1. The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina. The ovaries produce eggs and female sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone. 2. During the menstrual cycle, hormones cause an egg to mature and be released from an ovary, changing the uterine lining in preparation for potential pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterine lining is shed through menstruation. 3. The major female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone, regulate the development of female secondary sex characteristics and control the menstrual cycle by stimulating the growth of the uterine lining and changes in cervical mucus. Their levels fluctuate during

1. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
9.4 Describe female reproductive System. Functions of ovary and
it’s control; menstrual cycle-hormonal, uterine and
ovarian changes.

2. Phase 1: Preparation of the female
body for conception and pregnancy .
Phase 2: Period of pregnancy itself.

4.  ovaries
 fallopian tubes (also
called uterine tubes)
 uterus
 vagina

5. PHYSIOLOGICAL ANATOMY
OF FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 ovaries
 fallopian tubes (also called uterine
tubes)
 uterus
 vagina

6.  A developing egg (oocyte) differentiates into a mature egg (ovum) through a series of steps
called oogenesis.
 Each primordial ovum then collects around it a layer of spindle cells from the ovarian stroma
(the supporting tissue of the ovary) and causes them to take on epithelioid characteristics;
these epithelioid-like cells are then called granulosa cells.
 The ovum surrounded by a single layer of granulosa cells is called a primordial follicle.

7.  The oogonia in the embryonic ovary complete mitotic replication and the first stage of meiosis
by the fifth month of fetal development. The germ cell mitosis then ceases and no additional
oocytes are formed. At birth the ovary contains about 1 to 2 million primary oocytes.
 During all the reproductive years of adult life, between about 13 and 46 years of age, only 400
to 500 of the primordial follicles develop enough to expel their ova—one each month; the
remainder degenerate (i.e., become atretic).

9. OOGENESIS AND FOLLICULAR
DEVELOPMENT IN OVARIES

11.  Primordial follicle: The stage all follicles are in within the ovaries of a newborn baby
 Primary follicles: A few primordial follicles move into the primary follicle stage every day,
starting in puberty and continuing until menopause
 Secondary follicles: Involves the addition of theca cells, which will secrete hormones
 Tertiary follicles, also known as antral follicles: Follicles that contain a fluid-filled cavity
called the antrum; follicles at this stage are visible via transvaginal ultrasound
 Graafian follicle: A follicle large enough to ovulate; only one or two of the tertiary follicles in
each cycle will mature to ovulation
 Corpus luteum: No longer a follicle anymore; develops from the open follicle that released an
egg

14. S3DMediMagic for Embryology- Oogenesis - Bing video
OVULATION & THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE - Bing
video

16.  At time of birth female child is with millions of
primordial follicle.
 Throughout childhood granulosa cells
surrounding the ovum provide the
nourishment and secrete oocyte maturation
inhibiting factor, keeping the primordial
follicle arrested in prophase stage of 1st meiotic
dvn.
 At Puberty FSH and LH secretion starts,
accelerated growth of primary follicle each
month starts, Theca layers develop and start
secreting Estrogen and Progesterone.

17.  Granulosa cells under influence of FSH secretes follicular
fluid present in antrum .
 There is accelerated growth of the follicles by the
following mechanisms:
 Estrogen in follicle increases FSH receptors leading to
increased pituitary FSH.
 Pituitary FSH and estrogen together promote LH
receptors, thus lead to LH surge.
 Only one follicle matures rest become atretic.
 Ovulation occurs at around 14th days after the onset of
menstrual cycle. Ovum with corona radiata released.
 Under the influence of LH, progesterone is secreted by
the theca and granulosa cells.

18. Video: Ovulation - Mayo Clinic

20.  After ovulation, theca interna and
granulosa cell change into luten cells.
 Luten cells enlarge and become filled
with lipid process k/a Luetenization
forming Corpus Luteum.
 Corpus Luteum secret sex hormones
e.g. Estrogen and Progesterone.
 If no fertilization , it gets converted to
Corpus albicans

21.  Menstrual
 Proliferative
 Secretory

24.  Estrogen makes the cervical
mucus thin and alkaline, fern
pattern of smear.
 Progesterone makes it thick,
tenacious and cellular.
 Estrogen makes the vaginal
epithelium cornified.

25.  Estrogen – Estradiol
 Promotes proliferation and growth of specific cells and secondary
sexual characteristics of female
 Progestins – Progesterone
 Prepares the uterus for pregnancy and the breasts for lactation

26.  In nonpregnant female , estrogen is secreted by ovaries.
 In pregnant female it is secreted by placenta
Types: β-estradiol, estrone, and estriol
 The estrogenic potency of β-estradiol is 12 times that of estrone and 80 times that
of estriol.

