Anatomy & Physiology of the Female Reproductive System

Content
Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System o The Ovaries o The Female Duct System o The External Genitalia o The Mammary Glands Physiology of the Female Reproductive System o Oogenesis o The Ovarian Cycle o Hormonal Regulation of the Ovarian Cycle o The Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle o Extrauterine Effects of Estrogens and Progesterone o Female Sexual Response

Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

1. The female reproductive system produces gametes and sex hormones and houses a developing infant until birth. The organs that make up the female reproductive system are divided into the external (vulva) and internal genitalia. Following is a list of the organs of each part of the female reproductive system: Internal genitalia o Ovaries o Female Duct System Uterine tube Uterus Vagina External genitalia (vulva) o Mons pubis o Labia majora and minora o Clitoris o Urethral and vaginal orifices
FIGURE 27.11 Internal organs of the female reproductive system, midsagittal section

The Ovaries
2. The ovaries flank the uterus laterally and are held in position by the ovarian and suspensory ligaments and mesovaria. 3. Within each ovary are oocyte-containing follicles at different stages of development and corpora lutea
FIGURE 27.12 Structure of an ovary. (a) The ovary has been sectioned to reveal the follicles in its interior. Note that not all of these structures would appear in the ovary at the same time

(b) Photomicrograph of a mature vesicular (Graafian) follicle (108)

FIGURE 27.13 Ovulation. A secondary oocyte is released from a follicle at the surface of the ovary (30). The orange mass below the ejected oocyte is part of the ovary. (Primary and secondary oocytes are explained in Figure 27.19 on p. 1091.)

The Female Duct System

4. The uterine tube, supported by the mesosalpinx, extends from near the ovary to the uterus. Its fimbriated and ciliated distal end creates currents that help move an ovulated oocyte into the uterine tube. Cilia of the uterine tube mucosa help propel the oocyte toward the uterus. 5. The uterus has fundus, body, and cervical regions. It is supported by the broad, lateral cervical, uterosacral, and round ligaments. 6. The uterine wall is composed of the outer perimetrium, the myometrium, and the inner endometrium. The endometrium consists of a functional layer (stratum functionalis), which sloughs off periodically unless an embryo has implanted, and an underlying basal layer (stratum basalis), which rebuilds the functional layer. 7. The vagina extends from the uterus to the exterior. It is the copulatory organ and allows passage of the menstrual flow and a baby.
FIGURE 27.14 Internal reproductive organs of a female. (a) Posterior view of the female reproductive organs. The posterior walls of the vagina, uterus, and uterine tubes and the broad ligament (a peritoneal fold) have been removed on the right side to reveal the shape of the lumen of these organs

(b) Anterior view of the reproductive organs of a female cadaver. (See A Brief Atlas of the Human Body, Figure 75.)

FIGURE 27.15 The endometrium and its blood supply. (a) Photomicrograph of the endometrium, longitudinal section, showing its functionalis and basalis regions (35). (b) Diagrammatic view of the endometrium, showing the straight arteries that serve the stratum basalis and the spiral arteries that serve the stratum functionalis. The thin-walled veins and venous sinusoids are also illustrated

The External Genitalia

8. The female external genitalia (vulva) include the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris, and the urethral and vaginal orifices. The labia majora house the mucus-secreting greater vestibular glands.

FIGURE 27.16 The external genitalia (vulva) of the female. (a) Superficial structures. The region enclosed by the dashed lines is the perineum. (b) Deep structures. The labia majora and associated skin have been removed to show the underlying erectile bodies. For the associated superficial muscles, see Figure 10.12 on p. 351.

The Mammary Glands

9. The mammary glands lie over the pectoral muscles of the chest and are surrounded by adipose and fibrous connective tissue. Each mammary gland consists of many lobules, which contain milk-producing alveoli.

Physiology of the Female Reproductive System

Oogenesis
1. Oogenesis, the production of eggs, begins in the fetus. Oogonia, the diploid stem cells of female gametes, are converted to primary oocytes before birth. The infant females ovaries contain about 2 million primary oocytes arrested in prophase of meiosis I. This view of limited oocyte potential is now being questioned. 2. At puberty, meiosis resumes. Each month, one primary oocyte completes meiosis I, producing a large secondary oocyte and a tiny first polar body. Meiosis II of the FIGURE 27.19 Events of oogenesis. Left, flowchart of meiotic secondary oocyte events. Right, correlation with follicle development and ovulation in produces a functional the ovary ovum and a second polar body, but does not occur unless the secondary oocyte is penetrated by a sperm. 3. The ovum contains most of the primary oocytes cytoplasm. The polar bodies are nonfunctional and degenerate.

