bio 12

• Female reproductive system


  Overview, structures, organs, glands

  
• Structures of the female reproductive system

  • Ovaries
  • Fallopian tubes (oviducts)
  • Uterus
  • Cervix
  • Vagina
  • Vulva
  • Mammary Glands

  
• Ovaries


  Produce egg and sex hormones
• Fallopian tubes (oviducts)


  Conduct egg, location of fertilization
• Uterus


  Houses developing fetus
• Cervix


  The opening to the uterus
• Vagina


  Receives penis during sexual intercourse, serves as birth canal, serves as an exit for menstrual flow
• Vulva


  External genitals, protects internal reproductive structures, produce antimicrobial substances and lubrication
• Mammary Glands


  Synthesize, secrete and eject milk for nourishment of the newborn
• Oogenesis


  1. Oogonium undergoes mitosis to produce primary oocytes

  2. Primary oocytes begin meiosis I during fetal development and remain arrested in mid meiosis I until puberty

  3. At puberty, meiosis I is completed to form a secondary oocyte

  4. The secondary oocyte is haploid and begins meiosis II, a surge in luteinizing hormone initiates ovulation

  5. The secondary oocyte only fully matures into an ovum once it has been fertilized by a sperm cell
• Ovulation


  Graafian follicle ruptures and the follicular fluid expels the secondary oocyte into the fallopian tube
• Female reproductive cycle


  1. Ovarian cycle (Follicular phase, Luteal phase)

  2. Uterine cycle (Menstrual flow, Build up of endometrium)

  
• Follicular phase


  FSH initiates follicular growth and estrogen secretion, increase in estrogen stimulates repair of endometrium, estrogen increases LH and FSH secretion (positive feedback)
• Luteal phase


  LH promotes development of corpus luteum, corpus luteum secretes estrogen and progesterone, increase in estrogen and progesterone stimulates build up of endometrium, decrease in LH promotes degradation of corpus luteum, estrogen and progesterone decrease leading to menstruation
• Menstrual flow


  Endometrial lining surrounding uterus degrades and exits through the cervix into the vaginal canal
• Build-up of endometrium


  Endometrial lining thickens to harbor potential fertilized egg travelling from fallopian tube
• Hormonal regulation of female reproductive system

  1. GnRH stimulates release of FSH and LH (hypothalamus)

  2. FSH initiates follicular growth and estrogen secretion (pituitary)

  3. LH stimulates further follicular development and ovulation, promotes corpus luteum formation (pituitary)

  4. Corpus luteum produces estrogen, progesterone, relaxin and inhibin
• Oral contraceptives


  Hormonal contraceptives include estrogens and progesterone, inhibit FSH and LH release to prevent follicle formation
• Sexual dysfunction


  Characterized by lack of libido, arousal, orgasm, and pain, can have physiological (vaginal infections, lack of lubrication, age) or psychological (stress, anxiety, depression) causes
• Lesson review questions:

  1. What are the 7 structures associated with the female reproductive system that we described?
  2. Describe the process of oogenesis
  3. Describe the hormonal regulation of the female reproductive system