Lecture 42: What are the functions
of the female reproductive system?
• Female Reproductive System
Overview
• Ovary
• Follicles, Corpus Luteum
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Meiosis (male vs. female)
• Oogonia Number & Female Age
• Fallopian Tube (Oviduct)
• Uterus
• Endometrium & Myometrium
• Endometriosis
• Mammary Glands
• Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Dr. Casey Self, Biol. 118, Autumn 201
Compare the female reproductive system to a male:
Gonad, Ducts, Accessory Sex Glands & External Genitalia
Fallopian tube or Oviduct
Lesser Vestibular glands
Blausen.com 2014
“Nurse” cells
How does an ovary
differ from a testis?
What are the major changes
during a monthly ovarian cycle?
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/c
hapter28/animation__maturation_of_the_follicle_and_oocyte.html
https://online.science.psu.edu/biol141_wc/node/7617
What is PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)?
Most common endocrine disorder in women (10%)
Strong genetic component
Ovary produces excess androgens  facial hair, acne
Ovulation fails, cysts form in ovary  infertility
Jayasena & Franks, 2014
Compare meiosis of egg & sperm.
How & who do these events differ from mitosis?
Homologs “pair” & cross-over occurs
Synapsis
Gamete formation in male
Diploid (2N) = 46 chromosomes
Haploid (N) = 23 chromosomes
Synapsis
Gamete formation in female
http://mrsmarsigliano.weebly.com/mitosis--meiosis.html
Animation: unique features of meiosis:
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chapter28/animation__unique_features_of_meiosis.html
Primordial Follicle Population
Why does age affect a woman’s fertility?
Donnez & Dolmans, 2013
What is the design & function of the Fallopian tube?
Ciliated cells – yellow
Cells with microvilli - red
http://www.mmi.mcgill.ca/mmimediasampler/ & http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/311820/view
What is the role of smooth muscle in the uterus?
What is the function of the cervix?
Endometrium has 2 layers:
Uterine glands
 nutrition
for embryo
Endometrium & Myometrium
Stratum
functionalis
Stratum
basalis
Myometrium
http://www.austincc.edu/rfofi/NursingRvw/PhysText/Reproductive.html &
http://www.highlands.edu/academics/divisions/scipe/biology/faculty/harnden/2122/notes/repro.htm
How & why does the uterine
endometrium change in a monthly cycle?
Stratum functionalis grows, glands activate, & then layer regresses
When is the ideal time for embryo implantation?
https://online.science.psu.edu/biol141_wc/node/7617
What is endometriosis? What causes it?
30-40% of women with this have decreased fertility. Why?.
Affects 10% of women in the U.S.
Genetic factors
Immune Rx inflammation
http://www.endofound.org/endometriosis
Compare the functions of the epithelial cells in the alveoli
& the surrounding myoepithelial cells in a mammary gland.
Why is the gland divided into many, small alveoli for milk production?
Nonlactating
Lactate
http://www.austincc.edu/apreview/PhysText/Reproductive.html
http://classes.midlandstech.edu/carterp/Courses/bio211/Chap27/Reproductive_System.html
What are risk factors for the women who get breast cancer?
Howell, et al, 2005
5-7%
20%
Estrogen inhibitors
Howell, A., et. Al. 2005. Mechanisms of disease: prediction and prevention of breast cancer—cellular and molecular interactions. Nature Clinical Practice Oncology 2:635646.
http://www.halls.md/breast/risk.htm
http://www.diseaseriskindex.harvard.edu/update/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=home&quiz=breast
Topics to understand & review:
1.
What structures/organs belong to each of these major divisions of the female
reproductive system: gonad, ducts, external genitalia, accessory sex glands?
2.
Describe these structures in an ovary: primary follicle, mature follicle, corpus
luteum. What is the role of the nurse cells? What happens when an egg ovulates?
3.
How does meiosis differ from mitosis? Compare meiosis of a spermatogonium and
an oogonium. Why does cell size differ? How many mature egg cells can be made
from 1 stem cell that begins meiosis? What are polar bodies?
4.
Graph the # of oogonia in an ovary from birth to menopause. How does this
affect female fertility. Do the spermatogonia numbers follow a similar pattern?
Explain why or why not.
5.
Describe polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). What are known risk factors for it?
How does this affect female fertility?
6.
Describe the Fallopian tube. What is the function of the highly folded lumen?
What is the function of the infundibulum & fimbrae? What is the function of its
smooth muscle contractions? Compare the functions of the ciliated vs & microvilli
covered cells in the Fallopian tube.
More topics….
7.
Describe the design & functions of the myometrium (smooth muscle) &
endometrium layers of the uterus. What is the difference between the
endometrium’s layers: stratus basalis & stratum functionalis?
8.
Explain the growth pattern of the stratum functionalis. When is implantation of
an embryo ideal? What are the functions of the cervix?
9.
What is endometriosis? What do we know about what might cause it? How does
this affect a woman’s fertility?
10. Explain why the lining of the vagina is a stratified squamous epithelium. What are
the benefits of the mucous & acids that it produces?
11. Describe the functions of the 2 types of cells (myoepithelial & epithelial) that form
the alveoli of the mammary glands. Where is smooth muscle tissue located?
When do the alveoli in a mammary gland enlarge?
12. Are the “high penetrance” genes (BRCA 1 & BRCA 2), that confer a high risk of
developing breast cancer, common or rare in the population, overall? What nongenetic factors alter a woman’s “lifetime” estrogen exposure & thus increase a
woman’s risk of developing breast cancer?
Additional Resources
1. Amsterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored 3rd PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. (2012) Consensus on
women's health aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hum Reprod. 27(1):14-24.
2. Blausen.com staff. "Blausen gallery 2014". Wikiversity Journal of Medicine.
DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 20018762.
3. Donnez J & Dolmans M-M. (2013) Fertility preservation in women. Nature Reviews Endocrinology
9:735–749.
4. Endometriosis Foundation of America (2015) What is endometriosis?
http://www.endofound.org/endometriosis
5. Goodarzi MO, Dumesic DA, Chazenbalk G, & Azziz R. (2011) Polycystic ovary syndrome: etiology,
pathogenesis and diagnosis. Nature Reviews Endocrinology 7:219-231.
6. Howell A, et. Al. (2005) Mechanisms of disease: prediction and prevention of breast cancer—cellular
and molecular interactions. Nature Clinical Practice Oncology 2:635-646.
7. Jayasena CN, Franks S. (2014) The management of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Nature
Reviews Endocrinology 10:624–636.
8. Tilly JL, Sinclair DA. (2013) Germline energetics, aging, and female infertility. Cell Metabolism 17(6):838–
850.