reproductive

• Gonads


  Primary sex organs
• Ovaries


  Gonads in the female
• Testes


  Gonads in the male
• Gametes


  Sex cells produced by the gonads
• Oocytes


  Gametes in the female
• Sperm


  Gametes in the male
• Perineum


  Diamond-shaped region between the thighs, bounded by the pubic symphysis, ischial tuberosities, and coccyx
• Regions of the perineum


  • Urogenital triangle
  • Anal triangle
• Vesicouterine pouch


  Space between uterus and urinary bladder
• Rectouterine pouch


  Space between uterus and rectum
• Primary sex organs of the female


  • Ovaries
  • Uterine tubes
  • Uterus
  • Vagina
  • Clitoris
• Accessory sex organs of the female

  • Mammary glands
• Ovaries


  Paired, oval organs, slightly larger than an almond, anchored within the pelvic cavity
• Mesovarium


  Double fold of peritoneum attached to anterior ovary
• Broad ligament


  Peritoneum draping uterus
• Ovarian ligament


  Anchors ovary to lateral uterus
• Suspensory ligament


  Attaches lateral ovary to pelvic wall
• Germinal epithelium


  Epithelial layer of simple cuboidal cells surrounding the ovary
• Tunica albuginea


  Connective tissue capsule deep to the germinal epithelium
• Cortex and medulla


  Regions of the ovary
• Oogenesis and the Ovarian Cycle


  1. Oogonia start oogenesis but are arrested as primary oocytes in prophase I

  2. At birth, ovaries contain about 1.5 million primordial follicles

  3. During childhood, ovaries are inactive and some primordial follicles degenerate (atresia)

  4. From puberty to menopause, females show a monthly reproductive cycle

  5. Follicular phase (days 1-13)

  6. Ovulation occurs on day 14

  7. Luteal phase (days 15-28)
• Uterine tubes


  Extend laterally from both sides of the uterus toward ovaries
• Fertilization


  Usually occurs in the lateral part of the uterine tube
• Pre-embryo


  Takes approximately 3 days to travel the length of the uterine tube and reach the lumen of the uterus
• Regions of the uterine tubes


  • Infundibulum
  • Ampulla
  • Isthmus
  • Uterine part
• Layers of the uterine tube wall


  • Mucosa
  • Muscularis
  • Serosa
• Uterus


  Pear-shaped, thick-walled, muscular organ within the pelvic cavity
• Anteverted uterus


  Normally angled anterosuperiorly across superior surface of urinary bladder
• Retroverted uterus


  Positioned posterosuperiorly (projecting toward the rectum)
• Regions of the uterus


  • Fundus
  • Body
  • Isthmus
  • Cervix
• Uterine support structures


  • Muscles of the pelvic floor
  • Round ligaments
  • Transverse cervical ligaments
  • Uterosacral ligaments
• Uterine prolapse


  Weakness of uterine support can result in the uterus protruding through the vagina
• Uterine arteries


  Branches from the internal iliac arteries that supply the uterus
• Layers of the uterine wall


  • Perimetrium
  • Myometrium
  • Endometrium
• Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle and Menstruation


  1. Menstrual phase (days 1-5)

  2. Proliferative phase (days 6-14)

  3. Secretory phase (days 15-28)
• Vagina


  Fibromuscular tube about 10 cm in length that connects the uterus to the outside of the body
• Vaginal orifice


  Opening of the vagina
• Hymen


  Membranous barrier near the vaginal opening
• Female external genitalia (vulva)


  • Mons pubis
  • Labia majora
  • Labia minora
  • Vestibule
  • Urethral opening
  • Vaginal orifice
  • Greater vestibular glands
  • Clitoris
• Mammary glands


  Compound tubuloalveolar exocrine glands that produce and secrete milk