ANHB1101 Lecture 28: Lecture 28: The Female Reproductive Tract
3 Jun 2018
School
Course
Professor
Lecture 28
Monday, 16 May 2016
8:22 am
The Female Reproductive Tract
Male and Female Reproductive Tract:
• Males
o Produce gametes
o Transport gametes for fertilization
• Females
o Produce gametes
o Transport gametes for fertilization
o Provide a receptacle for fertilization, embryogenesis and foetal
development
o Give birth
o Nurture the newborn (lactation and care)
Female Reproductive Tract:
• Primary sex organs
o Ovary
• Secondary sex organs
o Vagina
o Uterus
o Fallopian tube
o Cervix
Ovaries:
• Don't directly attach to fallopian tubes
• Held in position via ovarian/broad ligament - CT structure
• Ovarian cortex - where all the action takes place
• Ovarian medulla - middle of the ovary, containing lots of CT and is the area
where major blood supply enters
• Function - takes place in the cortex
o Produces gametes
o Synthesises sex steroids (hormones)
Ovarian follicles:
• During ovarian cycle, development of 1-2 follicles in preparation for ovulation
• Follicle goes on to form corpus luteum - produces hormones
• Follicle is not the egg - cellular wall that houses and nurtures oocytes
• Secretes oestradiol (oestrogen) and inhibin in first half of cycle under
stimulation by gonadotrophins
• Different types of follicles - primordial, preantral, antral follicles
• All primordial follicles are formed during foetal life - sit ready and waiting for
ovulation
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• During ovarian cycle, group of follicles are recruited to undergo further
development - maturation of follicles
• When the follicles start to grow and wall becomes thicker they are referred to
a preantral follicle
• Undergoes further development - produces fluid filled space (antrum) - antral
follicle
• 2 cell types making up follicle wall
o Outer cellular layer - thecal cells
• Produced androgen
• Diffuses from thecal layer to granuolsa layer
o Inner cellular layer - granulosa cells
• Aromatase converts androgen into oestradiol
o Both cell types are important in the synthesis of oestradiol - 2 step
hypothesis for oestrogen production
• More development until Graafian (preovulatory) follicle - mature follicle
• Follicle undergoing rapid expansion - lots of proliferation due to rapid cell
growth of follicle wall and accumulation of follicular fluid
• At this point, the follicle moves to the surface of the ovary, protruding out -
ready for ovulation
• Ovulation - cascade of reactions leading to the breakdown of the wall, causing
follicle to burst and oocyte expelled from ovary
Corpus Luteum:
• Remaining cells of follicle differentiate and form corpus luteum
• Differentiation sometimes called luteinisation
• Remaining cells form luteal cells
• Main function - produce progesterone, while still secreting oestradiol and
inhibin
• Very high blood supply
• In absence of pregnancy CL regresses after 10-12 days - scar tissue (corpus
albicans)
Cyclic Changes in Ovarian Activity:
• Gonadotrophins from anterior pituitary gland (LH and FSH)
o Their role is to stimulate follicular growth (ovarian activity)
o Ovulation dependent on surge of LH (preovulatory LH surge)
o Support corpus luteum and progesterone production - support declines if
there is no pregnancy
• Leads to ovarian steroids (oestradiol and progesterone)
o Low oestradiol in first part of ovarian cycle
o Late follicular phase - rise of oestradiol
o Stimulates LH surge
o After ovulation - oestradiol levels fall but are still at a high production
rate
o Progesterone levels rise rapidly after ovulation due to formation corupus
luteum
o As CL dies, progesterone levels fall
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Male and female reproductive tract: males, produce gametes, transport gametes for fertilization, females, produce gametes, transport gametes for fertilization, provide a receptacle for fertilization, embryogenesis and foetal development, give birth, nurture the newborn (lactation and care) Female reproductive tract: primary sex organs, ovary, secondary sex organs, vagina, uterus, fallopian tube, cervix. Corpus luteum: remaining cells of follicle differentiate and form corpus luteum, differentiation sometimes called luteinisation, remaining cells form luteal cells, main function - produce progesterone, while still secreting oestradiol and inhibin, very high blood supply. In absence of pregnancy cl regresses after 10-12 days - scar tissue (corpus albicans) Inner mucosal epithelial lining: ciliated epithelium - facilitate transport of sperm and oocyte, peg cells - secrete substance thought to play a role in early nourishment of embryo. If there is no implantation, loss of support for endometrium (change in hormone level) - breaks down and shed.
