The document summarizes key aspects of human female physiology related to the reproductive system. It describes the anatomy of the female reproductive organs including ovaries, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands. It explains the ovarian cycle, including follicle development and hormone regulation. The uterine cycle is also summarized, along with the hormonal control of both cycles during a normal menstrual period. Fertilization effects on hormone production and pregnancy maintenance are outlined. Finally, it briefly discusses female sexual behavior, fertility, pregnancy, and common contraception methods.

1. Physiology of Female
reproductive system
Dr. Ehsan Saboory
Professor of Physiology
Dep. of physiology, Faculty of medicine, Urmia
University of medical scinces

2. Anatomy of Female
Reproductive System
• Female reproductive organs
• Ovaries
• Uterine tubes
• Uterus
• Vagina
• External genital organs
• Mammary glands

3. Uterus, Vagina, Uterine Tubes,
Ovaries and Supporting Ligaments

4. Ovary Histology

5. Physiology of the Female
Reproductive System
• Oogenesis (meiosis in females)
• Follicle Development
• each month one follicle develops into a
secondary oocyte released via ovulation
• ca. 500 released during reproductive life
(from a potential 400,000 primary
oocytes)

6. Maturation of Follicle and Oocyte

8. Ovarian Cycle - Follicular Phase
• Ovarian follicle (immature oocyte - actual cell
undergoing meiosis)
• surrounding cells: Follicle Cells, after
proliferation into several layers: Granulosa
Cells - connected to oocyte via gap junction
(supply of ions, nutrients & signaling
molecules)
• layer of connective tissue gives rise to Thecal
Cells: synthesize androgens - Granulosa Cells
convert into estrogens, and secretion of
glycoproteins forming Zona Pellucida

9. Ovarian Cycle - Luteal Phase
• After ovulation - Granulosa & Thecal Cells
form Corpus Luteum secreting progesterone
and small amounts of estrogen
• If no fertilization occurs - degeneration after
10 days (corpus albicans)
• If fertilization occurs - embryonal hormones
cause continued secretion of progesterone
for 3 months (then placenta continues
progesterone production)

10. Maturation and Fertilization
of Oocyte

11. Gametogenesis
• Oogenesis
• Results in formation of secondary oocyte
which is released during ovulation
• If no fertilization occurs, meiosis II will not occur.
• Stages of oogenesis
1. Oocytogenesis
– Forms oögonia
– During fetal development starting at week 10 and
completing around birth
– Results in formation of primary oocytes (~1/2 million)
1. Ootidogenesis
– Results in the formation of secondary oocytes
– These are dictyate in prophase I
1. Formation of ovum (if fertilization occurs)

12. The
Basics
Gametogenesis

13. Gender Determination
• Chromosomes determine gender
• 23 donated by egg (n)
• 23 donated by sperm (n)
• Syngamy
• The fusion of gametes to form a zygote
• Consists of
• plasmogamy
– union of cell membranes and cytosol
• Karyogamy
– union of genetic material
– Autosomes: 44 or 22 pair
– Sex chromosomes: 2 or 1 pair
• XX chromosomes = female
• XY chromosomes = male
What happens if karyogamy of sex chromosomes is different?

14. Gender Determination
• Non-disjunction during meiosis I or II
• Monosomy or polyploidy
• XO (no Y chromosome, or second X)
• Turner’s syndrome
– Phonotypical female
What about
YO
monosomy?

15. Gender Determination
• Non-disjunction during meiosis I or II
• Polyploidy
• The incomplete separation of homologues during meiosis results in
a zygote with too many chromosomes
• Regarding the sex chromosomes, it may be
– XXY (47 chromosomes total)
• Male sex organs; unusually small testes, sterile. Breast
enlargement and other feminine body characteristics. Normal
intelligence.
– XYY
• Individuals are somewhat taller than average and often have
below normal intelligence. At one time (~1970s), it was thought
that these men were likely to be criminally aggressive, but this
hypothesis has been disproven over time.
• XXYY – male and very rare (48 chromosomes)
– XXX (Trisomy X)
• Individuals are female normal, undistinguishable except for by
karyotype.

