1001NSC Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Ovarian Ligament, Labia Minora, Lamina Propria
20 Jun 2018
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The Female Reproductive System
Functions:
Produces female gametes (oocytes/eggs)
Provides an environment for foetal development
Produces female sex hormones
Ovaries:
Paired female gonads - homologous to testes in males
Lie in upper pelvic cavity lateral to uterus
Held in place by sets of ligaments
Site of gamete (egg/ova) production - oogenesis (production of eggs)
Reproduction Ligaments:
Broad ligaments suspends the uterus from the side wall of pelvis
Mesovarium attaches ovaries to broad ligament
Ovarian ligament anchors each ovary to the uterus
Suspensory ligament attaches ovaries to the pelvic wall
Round ligament attaches ovaries to inguinal cavity
Female reproductive Physiology
Do not continuously produce new gametes throughout life
At birth, ovaries contain all possible oocytes (promary oocytes, each oocyte has stopped in
Prophase I of Meiosis I)
At each central stage: one egg matures and is released from a Graafian follicle
Meiosis II is not completed unless fertilisation occurs (may take up to 45 years)
Oogenesis:
Meiosis in females produces only one functional gamete (not 4, like males)
End result: one functional gamete + three non-viable polar bodies
Maturation of the Ovarial Follicles:
Follicles are embedded in a highly vascularised storm of ovaries
Consist of oocyte (Egg/ovum) and supporting cells
Primordial Follicle (present at birth): consists of primary oocyte enclosed in a single layer of
squamous cells. Makes:
Primary Follicle: FSH stimulates follicular cells to become cuboidal then stratified (become
granulose cells). Makes:
Secondary Follicle: folic has fluid filled cavity (antrum). Makes:
Graafian Follicle: large fluid filled follicle. Follicle bulges from surface of ovary
Ruptures and egg is released
Corpus Luteum: yellow fibrous structure
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Document Summary
Paired female gonads - homologous to testes in males. Lie in upper pelvic cavity lateral to uterus. Site of gamete (egg/ova) production - oogenesis (production of eggs) Broad ligaments suspends the uterus from the side wall of pelvis. Ovarian ligament anchors each ovary to the uterus. Suspensory ligament attaches ovaries to the pelvic wall. Do not continuously produce new gametes throughout life. At birth, ovaries contain all possible oocytes (promary oocytes, each oocyte has stopped in. At each central stage: one egg matures and is released from a graa an follicle. Meiosis ii is not completed unless fertilisation occurs (may take up to 45 years) Meiosis in females produces only one functional gamete (not 4, like males) End result: one functional gamete + three non-viable polar bodies. Follicles are embedded in a highly vascularised storm of ovaries. Primordial follicle (present at birth): consists of primary oocyte enclosed in a single layer of squamous cells.