27.  In nonpregnant female , progesterone is secreted by corpus luteum.
 In pregnant female it is secreted by placenta, after 4 months of gestation
Types: Progesterone, 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone
 The estrogenic potency of β-estradiol is 12 times that of estrone and 80 times that
of estriol.

30.  Estrogens and Progesterone are transported in the Blood Bound to Plasma Proteins.
Metabolism of Estrogen:
 The liver conjugates the estrogens to form glucuronides and sulfates, and about one fifth of
these conjugated products is excreted in the bile; most of the remainder is excreted in the
urine.
 Liver converts the potent estrogens estradiol and estrone into the almost totally impotent
estrogen estriol.
 Diminished liver function increases the activity of estrogens in the body, sometimes causing
hyperestrinism.

31.  Within a few minutes after secretion, almost all the progesterone is degraded to other
steroids that have no progestational effect.
 Liver is the major site for degradation. The major end product of progesterone
degradation is pregnanediol. About 10 percent of the original progesterone is excreted
in the urine in this form.

32. Development of
female reproductive
system.
Development of
female secondary
sexual
characteristics
Stimulation of
proliferative phase of
endometrium
Estrogens Increase
Body Metabolism
and Fat Deposition
Cardioprotective role
Inhibit osteoclastic
activity in the bones
and stimulates bone
growth

33.  The ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina all increase several times in size. External genitalia
enlarge, with deposition of fat in the mons pubis and labia majora and enlargement of the labia
minora.
 Estrogens change the vaginal epithelium from a cuboidal into a stratified type, which is considerably
more resistant to trauma and infection than is the prepubertal cuboidal cell epithelium.
 Estrogens cause marked proliferation of the endometrial stroma and greatly increased development of
the endometrial glands, which will later aid in providing nutrition to the implanted ovum.

34.  Estrogens cause the glandular tissues of mucosal lining of fallopian tube to proliferate.
 Increases the number of ciliated epithelial cells that line the fallopian tubes
 Also, activity of the cilia is considerably enhanced. These cilia always beat toward the
uterus, which helps propel the fertilized ovum in that direction.

35.  Estrogens cause:
1. development of the stromal tissues of the breasts,
2. growth of an extensive ductile system, and
3. deposition of fat in the breasts. The lobules and alveoli of the breast
develop to a slight extent under the influence of estrogens alone, but it is
progesterone and prolactin that cause the ultimate determinative growth
and function of these structures.

36.  Estrogens inhibit osteoclastic activity in the bones and therefore stimulate bone
growth.development.
 Estrogens cause uniting of the epiphyses with the shafts of the long bones.
 After menopause, almost no estrogens are secreted by the ovaries. This estrogen
deficiency leads to:
 (1) increased osteoclastic activity in the bones
 (2) decreased bone matrix, and
 (3) decreased deposition of bone calcium and phosphate
 In some women this effect is extremely severe, and the resulting condition is
osteoporosis.

37.  Increase the whole-body metabolic rate
 Cause deposition of increased quantities of fat in the subcutaneous tissues, addition to
deposition of fat in the breasts and subcutaneous tissues, estrogens cause the deposition of fat
in the buttocks and thighs, which is characteristic of the feminine figure.
 Estrogens cause a slight increase in total body protein.

38. ON SKIN
 Estrogens cause the skin to develop a texture that is soft and usually smooth.
 Estrogens also cause the skin to become more vascular, which is often associated with increased
warmth of the skin and also promotes greater bleeding of cut surfaces than is observed in men.
 ON ELECTROLYTE
 Estrogens, like aldosterone and some other adrenocortical hormones, cause sodium and water
retention by the kidney tubules.
 During pregnancy the tremendous formation of estrogens by the placenta may contribute to body fluid
retention.

39. FUNCTIO
NS OF
PROGEST
ERONE
ON UTERUS
 Progesterone Promotes Secretory Changes in the Uterus.
 Progesterone decreases the frequency and intensity of uterine
contractions, thereby helping to prevent expulsion of the implanted
ovum.
ON FALLOPIAN TUBE
 Promotes increased secretion by the mucosal lining of the fallopian
tubes. These secretions are necessary for nutrition of the fertilized,
dividing ovum as it traverses the fallopian tube before implantation.
ON BREASTS
 Progesterone promotes development of the lobules and alveoli of the
breasts, causing the alveolar cells to proliferate, enlarge, and
become secretory.
 Progesterone also causes the breasts to swell. Part of this swelling
is due to the secretory development in the lobules and alveoli, but
part also results from increased fluid in the tissue.

42.  Fertilization - Bing video

43.  Describe in detail the physiological functions of Testosterone.
 Explain with the help of diagram the feedback mechanism of hypothalamic-
pituitary-gonadal axis.
 Discuss in detail the female sex hormones.