16. Gender Determination
• The embryo exhibits gender bipotential
• Around week seven of fetal development the SRY
(Sex-determining Region of Y chromosome) gene
becomes activated
• The SRY directs the bipotential gonads
• The absence of this on the X chromosome causes the gonads
to develop into ovaries
– Ovaries then produce further gender biased hormones
• The presence of this gene and its products causes the gonads to
descend and develop into testes
– Testes then produce further gender biased hormones
– Translocation of the gene to X chromosome results in an XX
individual (genotype) but with XY characteristics (phenotype)

17. Functioning of Female Duct System
• After ovulation ovum is released into peritoneum
• no enclosed connection of ovaries and tubes
• possible entry of pathogens in to cavity – PID: Pelvic
Inflammatory disease
• fimbriae are covered with beating ciliae that sweep the
ovum into the tube
• sometimes fails, ovum lost in peritoneum, possible
ectopic pregnancy - natural abortion
• ovum moved by cilia & muscular contractions along tube -
fertilization

18. Uterus
• Hollow thick-walled organ
• Bulk - smooth muscle in myometrium
• Cervix - narrow neck part - produces mucus via cervical
glands - lubricates the vagina
• cervical mucus changes consistency during cycle (less
viscous in mid-cycle facilitating sperm entry)
• Cervical Cancer (relatively common) Pap smear

19. Vagina
• Highly extensible, hollow organ
• fibroelastic adventitia, smooth muscle, mucosa
• stratified, sqamous epithelium (withstand
mechanical friction)
• release of glycogen - metabolized by vaginal flora
to lactic acid (anaerobic metabolism), pH = 4

20. Mammary Glands
• Present in both sexes (only functional in
females)
• modified sweat glands, part of the
integumentary system
• glandular structure underdeveloped outside
of pregnancy - full development only in late
pregnancy (lactation)
• size in non-pregnant women due to adipose
tissue

21. Mammary Glands
• Organs of milk
production located
within mammae or
breasts

22. Breast Cancer
• Very common: most common cancer in
women ca. 1/8 in developed countries
• Risk factors:
• early onset of menses, late menopause, no
pregnancies or later in life
• genetic predisposition: BRCA1, BRCA2 genes
• 10% of cases
• 70% no risk factor
• yearly mammography early diagnosis

23. Puberty and Menstrual Cycle
• Puberty
• Begins with menarche
or first episode of
menstrual bleeding
• Begins when GnRH
levels increase
• Menstrual Cycle
• About 28 days long
• Phases
• Menses
• Proliferative phase
• Secretory phase
• Menses
• Amenorrhea: Absence of
a menstrual cycle
• Menopause: Cessation of
menstrual cycles

25. Menstrual Cycle

26. Hormone Regulation during
Menstrual Cycle

28. Female Reproductive Physiology
Basics
• The hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis controls the required
physiologic changes that occur both in the ovaries and in the
uterus of the menstrual cycle.
• The Menstrual Cycle
• Duration
• Approximately 28 days (ranges 24 – 35 days)
• Starts with the removal of the endometrium & release of FSH by the
anterior pituitary
• The ovarian cycle
• Development of ovarian follicle
• Production of hormones
• Release of ovum during ovulation
• The uterine cycle
• Removal of endometrium from prior uterine cycle
• Preparation for implantation of embryo under the influence of ovarian
hormones

29. Female Reproductive Physiology
The Cycles
• Three Phases of the Ovarian Cycle
• Follicular phase
• Ovulation phase
• Luteal phase
• Three Phases of the Uterine Cycle
• Menses
• Proliferative Phase
• Secretory Phase
• These ovarian and uterine phases are intimately
linked together by the production and release of
hormones

30. Female Reproductive Physiology
The Cycles
Hormonal
control of the
ovarian cycle

31. Female Reproductive Physiology
The Cycles
Hormonal control of the uterine cycle

32. Female
Reproductive
Physiology
All together

33. Female Reproductive Physiology
Fertilization Effects
• What happens if fertilization occurs?
• Uterine endometrium is maintained by
• First the release of progesterone from the corpus lutem,
• then the release of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which
maintains the corpus luteum until the 7th
week,
• From 7th
week on, the placenta produces progesterone which
continues to maintain the endometrium & the corpus luteum
degenerates
– Placenta also produces estrogen and progesterone which at high
levels blocks GnRH
• Estrogen is also involved in breast development
• Progesterone is also involved in uterine maintenance and
relaxation (prevents premature contractions)
• Placenta also produces hPL (human placental lactogen)
– Implicated in breast development and milk production
• Though determined not the only factor as lack of hPL has no ill
effects
– More important is the role hPL plays in fetal nutrition by altering
maternal glucose and fatty acid metabolism

34. Female Reproductive Physiology
Fertilization Effects
• What changes occur to allow parturition?
• Increasing levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone
(CRH) from the placenta a few weeks prior to delivery
• Early deliveries have been linked to early elevated levels of CRH
• During delivery
– progesterone levels drop off
– Oxytocin levels rise
• Oxytocin receptors on the uterus are upregulated during
gestation
– Inhibin levels increase
• Relax the cervix and ligaments of the pelvis
• Allows for increased stretch of the cervix which triggers
additional oxytocin which triggers stronger uterine contractions
which increase stretch of the cervix which triggers oxytocin
which triggers stronger uterine contractions which increases
stretch of the cervix which increases oxytocin release which
increases uterine contractions which increases stretch on cervix
which….

