Female Reproductive System

Chapter 28
 rectouterine pouch

uterus
vesicouterine pouch

bladder
uterine tube
ovary

uterus

cervix
vagina (area around
cervix is fornix)
 Posterior view of uterus and associated structures (adnexa)

uterine tube

fundus

body of uterus
Tunica albuginea fimbriae of
uterine tube

ureter

ovarian ligament
 Parts of Broad Ligament of Uterus

mesosalpinx
mesovarium

mesometrium
Suspensory ligaments
round ligament
of uterus vesicouterine
pouch

broad ligament ovarian ligament

uterine tube

ovary
rectouterine
pouch
 Gonadal arteries and veins

Left artery and vein

Right artery and vein
 Puberty
• When reproductive organs become fully
functional (14 for females, 16 for males).
• When gametes (oocyte and sperm cell)
begin to mature; One oocyte/month vs 100
million sperm cells/day.
• Gonads start to secrete sex hormones
(under the influence of the anterior
pituitary gland).
46 chromosomes = diploid
23 chromosomes = haploid
46 spermatogonium (46 chromatids)

mitosis

spermatogonium 46
46 primary spermatocyte (46 chromatids)

replication

46 primary spermatocyte (92 chromatids)

meiosis I

secondary spermatocyte 23 23
(46 chromatids)

meiosis II

spermatid 23
23 23 23
(23 chromatids)
 Oogenesis

46 (46 chromatids)

replication

46 (92 chromatids)

meiosis I

23 1st polar body

23

(46 chromatids)

23 2nd polar body

23

(23 chromatids)
Oogonia are mitotic cells which
produce the oocytes found in
the ovaries before birth.
46 (46 chromatids)

replication

46 (92 chromatids)

this is what
meiosis I occurs before
primary birth and does
oocyte not change
until puberty.
23 1st polar body
23

(46 chromatids)

meiosis II
secondary
oocyte
23 2nd polar body
23

(23 chromatids)
medulla cortex tunica
albuginea
 (occurring in cortex)
Primordial follicles:
•Appear during fetal development
•Primary oocyte* surrounded by flat follicle cells (support oocyte).
•1.5 million present in ovaries at birth (300-400k at puberty)

*A primary oocyte is arrested in first meiotic prophase.

 (occurring in cortex)
Primary follicles:
•Appear at puberty
•Primary oocyte surrounded by cuboidal follicle cells.
•These secrete estrogen, which stimulates changes in uterine lining.

About 20 primordial follicles mature into primary follicles every month. A few of these
primary follicles mature into secondary follicles.
 (occurring in cortex)
Secondary follicle:
•Contains primary oocyte with
many layers of follicular cells.
•Fluid-filled space = antrum.
zona pellucida
•Zona pellucida contains glycoproteins.
antrum

Only one or two of the secondary follicles mature into a tertiary (Graafian) follicle.
 (occurring in cortex)

Tertiary (Graafian) follicle:

•Contains secondary oocyte.*

*Secondary oocyte has completed meiosis I to produce a polar body and

a secondary oocyte. The secondary oocyte is haploid and is arrested in second
meiotic metaphase.
(occurring in cortex)

Oocyte expelled =
ovulation.
 (occurring in cortex)

Corpus albicans

Corpus luteum:
•Does not contain oocyte.
•Secretes sex hormones, progesterone and estrogen,
•Which stimulate continued build-up of uterine lining to
•Prepare for possible implantation of fertilized ovum.
 Oogenesis and the Ovarian Cycle
• Oogenesis: the maturation of a primary oocyte to a
secondary oocyte.
• Oogenesis begins in a female fetus, when the ovary
contains primordial germ cells called oogonia.
• Oogonia have 23 pairs of chromosomes (total of 46).
• During the fetal period, the oogonia start meiosis, but are
stopped at prophase I and are called primary oocytes.
• Primary oocytes in the primordial follicles remain
arrested in prophase I until after puberty.
• During childhood, about 1/3 of the primary oocytes
regress.
 Puberty and the Ovarian Cycle

• At puberty, the hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-

releasing hormone, which stimulates the pituitary gland
to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and
luteinizing hormone (LH).
• FSH and LH vary in a cyclic pattern and produce a
monthly sequence of events called the ovarian cycle:
1. Follicular phase (days 1-13): FSH and LH stimulate about 20
primordial follicles to mature into primary follicles →
secondary. One secondary follicle matures into a vesicular
follicle.
2. Ovulation (day 14): occurs on day 14 of the 28-day cycle. This
is the release of the secondary oocyte from a vesicular follicle.
3. Luteal phase (days 15-28): Progesterone and estrogen are
produced to prepare the uterus.
 Pregnancy or Menstruation?

