THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
Dr. Emanuel Muro
HKMU
FEMALE REPRODUCTION
Unlike males, who are
able to produce sperm
cells throughout their
reproductive lives,
females produce a finite
number of egg cells.
During early fetal
development germ cells
migrate into the ovaries
and differentiate into
oogonia
OOGONIA
The oogonia divide by
mitosis for the next few
months and some
differentiate into primary
oocytes.
By fifth month there are
about 7 million primary
oocytes, but most will
degenerate during the
next 2 months
OOGONIA
Those that remain will be
surrounded by a single layer
of squamous epithelial cells
(follicle cells) called a
primordial follicle.
Degeneration of primary
oocytes continues.
At birth =1million
primordial follicles
At puberty 400,000 remain
Only 400-500 will reach
maturity
OVARIAN CYCLE
Monthly changes that occur
in the ovary during a
woman’s reproductive life.
Each month FSH stimulates
primordial follicles to grow
and mature (follicular
phase)
Ovulation- release of the
egg (LH)
Luteal phase the corpus
luteum produces
progesterone that maintains
uterine walls If fertilization does not occur, the
corpus luteum degenerates, within
2 weeks into a mass of scar tissue
called the corpus albicans
GROSS ANATOMY
The ovaries are solid, ovoid
structures, about 2 cm in
length and 1 cm in width.
Like the testes, they develop
from embryonic tissue
along the posterior
abdominal wall, near the
kidneys.
Accessory organs include
the uterine tubes, uterus,
and vagina.
UTERINE TUBES
(FALLOPIAN TUBES)
Receive the ovulated oocyte and provide a site for
fertilization
Empty into the superolateral region of the uterus via the
isthmus
Expand distally around the ovary forming the ampulla
The ampulla ends in the funnel-shaped, ciliated
infundibulum containing fingerlike projections called
fimbriae
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UTERINE TUBES
(FALLOPIAN TUBES)
Function: events occurring in the uterine tube
Fimbriae sweep oocyte into tube, cilia &
peristalsis move it along, sperm reaches
oocyte in ampulla, fertilization occurs
within 24 hours after ovulation & zygote
reaches uterus about 7 days after ovulation
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FALLOPIAN TUBE HISTOLOGY
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Cilia sweep egg/zygote toward
the uterus
UTERUS
Hollow, pear shaped muscular organ located in the pelvis
anterior to the rectum and posterosuperior to the bladder
Measures about 7.5*5*2.5cm
Body: Major portion of the uterus
Fundus: Rounded region superior to the entrance of the
uterine tubes
Isthmus: Narrowed region between the body and cervix
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UTERUS
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UTERINE HISTOLOGY
Endometrium
Simple columnar epithelium
Stroma of connective tissue and endometrial glands
Stratum functionalis: Shed during menstruation
Stratum basalis: Replaces stratum functionalis each
month
Myometrium
3 layers of smooth muscle
Perimetrium
Visceral peritoneum
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UTERINE
HISTOLOGY
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ENDOMETRIUM
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Simple
columnar
epithelium
Endometrial glands
ENDOMETRIUM
Proliferative phase: glands
and blood vessels scattered
throughout the functional zone
with little or no branching.
New glands form and
endometrium thickens.
Secretory phase: glands are
enlarged and have branches.
Preparing the endometrium for
implantation
If no implantation then
endometrium breaks down and
menstruation begins.
FEMALE: LATERAL VIEW
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CERVIX
Narrow lower neck of the uterus which projects into the
vagina inferiorly
Cervical canal – cavity of the cervix that communicates
with:
The vagina via the external os
The uterine body via the internal os
Cervical glands secrete mucus that covers the external os
and blocks sperm entry except during midcycle
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Endocervical canal
Fornix
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VAGINA
Thin-walled tube lying between the bladder and the rectum,
extending from the cervix to the exterior of the body
Wall consists of three coats: fibroelastic adventitia, smooth
muscle muscularis, and a stratified squamous mucosa
Mucosa near the vaginal orifice forms an incomplete
partition called the hymen
Vaginal fornix: upper end of the vagina surrounding the
cervix
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FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Mons pubis: fatty pad over the pubic symphysis
Labia majora & minora: folds of skin encircling vestibule
where find urethral and vaginal openings
Clitoris: small mass of erectile tissue
Bulb of vestibule: masses of erectile tissue just deep to the
labia on either side of the vaginal orifice
Perineum: Area between the vagina and anus
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FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Perineum
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BARTHOLIN’S GLANDS
(AKA: VESTIBULAR GLANDS)
The Bartholin's glands are located on each side of the
vaginal opening.
