female reproductive

• What is the female anatomy structure?


  Vulva: mons pubis , labia majora , labia minora , clitoris , vestibules , hymen , vaginal entrance

  
  

  Vaginal glands: bartholina (major , secrete mucous for lubrication) and Skene (minor , secrete prostaglandins)
• What are the internal reproductive organs?


  vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries
• How are oocytes developed?


  1) primordial germ cell (5th week embryo) differentiates into oogonia

  2) Oogonia starts meiosis and occytes are in prophase 1

  3) At birth the oocytes are in prophase 1

  4) In puberty estrogens allow for ovulation and maturation of oocytes
• What is the cyclic maturation of follicles?

  Preovulatory phase/follicular phase

  
  

  Ovulation

  
  

  Postovulatory phase/luteal phase
• What are characteristics of unilayered primary follicle?


  Thicker layer of follicular cell

  
• What are the characteristics of primary follicles?


  Multiple layers of granulosa cells surrounded by thin layer of theca cells. Zona pellucida present
• What are characteristics of vesicular follicles?


  Developing antrum (cavity full of liquid containing hormones and nutrients) , zona pellucida , granulosa cells , oocyte and theca cells

  
• What are characteristics of antral follicles?


  Oocyte , large antrum ,theca and cumulus oophorus (granulosa cells enlarge around a developing occyte)
• What is atresia?


  death of oocyte and follicular cells , which happens constantly , in each cycle a group of 20 antral secondary follicles will start the final maturation (14 days) and only one will develop a preovulatory follicle
• What are characteristics of secondary antral follicles?

  Acts as an endocrine gland , they become endocrine as theca cells start producing receptors for FSH . Theca cells contain cholesterol and when LH binds to receptors the cholesterol transforms into androstenedione. Androstenedione diffuses to granulosa cells and transforms to testosterone as a result of stimulation of FSH binding. Testosterone is transformed to estradiol via aromatase , estradiol promotes follicle growth
• How are hormones regulated?


  Hypothalamus releases GnRH which stimulates hypophysis which can release FSH which stimulates egg which stimulates release inhibin which blocks hypophysis. OR hypophysis can release LH which stimulates release of estradiol which blocks hypothalamus and promotes growth of reproductive system
• What is the process of follicular maturation?


  dominante follicle (graafian/tertiary/preovulatory/mature follicle) grows to 2cm and blocks development of other follicles. When follicle is going to be released there is an increased level of gonadotropins, estrogen peaks at day 12 and drops. 20 follicles become endocrine glands and start producing estrogens until dominant follicle grows and other follicles die meaning estrogen levels decrease
• What is the process of ovulation?

  LH ruptures follicles and meiosis is activated. Cells move to diakinesis (last step of prophase 1) then metaphase 1 , anaphase 1, telophase 1 and cytokinesis (formation of two daughter cells) . Cell enters prophase 2 then metaphase 2 where meiosis stops again. Oocyte is ovulated at metaphase 2 and if not fertilized in 24h it will die , meiosis is only completed if there is fertilization.
• What is luteinization?

  Blood vessels invade the wall and antrum of the collapsed follicle , transformation of granulosa/theca cells
• What is a corpus luteum?


  Yellow , blood clot found in the middle when looking at the area
• What are luteal cells?

  Come from granulosa and theca cells , produces progesterone , estradiol , relaxin , lipid droplets in cytoplasm
• What is relaxin?


  Relaxes uterus muscles to lessen risk of misimplantation
• What occurs in luteal phase?


  Drop in gonadotropins (LH , FSH) because of corpus luteum there are high levels of estrogen and progesterone which prepare the uterus and block further release of LH and FSH (hormonal contraception)
• What occurs if no fertilization occurs?


  If no implintation then corpus luteum will collapse/degenerate ] , forms corpus albicans(lots of CT) , fall of estradiol and progesterone (start new follicular cycle)
• What occurs if there is fertilization?

  Corpus luteum of gestation , the growing placenta secretes human chorionic gonadotropin, blastocyst is implanted in lining of uterus (HCG) which maintains corpus luteum (fertilization completes meiosis)
• What is the process of fertilization?


  Sperm will each oviduct and are trying to enter. Blastocyst will reach uterus. Before implantation the blastocyst has to be hatched (remove zona pellucida) then blastocyst is then implanted
• What is the oviduct?


  tube that connects ovary to uterus
• What is fimbria?


  Finger like projections at the top of the duct
• What are the characteristics of the mucosa of oviduct?


  Mucosa with numerous infoldings (brown color) , muscular wall (yellow) , serous layer (purple)
• What are the characteristics of the uterus?

  divided into fundus , body and cervix
• What is the menstrual cycle?


  Endometrium changes in a cyclic fashion every 28 days:

  1-4 menstrual phase (endometrial rupture)

  5-14 proliferative phase (reconstruction and growth)

  15-28 secretory phase (secretion:preparation for implantation)
• What are the characteristics of the endometrial mucosa?


  Epithelium: Simple columnar epithelium with ciliary and secretory cells

  Glands: simple tubular , mucous secretion , variable morphology depending on the menstrual cycle

  
  

  vascular system: straight arteries (span basal part) and coiled/spiraled arteries (reach functional part)

  
  

  proliferative phase - glands are straight

  secretory phase- curved to prepare nutrients for embryo
• What are the characteristics of the premenstrual endometrium?

  corpus luteum degeneration (decrease in estradiol and progesterone levels) , arteries going to start contracting and the spiral arteries going to break down. Ischemia of functional layer and it detaches
• What are the characteristics of the cervix?


  simple columnar epithelium with tubular mucus producing glands

  
  

  Exocervix: tissue polystratified squamous non keratinized epithelium

  
  

  Endocervix: part that corresponds to canal connecting uterus and exocervix , no menstruation , simple columnar epithelium with tubular mucus producing glands

  
  

  (mucus is watery , alkaline and strands of microproteins so sperm pass through it)

  
  

  Postovulatory phase: dense/thick acidic mucus with mesh of glycoproteins that block passage of sperm
• What are the characteristics of the vagina?


  Fibromuscular tube consisting of 3 layers:

  mucosa (stratified squamous epithelium and lamina propia)

  Muscular layer

  adventitia layer

  
  

  lactobacteria acidophilus- estrogens - glycogen production , through fermentation produces lactic acid which decreases ph