• If the secondary oocyte is fertilized and if it successfully

implants, the pre-embryo secretes human chorionic
gonadotropin, which tells the corpus luteum to keep
producing progesterone, which will build and stabilize the
uterine lining. After 3 months, the placenta of the
developing fetus starts producing its own progesterone
and estrogen.

• If implantation does not occur, the corpus luteum

regresses, and the reduction of progesterone and
estrogen cause the uterine lining to be shed =
menstruation.
A pregnancy test measures a
hormone in the body called
human chorionic gonadotropin
(HCG). HCG is a hormone
produced during pregnancy. It
appears in the blood and urine
of pregnant women as early as
10 days after conception.
 Menopause

• Typically between the ages of 45-55 years, the

number of follicles drops out and there is no
more estrogen and progesterone being
produced.

• The endometrial lining does not grow and a

woman no longer has a menstrual period.
Estrogen
• produced by follicle cells under control of FSH.
• responsible for secondary sexj characteristics.
• maintains function of reproductive organs.
• stimulates bone and muscle growth.

Progesterone
• produced mainly by corpus luteum.
• maintains secretory function of endometrium.
 Uterus and associated structures in coronal section

ampulla infundibulum

isthmus

mucosa

muscularis
Internal Os fimbriae
Cervical canal
External Os
Uterine tube is lined with
ciliated columnar epithelium.

cervix
 Endometrium
• Mucosa and underlying lamina propria.
• Mucosa is simple columnar epithelium.
• Lamina propria is filled with uterine glands
which enlarge during the uterine cycle.
simple
columnar (Monkey Uterus)
epithelium

*Functional zone is sloughed off during menstruation

What is “Tubal” Pregnancy?
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful, chronic condition in which tissue like that lining the uterus
(endometrium) is found outside the uterus, such as the abdomen, ovaries and uterine
(fallopian) tubes.

This misplaced tissue develops into growths that respond to menstrual cycle the same
way that the endometrium does. It builds up, breaks down and sheds, forming scar-
tissue. This can cause pain, infertility and bowel problems.
What is a “Pap” smear?
•The Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test)
is a screening test used in gynecology to detect premalignant and malignant (cancerous)
processes in the cervix.

•The test was invented by and named after the prominent Greek doctor Georgios
Papanikolaou (in the 1930s).

•In taking a Pap smear, a tool is used to gather cells from the outer opening of the cervix and
surrounding area. The cells are examined under a microscope to look for abnormalities. The
test aims to detect potentially pre-cancerous changes (called cervical neoplasia or cervical
dysplasia), which are usually caused by sexually transmitted human papillomaviruses(HPVs).
Histology of Cervix (vaginal surface)

stratified
squamous
epithelium
Normal Pap Smear Abnormal Pap Smear
 Mons pubis

Labia majora Glans clitoris

(homologous to scrotum)

Labia minora

vestibule

anus
 Urethral orifice

Vaginal orifice (covered by

hymen until first sexual
encounter).

Openings for vestibular glands

Histology of Vagina

Mucosa

(vascular)

Smooth muscle
 clitoris

crus of clitoris

bulb of vestibule

perineal
membrane greater vestibular gland
bulbospongiosus muscle. clitoris
ischiocavernosus
muscle.

Perineal membrane bulb of vestibule

greater vestibular gland

 Abdominal aorta

Internal iliac artery Common iliac artery

External iliac artery

Uterine artery

Vaginal branch
 Internal iliac artery

Internal pudendal artery

External iliac artery

density of connective
tissue around uterine
arteries called Cardinal
Ligament.
Pudendal nerve
 Perineal artery

Internal pudendal artery

Inferior rectal artery

Pudendal nerve

Inferior rectal nerve

Perineal nerve
 Perineal nerve

Inferior rectal nerve