Physiology 2130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 69: Pap Test, Suspensory Ligament, Oogenesis
Lecture 069: Female Reproduction
Female Anatomy
● Bladder and urethra
○ Urethra is not part of the reproductive system unlike males
● Uterus
○ Behind the bladder
○ Site of implantation (not the fallopian tube!)
● Fallopian tube
○ Passage for sperm and oocyte
○ Fertilization occurs here
○ Reach out for the ovaries
■ Don’t actually connect
■ Oocytes are released into a space and “caught” by the fimbriae
● Gets “waved in”
● Operate on the actions of estrogen
● Ovaries
○ About 5 cm in size
○ Oogenesis and hormone production
○ Release oocyte into the fallopian tube
● Vagina
○ Site of sperm deposition
○ Removal of menstrual fluid
● Cervix
○ Entrance to uterus
○ Pap smear collect cells from this area
● Suspensory ligament
○ Holds the organs in place
○ May weaken with age
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
■ Lead to prolapse of the uterus
● Moves into the vagina or out of the body
Oogenesis and Atresia
● Produces all of the gametes in utero (mitosis) before the age of 3 months
○ Rapid rise in germ cells
○ Also all the gametes begin meiosis before birth
■ Development arrest before birth in prophase
● There is also a massive decline in gametes after
4 month
○ Many cells undergo atresia and apoptosis
○ Will have much fewer gametes at birth
● During puberty
○ Ovulation occurs for 1 egg, 3 other die
Formation of Gametes
● Mitosis and some of meiosis I (arrests in
prophase) occur prior to birth
● Meiosis I is finished by LH secretion
○ A primary oocyte and a polar body is
produced
○ The primary oocyte is much larger than
the polar body (since it has taken all of the
cytoplasm and nutrients)
○ The polar body contains pretty much only
DNA and is discarded
● Meiosis II is finished by sperm penetration
○ Forms a haploid secondary oocyte and a
secondary polar body
Oogenesis
● Primary oocyte is arrested in prophase after birth
until puberty
● After puberty oogenesis enter into a 28 day cycle
○ Follicular phase (day 0-13)
■ Anterior putitual secretes a high
amount of LH (LH surge )
● Promotes oocyte
development (finish
meiosis I)
● Generates a secondary oocyte and a polar body
○ Ovulation (day 14)
■ Secondary oocyte is arrested in metaphase?
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
● Stays here
until it is
penetrated
by a sperm
○ Luteal phase (day 15-28)
■ Mensuration
■ Development of the
corpus luteum
The Follicle
● Package for the oocyte
● Primordial follicle
○ Contains the primary
oocyte prior to birth and in childhood
● Primary follicle
○ Contains the primary oocyte during puberty
● Secondary follicle
○ Contains the primary oocyte during puberty
○ Large, growth driven by internal growth factors
● Graafian follicle
○ Larger and contains antirum
○ Develop to this stage occurs through exposure to LH
● Corpus luteum
○ Follicle after ovulation
Folliculogenesis
● Primordial follicles
○ Granulosa cells
■ Flattened epithelial cells
■ Basement membrane around the granulosa cells
○ Theca precursor cells
■ Derived from the cortex
● Primary Follicle
○ Granulosa cells
■ Expansion of granulosa cells
● As they differentiate into a primary follicle they become
cuboidal
○ This is an important microscopic difference between
primordial follicles and primary follicles!
■ Produces the zona pellucida (barrier for the oocytes)
○ Zona pellucida
■ Glycoprotein membrane
■ Originate from the oocytes and the granulosa cells
■ Involved in sperm recognition and allowing fertilization to occur
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Urethra is not part of the reproductive system unlike males. Site of implantation (not the fallopian tube!) Oocytes are released into a space and caught by the fimbriae. Pap smear collect cells from this area. Moves into the vagina or out of the body. Produces all of the gametes in utero (mitosis) before the age of 3 months. Also all the gametes begin meiosis before birth. There is also a massive decline in gametes after. Will have much fewer gametes at birth. Ovulation occurs for 1 egg, 3 other die. Mitosis and some of meiosis i (arrests in prophase) occur prior to birth. Meiosis i is finished by lh secretion. A primary oocyte and a polar body is produced. The primary oocyte is much larger than the polar body (since it has taken all of the cytoplasm and nutrients) The polar body contains pretty much only. Meiosis ii is finished by sperm penetration.