Module 4 - The Female Reproductive System

Front 1

What is the perineum?

Back 1

The perineum is the diamond-shaped superficial area of the body located between the thighs.

Front 2

Name the 2 triangles of the perineum.

Back 2

1. Urogenital triangle

2. Anal triangle

Front 3

What does the urogenital triangle consist of?

Back 3

- External genitalia

- Superficial muscles

- Glands over which the external genitalia sit

- Urethral openings

- Vaginal openings

Front 4

What does the anal triangle consist of?

Back 4

- Anus (anal canal and external anal sphincter)

Front 5

Name the structures.

Back 5

1. Vestibule

2. Clitoris

3. Mons pubis

4. Labia majora

5. Urethra

6. Vaginal opening

7. Labia minora

Front 6

Name the 3 organs/glands of the female reproductive system.

Back 6

1. Gonads

2. Reproductive tract

3. Mammary glands

Front 7

Where are the gonads and the reproductive tract found?

Back 7

In the pelvic cavity.

Front 8

What surrounds the pelvic cavity?

Back 8

Pelvic girdle.

Front 9

What is the pelvic girdle?

Back 9

The hip bones including the ilium, pubis and ischium, and part of the spinal column including the sacrum and the coccyx.

Front 10

What supports the pelvic cavity?

Back 10

The pelvic floor.

Front 11

Name the structures.

Back 11

1. Fallopian tube

2. Ovary

3. Vagina

4. Uterus

5. Cervix

Front 12

What are the 2 main functions of the ovaries?

Back 12

1. Production of the female gametes - oocytes

2. Production of female sex (steroid) hormones - oestrogen's and progesterone.

Front 13

What are the 2 main functions of the fallopian tubes?

Back 13

1. Transportation of an ovulated oocyte towards the uterus

2. Site of fertilization

Front 14

What are the 2 main functions of the uterus including the cervix?

Back 14

1. Receives, retains and nourishes a zygote (fertilized oocyte).

2. Expels fetus from woman's body during labour.

Front 15

What are the 2 main functions of the vagina?

Back 15

1. Copulatory organ for sex

2. Forms the birth canal

Front 16

What is the main function of the mammary glands?

Back 16

Production of colostrum and breastmilk which nourish the baby after birth.

Front 17

What is oogenesis?

Back 17

Development of the female gamete - the oocyte (egg).

Front 18

When does oogenesis begin and end?

Back 18

In females, oogenesis begins in utero and continues until menopause. The process stops and starts along the way (during the female life cycle) and only completes if an ovulated oocyte is fertilized by a sperm.

Front 19

When are the primary oocytes produced?

Back 19

From around 6 weeks gestation until 7 months gestation.

Front 20

When do the primary oocytes undergo meiosis I?

Back 20

From 4 months gestation till they halt at 7 months gestation.

Front 21

When does meiosis I restart?

Back 21

An individual oocyte is produced each month during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle.

Front 22

What does meiosis I result in?

Back 22

A secondary oocyte and 1st polar body.

Front 23

When does the secondary oocyte begin and halt meiosis II?

Back 23

Just prior to ovulation.

Front 24

When does the final step of oogenesis occur?

Back 24

When the oocyte is fertilised by a sperm.

Front 25

What does fertilisation produce?

Back 25

An ovum and 2nd polar body.

Front 26

What surrounds the primary oocytes?

Back 26

A single layer of granulosa (or follicular) cells.

Front 27

What does a primary oocytes and its layer of granulosa create?

Back 27

Primordial follicles.

Front 28

Name the 2 female reproductive cycles.

Back 28

1. Ovarian cycle

2. Uterine (menstrual) cycle.

Front 29

What coordinates the 2 reproductive cycles?

Back 29

Hormones of the HPO axis which align with certain phases of oogenesis.

Front 30

What is the HPO axis?

Back 30

Cascade of hormones released from the hypothalamus (H), anterior pituitary gland (P) and ovaries (O) that coordinate the events of the female reproductive cycles and oogenesis.

Front 31

What does the primordial follicle undergo during the ovarian cycle?

Back 31

Proliferation.

Front 32

Name the 3 phases of the ovarian cycle.

Back 32

1. Follicular phase

2. Ovulation

3. Luteal phase

Front 33

When does the follicular phase occur?

Back 33

Day 1 - 13

Front 34

What 4 events happen in the follicular phase?

Back 34

1. Follicular proliferation

2. Completion of meiosis I

3. Oestrogen production

4. Start of meiosis II

Front 35

When does ovulation occur?

Back 35

Day 14

Front 36

What event happens during ovulation?

Back 36

Release of a secondary oocyte.

Front 37

When does the luteal phase occur?

Back 37

Day 15 - 28

Front 38

What 4 events occur during the luteal phase?

Back 38

1. Corpus luteum develops

2. Oestrogen production

3. Progesterone production

4. Corpus albicans develops

Front 39

How does the follicle progress during the ovarian cycle?

Back 39

Primordial follicle -> Primary follicle --> Secondary follicle --> Graafian follicle --> Corpus luteum --> Corpus albicans

Front 40

Describe the primary follicle.

Back 40

Develops from the primordial follicle and consists of a few layers of follicular cells surrounding the oocyte.

Front 41

Describe the secondary follicle.

Back 41

Consists of numerous layers of follicular cells surrounding the oocyte. These follicular cells will begin producing estrogens.

Front 42

Describe the graafian follicle.

Back 42

A mature follicle consisting of follicular cells surrounding the oocyte (corona radiata) and a fluid filled space (antrum) surrounded by multiple layers of follicular cells producing estrogens.

Front 43

Describe the corpus luteum.

Back 43

The collection of follicular cells that remains in the ovary after ovulation of the secondary oocyte. Will produce estrogens and progesterone.

Front 44

Describe the corpus albicans.

Back 44

The degenerated corpus luteum. The corpus albicans develops if fertilization does NOT occur. If fertilization does happen, the corpus luteum remains and does not develop into the corpus albicans.

Front 45

The uterine (menstrual) cycles encompasses the changes that occur to what part of the uterus?

Back 45

Endometrium

Front 46

What is the endometrium?

Back 46

Innermost layer of the uterine wall consisting of a base layer and a functional layer composed of epithelial tissue, glands and a rich blood supply.

Front 47

What do the events of the ovarian cycle aim to achieve?

Back 47

Prepare the uterus each month to receive, retain and nourish a zygote.

Front 48

Name the 3 phases of the ovarian cycle.

Back 48

1. Menstrual phase

2. Proliferative phase

3. Secretory phase

Front 49

When does the menstrual phase occur?

Back 49

Day 1- 5

Front 50

What occurs during the menstrual phase?

Back 50

Shedding (loss) of the functional layer of the endometrium.

Front 51

When does the proliferative phase occur?

Back 51

Day 5 - 14

Front 52

What occurs during the proliferative phase?

Back 52

Proliferation (growth of cells via mitosis) of the functional layer of the endometrium.

Front 53

When does the secretory phase occur?

Back 53

Day 14 - 28

Front 54

What happens during the secretory phase?

Back 54

- Growth, lengthening and coiling of the endometrial blood vessels (which increases blood supply).

- Growth and lengthening of the endometrial glands (which will secrete glycogen during the latter half of the uterine cycle)