They secrete fluid that
helps lubricate the vagina.
Sometimes the ducts of
these glands become
obstructed.
Fluid backs up into the gland
and causes swelling
(Bartholin's cyst)
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MAMMARY GLANDS
Modified sweat glands that produce milk (lactation)
Amount of adipose determines size of breast
Milk-secreting glands open by lactiferous ducts at the nipple
Areola is pigmented area around nipple
Suspensory ligaments suspend breast from deep fascia of
pectoral muscles (aging & Cooper’s droop)
Mammary line is a thickened ridge of embryonic tiwwue that
extends from the axilla to the groin.
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BREAST
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BREAST
Prolactin from the
pituitary gland
stimulates the
synthesis of milk
Oxytocin from
the posterior
pituitary gland
stimulates milk
ejection
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LYMPHATIC
DRAINAGE
Lymph nodes
draining the
breast are located
in the axilla.
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OOGENESIS: BEFORE BIRTH
During fetal development,
oogonia (stem cells) divide
by mitosis to make primary
oocytes
Primary oocytes begin
meiosis and stop in
prophase I until puberty
Primordial follicles: Support
cells that surround the
oocyte in the ovary
2 million present at birth
400,000 remain at puberty
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OOGENESIS: AFTER PUBERTY
Each month, hormones cause several follicles to
develop, which triggers the primary oocyte to resume
meiosis I
Polar bodies: When the cell divides, all the cytoplasm
and organelles stay with one of the new cells, the other
cell is just DNA, and is called a polar body and is
discarded
Secondary oocyte: The stage at which ovulation occurs.
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OOGENESIS: AFTER PUBERTY
The secondary oocyte begins meiosis II, but stops in metaphase
II
The secondary oocyte is ovulated
Meiosis II is completed only if it is fertilized.
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OOGENESIS
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LIFE HISTORY OF OOGONIA
As a fetus, oogonia divide to produce millions by mitosis
but most degenerate (atresia)
Some develop into primary oocytes & stop in prophase
stage of meiosis I
200,000 to 2 million present at birth
40,000 remain at puberty but only 400 mature during a
woman’s life
Each month, hormones cause meiosis I to resume in
several follicles so that meiosis II is reached by ovulation
Penetration by the sperm causes the final stages of
meiosis to occur
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OVARIES
Each follicle consists of an immature egg called an oocyte
Cells around the oocyte are called:
Follicle cells (one cell layer thick)
Stimulated to mature by FSH from the pituitary gland
Granulosa cells (when more than one layer is present)
Thecal cells: Cells in the ovarian stroma
Thecal & granulosa cells work together to produce estrogen
A protective layer of glycoprotein forms around the egg
called the zona pellucida
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FOLLICLE DEVELOPMENT
1. Primordial follicle: one layer of squamous-like
follicle cells surrounds the oocyte
2. Primary follicle: two or more layers of cuboidal
granulosa cells enclose the oocyte
3. Secondary follicle: has a fluid-filled space
between granulosa cells that coalesces to form a
central antrum
4. Graafian follicle: secondary follicle at its most
mature stage that bulges from the surface of the
ovary
5. Corpus luteum : ruptured follicle after ovulation
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OVARY HISTOLOGY
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OVARY HISTOLOGY
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Primary Follicle 1° Oocyte
(arrested in prophase I)
Nucleus
Primordial
follicle
Zona pellucida
Thecal cells Granulosa cells
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Fluid-filled antrum
SECONDARY FOLLICLE
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GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE
Fluid filled antrum
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Oocyte 2°
Granulosa cells
Stalk
Corona radiata Zona pellucida
CORPUS LUTEUM
After ovulation, the
remains of the follicle are
transformed into a
structure called the
corpus luteum.
If a pregnancy occurs, it
produces progesterone to
maintain the wall of the
uterus during the early
period of development.
CORPUS ALBICANS
If fertilization does not
occur, the corpus luteum
will begin to break down
about 2 weeks after
ovulation.
Degeneration occurs
when fibroblasts enter the
corpus luteum and a
clump of scar tissue
forms called the corpus
albicans.
OVARIAN AND UTERINE CYCLES
