ovum (eggs)

• Accessory Organs• _________________ tubes – serve as transport channels for ova and as site of fertilization

• Salpingitis – inflammation of fallopian tubes• _______________

• composed of cervix and the body• located between rectum and bladder• position is altered by age, pregnancy• decreases in size at menopause• Three layers

• Peritoneum – thin layer surrounding uterus• ________________-– middle, main muscle layer of uterus• ________________-– internal tissue layer where embryo attaches, or what

sloughs off during menstruation• endometriosis – endometrium grows outside of the uterus

• _______________________• lining lubricates and stimulates penis; receptacle for semen• transports tissue and blood shed during menstruation• Hymen – mucous membrane bordering vagina in young girls

External Genitals

External Genitals• Vulva

– Mons pubis

» superior portion of genital area closest to abdomen

– Labia (majora and minora)

» protect ________________

– Clitoris

» _______________ tissue homologous to male corpus ________________________

» Sensory receptors

• Sex Glands

– Greater Vestibular glands

» Homologous to male _____________________glands

– Lesser Vestibular glands

» Mucous glands

– Mammary glands

» Milk secretion to nourish newborn

» 15-20 lactiferous ducts in each breast• Perineum

– skin-covered region between vaginal orifice and rectum; may be torn during childbirth– ______________________: when perineum is cut during labor

Breasts

Breasts

• Mammary glands – composed of alveloar sacs that produce milk

• ____________________ duct – transports milk to the nipple and out the breast

• Nipple – pore for milk secretion• Areola – pigmented area surrounding nipple that contain

________________ glands to dryness while nursing– Change color from pink to brown when pregnant

Reproductive Cycle

• Ovarian Cycle– Oocytes at __________; meiosis halts– _________________ causes meiosis to resume in

several oocytes – meiosis halts until fertilization; if not fertilized, cell

ruptures and is expelled during ovulation– Oophoritis: inflammation of ovaries

• Menstrual Cycle– Menses (______)– Postmenstrual phase / Follicular phase (________)– Ovulation (____)– Premenstrual phase / Luteal phase (_______)

Menses• days 1-5 of a new cycle• endometrial lining sloughs off• __________ – first menstrual flow• __________ – lack of menstrual flow• Endometriosis – lining of uterus grows outside of

uterus

Postmenstrual / Follicular phase

• time between menses and ovulation (days 6-13)• ________ and ______ are released from the brain and

travel in the blood to the ovaries. • The hormones stimulate the growth of about ______

eggs in the ovaries each in its own "shell," called a follicle and production of estrogen which changes in appearance, amount and consistency of cervical mucus

• High __________ levels turn off the production of FSH• _____ follicle in one ovary becomes dominant and

continues to mature. Others stop growing and die. • The dominant follicle continues to produce ___________

Ovulation

• day 14; mature follicle ruptures and expels ovum into pelvic cavity

• The rise in estrogen from the dominant follicle increases the amount of ____ (responsible for ovulation)

• Dominant follicle releases its egg from the ovary (_______________)

• Egg is captured by finger-like projections on the end of the fallopian tubes (fimbriae) which sweep the egg into the tube.

Premenstrual / Luteal phase

• time between ovulation and menses (days 15-28)• The empty follicle develops into a new structure called

the ________ ______________. • The corpus luteum secretes ______________.• Progesterone prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg to

implant. • If intercourse has taken place and a man's sperm has

fertilized the egg, the fertilized egg (embryo) will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus.

• If the egg is not fertilized, it passes through the uterus. Not needed to support a pregnancy, the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds, and the next menstrual period begins

Ovarian Follicle Development

Hormones• GnRH – tells pituitary to release FSH/LH• FSH – stimulate ________________growth• LH – stimulates growth of __________ ___________(promotes estrogen secretion)• ______________________

• secondary sex characteristics • thickens the endometrium• regulates menstrual cycle• Produce lactiferous ducts

• ______________________• Promotes mammary gland production• No fertilization:

• corpus luteum breaks down • levels ______________• endometrium sloughs off during menstruation

• If fertilized:• secreted by corpus luteum • levels _______________• further thickens endometrium

• Prolactin and Oxytocin – stimulates ____________________• Advantages of nursing

• Provides infant with necessary nutrients• Provides passive immunity to infant• Enhance emotional bond between mother and infant

Female Reproductive Hormones

Fertility• Birth - approximately 1 million eggs• Puberty - only about 300,000 remain. • 300 to 400 will be ovulated during a woman's reproductive lifetime. The eggs continue

to degenerate during pregnancy, with the use of birth control pills, and in the presence or absence of regular menstrual cycles.

• Causes:– problems with ovulation - Some signs that a woman is not ovulating normally include

irregular or absent menstrual periods.– blocked fallopian tubes due to pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, or surgery from

ectopic pregnancy– physical problems with the uterus – uterine fibroids

• Risk Factors– age - about one third of couples in which the woman is over 35 have fertility problems – stress – poor diet – athletic training – being overweight or underweight – tobacco smoking – alcohol – sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – health problems that cause hormonal changes

Menopause• most women experience this stage after age 40 and spend a third of

their life in this phase.– Average age is _________

• Stages– Perimenopause

• starts years before your period stops• ovaries gradually produce less estrogen• Symptoms during this time include mood swings, hot flashes, and loss of sex

drive. – Menopause

• occurs when the ovaries no longer produce an egg every month and menstruation stops

• estrogen levels low– Postmenopause

• lasts years after menopause• continued decrease in estrogen – causes health risks