The Ovarian Cycle

4. During the follicular phase (days 114), several primary follicles begin to mature. The follicle cells proliferate and produce estrogens, and a connective tissue capsule (theca) is formed around the maturing follicle. Generally, only one follicle per month completes the maturation process and protrudes from the ovarian surface. Late in this phase, the oocyte in the dominant follicle completes meiosis I. Ovulation occurs, usually on day 14, releasing the secondary oocyte into the peritoneal cavity. Other developing follicles deteriorate. 5. In the luteal phase (days 1528), the ruptured follicle is converted to a corpus luteum, which produces progesterone and estrogen for the remainder of the cycle. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates after about ten days. FIGURE 27.20 Schematic view of the ovarian cycle: development and fate of ovarian follicles. The numbers on the diagram indicate the sequence of events in follicle development, not the movement of a developing follicle within the ovary 1. Primordial follicle containing a primary oocyte surrounded by flattened cells 2. A primary follicle containing a primary oocyte surrounded by cuboidal follicle cells. 4. The growing primary follicle, which is secreting estrogen as it continues to mature 5. The secondary follicle with its forming antrum 6. The mature vesicular follicle, ready to be ovulated. Meiosis I, producing the secondary oocyte and first polar body, occurs in the mature follicle 7. The ruptured follicle and ovulated secondary oocyte surrounded by its corona radiata of granulosa cells 8. The corpus luteum, formed from the ruptured follicle under the influence of LH, produces progesterone (and estrogens) 9. The scarlike corpus albicans

Hormonal Regulation of the Ovarian Cycle

6. Beginning at puberty, the hormones of the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, and ovaries interact to establish and regulate the ovarian cycle. Establishment of the mature cyclic pattern, indicated by menarche, takes about four years. 7. The hormonal events of each ovarian cycle are as follows: (1) GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to release FSH and LH, which stimulate follicle maturation and estrogen production. (2) When blood estrogen reaches a certain level, positive feedback exerted on the hypothalamicpituitary axis causes a sudden release of LH that stimulates the primary oocyte to continue meiosis and triggers ovulation. LH then causes conversion of the ruptured follicle to a corpus luteum and stimulates its secretory activity. (3) Rising levels of progesterone and estrogen inhibit the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, the corpus luteum deteriorates, ovarian hormones drop to their lowest levels, and the cycle begins anew.

FIGURE 27.21 Feedback interactions in the regulation of ovarian function. Numbers refer to events listed in the text. Events that follow step 8 (negative feedback inhibition of the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary by progesterone and estrogens) are not depicted, but involve a gradual deterioration of the corpus luteum and, therefore, a decline in ovarian hormone production. Ovarian hormones reach their lowest blood levels around day 28

The Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle

8. Varying levels of ovarian hormones in the blood trigger events of the uterine cycle. 9. During the menstrual phase of the uterine cycle (days 15), the functional layer sloughs off in menses. During the proliferative phase (days 614), rising estrogen levels stimulate its regeneration, making the uterus receptive to implantation about one week after ovulation. During the secretory phase (days 1528), the uterine glands secrete glycogen, and endometrial vascularity increases further.

10. Falling levels of ovarian hormones during the last few days of the ovarian cycle cause the spiral arteries to become spastic and cut off the blood supply of the functional layer, and the uterine cycle begins again with menstruation.
FIGURE 27.22 Correlation of anterior pituitary and ovarian hormones with structural changes of the ovary and uterus. The time bar at the bottom of the figure, reading Days 1 to 28, applies to all four parts of this figure (a) The fluctuating levels of pituitary gonadotropins in the blood (FSH = folliclestimulating hormone; LH = luteinizing hormone). These hormones regulate the events of the ovarian cycle (b) The fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones (estrogens and progesterone) that cause the endometrial changes of the uterine cycle. The high estrogen levels are also responsible for the LH/FSH surge in (a) (c) Structural changes in the ovarian follicles during the 28-day ovarian cycle are correlated with (d) changes in the endometrium of the uterus during the uterine cycle (d) The three phases of the uterine cycle: menstrual, proliferative, and secretory. Basically, the first phase is a shedding and the second is a rebuilding of the functional zone of the endometrium. Both of these events occur before ovulation and together they correspond to the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle. The third phase, the secretory phase which begins immediately after ovulation, enriches the blood supply and provides the nutrients that prepare the endometrium to receive an embryo. It corresponds in time to the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle.

Extrauterine Effects of Estrogens and Progesterone

11. Estrogen promotes oogenesis. At puberty, it stimulates the growth of the reproductive organs and the growth spurt and promotes the appearance of the secondary sex characteristics.

12. Progesterone cooperates with estrogen in breast maturation and regulation of the uterine cycle.

Female Sexual Response

13. The female sexual response is similar to that of males. Orgasm in females is not accompanied by ejaculation and is not necessary for conception.