35. Female Reproductive Physiology
One Possible Outcome

36. Female Reproductive Physiology
Or….

37. Female Sexual Behavior
and Sex Act
• Female sexual behavior
• Depends on
hormones
• Androgens and other
steroids
• Depends on
psychological factors
• Female sex act
• Parasympathetic
stimulation
• Blood engorgement
in clitoris and around
vaginal opening
• Erect nipples
• Mucouslike fluid
extruded into vagina
and through wall

39. Female Fertility and Pregnancy
• Female fertility
• Sperm ejaculated into vagina
during copulation and
transported through cervix and
uterine tubes to ampulla
• Sperm cells undergo
capacitation
• Pregnancy
• Oocyte can be
fertilized up to 24
hours after ovulation
• Sperm cells can be
viable for up to 6 days
in female tract

40. Sperm Cell Movement

41. Changes in Hormones During
Pregnancy

42. Contraception
• Behavioral methods
• Abstinence
• Coitus interruptus
• Rhythm method
• Barrier methods
• Condom
• Diaphragm
• Cervical cap
• Spermicidal agents
• Lactation
• Chemical methods
• Oral contraceptives
• Injections as Depo-
Provera
• Implants
• Morning-after pills
• Surgical methods
• Vasectomy
• Tubal ligation
• Abortions

43. Contraception
• Male: Vasectomy – ambulantory surgery
(permanent sterility)

44. Contraception
• Female: Tubal Ligation

45. Effects of Aging
• Male
• Decrease in size and
weight of testes
• Decrease in sperm
production
• Prostate gland enlarges
and increase in cancer
• Impotence is age-
related
• Decrease in sexual
activity
• Female
• Menopause
• Decrease in size of
uterus and vaginal
wall thins
• Age related increase in
breast, uterine, ovarian
cancer

46. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
STDs
• Most significant cause for reproductive
disorders (incl. Sterility)
• Gonorrhea
• Neisseria Gonorrhea (penicillin, tetracycline)
• Syphilis
• Treponema pallidum (lethal to fetus) (penicillin)
• Chlamydia
• Chlamydia trachomtais (most wide spread STD)
(tetracycline)

47. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
STDs
• Vaginitis (local infection)
• caused by: Trichomonas vaginalis (protozoan,
metronidazol treatment), Gardnerella vaginalis
(bacterium), Candida (fungus, clotrimazol
treatment)
• Genital Warts
• caused by a large group of papilloma viruses
• risk factor for cancer (esp. cervical cancer)
• cryosurgery, laser surgery, alpha interferon

48. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
STDs
• Genital Herpes
• caused by: Herpes Simplex or Epstein-Barr
Virus
• severe malformation of fetus
• latent infection (very wide spread ?)
• difficult treatment (acyclovir)

49. Development of Reproductive
System
• Sex Determination
• Sex Chromosome - Y Chromosome - SRY gene
(transcription factor) initiates testes
development in embryo - production of
androgens relatively high during fetal
development - morphogenesis of male sex
organs - final maturation & development in
puberty
• if SRYabsent (default development as female)
• if any gene leading to final stage is defective
many possible aberrations of sexual
development

50. Sex Determination
• Chromosomal Non-disjunctions cause
sexual abnormalities
• e.g.: XO Turner Syndrome (no ovaries)
• YO lethal in utero
• more than XX: underdeveloped ovaries, limited
fertility, mental retardation (>4X)
• XXY Kleinfelter Syndrome (1/500 males)
sterile
• XYY Normal males

51. Vaginal Cytology in animals
with estrous Cycles
• The vaginal epithelium is responsive to
sex steroids, particularly estrogen, and
undergoes predictable changes through
the cycle in response to changes in blood
concentrations of ovarian hormones.
Rising levels of estrogen cause the vaginal
epithelium to become "cornified" - the
surface cells become large and flattened,
with small or absent nuclei.

53. Proestrus – Estrus – Diestrus
Vaginal Cytology