genbio female rep

• Ovaries


  Female gonads, paired oval structures lying close to the lateral walls of the pelvic cavity, source of female gametes (ova) and female hormones, contain follicles with ova at various stages of development

  
• Medulla


  Inner layer of the ovary composed of loose connective tissue with blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, some smooth muscle fibers, and interstitial cells

  
• Females are born with all of the eggs they will ever have, which stay at an early stage of division until stimulated to develop by hormones
• Follicle


  An ovum (oocyte) surrounded by layers of follicle cells (about 200,000 in each ovary)

  
• Oviducts/Fallopian Tubes


  Tubes which carry the ovum to the uterus, approximately 12 cm long with proximal end open to the uterus and distal end having an expanded fringed border (fimbriae) next to the ovary, walls of ciliated columnar epithelium, cilia beat to create a current which carries the ovum to the uterus, peristaltic contractions also help move the ovum
• Uterus


  Highly elastic organ whose main function is to contain the developing embryo, simplex shape in humans, bipartite in cat, muscular, pear-shaped, lies in the pelvic cavity between bladder and rectum, layers include endometrium (mucosa), myometrium (muscular layer), and perimetrium (serosa)

  
• Cervix


  External opening of the uterus, largest, most powerful sphincter muscle in female, protrudes into the upper end of the vagina
• Vagina


  Highly elastic canal which receives the penis during coitus and also serves as the birth canal, layers include mucosa, muscular coat, and fibrous coat
• External Genitalia (Vulva)


  Clitoris, labia majora, labia minora, urinary meatus, vaginal orifice
• Menstrual Cycle


  1. Menstruation

  2. Proliferative stage - Follicular

  3. Ovulation

  4. Secretory Stage (premenstrual or luteal phase)

  
• Pituitary Gland


  Produces luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which maintain the follicle and corpus luteum
• PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)


  Physical and emotional symptoms a female experiences prior to getting her period, caused by hormonal changes, symptoms include anxiety, depressed mood, crying spells, mood swings and irritability, anger, food cravings, insomnia, poor concentration
• Menopause


  Permanent end of menstruation and fertility due to decreasing levels of hormones, usually occurs around 45-55
• Fertilization and Early Development


  Fertilization - union of haploid gametes (sperm and egg), acrosome of sperm dissolves a passageway, sperm nucleus passes into the egg and unites with egg nucleus, fertilization membrane forms, zygote slowly rolls down fallopian tube to the uterus (implantation), placenta develops with chorionic villi

  
• Fetal and maternal blood are in close proximity (no mixing) and nutritive material, gases, hormones, and antibodies are exchanged
• Birth - Labor


  1. Dilation phase - from onset of labor until cervix is totally dilated (10 cm. in diameter)

  2. Expulsion phase - from full dilation to birth

  3. Placental phase - delivery of the placenta

  
• Second leading cause of cancer among women (232,340 new cases a year), every 3 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime, approximately 2,150 men will be diagnosed each year, there are 2.8 million breast cancer survivors today
• Performing A Breast Self Exam


  Lie down and raise right arm above head, examine area from underarm to lower bra line; across to breast bone; up to collar bone; back to armpit, use pads of three middle fingers of the left hand to check the right breast, in dime-sized circles
• Endocrine glands include the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas (islets of Langerhans), ovaries/testes, and pineal gland.
• Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate various physiological processes throughout the body, including growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, and homeostasis.
• The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.