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Questions and Answers
Which stage of ovarian follicle development is characterized by an initial period of follicular fluid accumulation?
Which stage of ovarian follicle development is characterized by an initial period of follicular fluid accumulation?
Which of the following is characteristic of granulosa lutein cells?
Which of the following is characteristic of granulosa lutein cells?
Which of the following hormones is primarily responsible for inducing ovulation?
Which of the following hormones is primarily responsible for inducing ovulation?
Which feature is characteristic of the corpora albicans but not of atretic follicles?
Which feature is characteristic of the corpora albicans but not of atretic follicles?
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Endometrial glands are typically most fully developed and filled with product during which day(s) or phase of a woman's menstrual cycle?
Endometrial glands are typically most fully developed and filled with product during which day(s) or phase of a woman's menstrual cycle?
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Which feature is characteristic of the endometrium's basal layer but not of its functional layer?
Which feature is characteristic of the endometrium's basal layer but not of its functional layer?
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Most lipid in milk is released from cells by which mechanism?
Most lipid in milk is released from cells by which mechanism?
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A 33-year-old woman with an average menstrual cycle of 28 days comes in for a routine Pap smear. It has been 35 days since the start of her last menstrual period, and a vaginal smear reveals clumps of basophilic cells. As her physician you suspect which of the following?
A 33-year-old woman with an average menstrual cycle of 28 days comes in for a routine Pap smear. It has been 35 days since the start of her last menstrual period, and a vaginal smear reveals clumps of basophilic cells. As her physician you suspect which of the following?
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A 17-year-old girl with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease presents at the emergency department with severe pain in her lower right side that came on fairly quickly. Upon questioning she replies that her last menstrual period was 6 weeks ago and that she has never missed a period before. The doctor suspects she has an ectopic pregnancy and this is quickly confirmed by ultrasound testing. The surgeon removes her right uterine tube which is inflamed, scarified, and contains the implanted embryonic tissue in the region where fertilization normally occurs. Where is this?
A 17-year-old girl with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease presents at the emergency department with severe pain in her lower right side that came on fairly quickly. Upon questioning she replies that her last menstrual period was 6 weeks ago and that she has never missed a period before. The doctor suspects she has an ectopic pregnancy and this is quickly confirmed by ultrasound testing. The surgeon removes her right uterine tube which is inflamed, scarified, and contains the implanted embryonic tissue in the region where fertilization normally occurs. Where is this?
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A 42-year-old woman visits her physician complaining of recurrent vaginal yeast infections. The doctor explains the likelihood that the woman's vaginal lining is temporarily out of proper acid-base balance, leading to the increased susceptibility to yeast infections. The normally low pH in the vagina is maintained by which of the following?
A 42-year-old woman visits her physician complaining of recurrent vaginal yeast infections. The doctor explains the likelihood that the woman's vaginal lining is temporarily out of proper acid-base balance, leading to the increased susceptibility to yeast infections. The normally low pH in the vagina is maintained by which of the following?
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Study Notes
Female Reproductive Tract
- The female reproductive system comprises paired ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands.
- Ovaries produce oocytes (female gametes) and steroidal sex hormones.
- Ovaries are almond-shaped and have a surface epithelium (germinal epithelium) lined by simple cuboidal epithelium.
- The surface epithelium overlays a dense connective tissue capsule (tunica albuginea).
- The cortex houses varying-sized ovarian follicles.
- The medulla contains connective tissue and blood vessels.
Early Development of the Ovary
- Primordial germ cells migrate from the yolk sac to the gonadal primordia in the first month of embryonic life.
- These cells differentiate into oogonia, which subsequently increase in number by mitosis.
- Oogonia then enter the prophase of the first meiotic division.
- The process stalls at this stage, resulting in primary oocytes that remain until puberty, or adulthood.
- By the seventh month of development, most oogonia transform into primary oocytes within follicles.
- Many oocytes undergo atresia, a continuous degenerative process.
Ovarian Follicles
- An ovarian follicle consists of an oocyte within a basal lamina, surrounded by epithelial cells.
- Primordial follicles contain a primary oocyte and a single layer of flattened follicular cells.
- Primary follicles develop into secondary follicles with the appearance of a thickened follicular epithelium (granulosa cells) and the formation of a zona pellucida surrounding the oocyte.
- Secondary (antral) follicles contain a fluid-filled space (antrum).
- Mature (graafian) follicles are large; the oocyte is surrounded by several layers of granulosa cells forming the corona radiata.
Follicular Growth and Development
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary initiates follicular growth in puberty.
- Follicular growth involves oocyte enlargement, granulosa cell proliferation, and stromal fibroblast differentiation.
- Selection of dominant follicles, determined by a complex interplay of hormonal and cellular factors, occurs.
- The dominant follicle rapidly enlarges during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, reaching a diameter of about 120 μm.
Ovulation
- Ovulation is the release of the secondary oocyte from the ovary into the peritoneal cavity.
- The surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers ovulation.
- The dominant follicle ruptures at its stigma(a weakened area), releasing the secondary oocyte.
- The ruptured follicle transforms into the corpus luteum.
Corpus Luteum
- The corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine gland that develops post-ovulation, secreting progesterone and estrogen.
- If fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum is maintained by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to support early pregnancy.
- Without fertilization, the corpus luteum degenerates forming the corpus albicans, a scar of dense connective tissue.
Uterine Tubes
- Uterine tubes, also known as oviducts, connect the ovaries to the uterus.
- They are approximately 10-12 cm long.
- The walls consist of folded mucosa, a muscularis(interwoven circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers), and a serosa.
- The mucosa is lined by simple columnar epithelium with ciliated cells and secretory peg cells.
Uterus
- The uterus is a pear-shaped organ with thick muscular walls.
- The wall consists of three major layers: perimetrium (outer connective tissue layer), myometrium (smooth muscle), and endometrium (mucosa lining the uterine cavity).
Menstrual Cycle
- The menstrual cycle is a series of cyclic changes in the endometrium in preparation for potential pregnancy.
- The cycle has three phases: menstrual phase(days 1-4), proliferative phase (days 5-14), and secretory phase (days 15-28).
- Menstruation occurs when there is no successful implantation.
- During the menstrual phase, degenerating functional layer of endometrium is sloughed off accompanied by blood.
- The proliferative phase involves endometrial regeneration, and the secretory phase involves endometrial thickening in response to rising progesterone levels.
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Description
Explore the anatomy and early development of the female reproductive system. This quiz covers structures such as ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and the developmental stages of oocytes. Test your knowledge on the intricate details and functions of this essential system.
