The Female Reproductive System Fallopian tube Ovary Uterus Cervix Urinary bladder Rectum The main function of the female reproductive system is to produce ova. The ovaries are the main organs of the female reproductive system. Egg Development  Each ovary contains about 400,000 primary follicles, which are clusters of cells surrounding a single egg. The follicle helps an egg mature for release into the reproductive tract, where it can be fertilized. Eggs develop within their follicles. When a follicle has matured, its egg is released in a process called ovulation. The follicle breaks open, and the egg is swept from the ovary into one of the two Fallopian tubes. While in the Fallopian tube, an egg can be fertilized. After a few days, the egg passes from the Fallopian tube into the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized it passes through the cervix, and finally out of the vagina. The vagina leads to the outside of the body. Pubic bone Vagina Urethra Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall

Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall Egg Development  MEIOSIS forms the eggs (ova) Each ovary contains about 400,000 primary follicles, which are clusters of cells surrounding a single egg. The follicle helps an egg mature for release into the reproductive tract, where it can be fertilized. Eggs develop within their follicles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw tFYOLFeNw Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall

Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall When a follicle has matured, its egg is released in a process called ovulation. The follicle breaks open, and the egg is swept from the ovary into one of the two Fallopian tubes. While in the Fallopian tube, an egg can be fertilized. After a few days, the egg passes from the Fallopian tube into the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized it passes through the cervix, and finally out of the vagina. The vagina leads to the outside of the body. Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall

Secondary Sexual Characteristics - Female Induced by increased LH, FSH, estrogen, and progesterone hormone levels Pubic hair Widen pelvis Enlarge mammary tissue (breasts) Begin menstrual cycles Mrs. Degl

Female Reproduction Hormones

Woman’s Cycle Day 1 – Menstruation begins (bleeding) Day 5 – Menstruation is usually ended Day 14 – Ovum has matured and bursts out of the ovary Day 15 – After 24 hours the egg is done Day 26 – In the absence of fertilization, estrogen/progesterone levels drop and the endometrium lining breads down Day 28 – Menstruation begins again.

TIME LINE: Ages 9-12 Ages 11-14 Late 20-30's Ages 45-55 Secondary sex characteristics appear Ages 11-14 Menstrual cycle begins Late 20-30's Peak sexual urges Ages 45-55 Menopause (cycle stops, but sex urge continues)

Human Menstrual Cycle Feedback – the production of one hormone influences the production of other hormones, either in a positive or negative feedback

Feedback Mechanism A Feedback Mechanism – is when the production of one hormone influences the production of other hormones, either in a positive or negative feedback The endocrine system uses a Feedback Mechanism to regulate the amount of hormones or chemical messages in the blood. This is basically a way of turning on or off the production of hormones in the body and maintaining Homeostasis or a steady state. When levels of one hormone or any chemical in the blood are to high or low it will trigger another hormone to be produced to help balance the chemical or hormone that is off.

Menstrual Cycle Terms Menstruation – The body sheds the lining of the uterus (womb). Menstrual blood flows from the uterus through the small opening in the cervix and passes out of the body through the vagina Most menstrual periods last from 3 to 5 days. Follicle - In the female reproductive system, an ovarian follicle is a fluid- filled sac that contains an immature egg, or oocyte During ovulation, a mature egg is released from a follicle. While several follicles begin to develop each cycle, normally only one will ovulate an egg. The follicles that do not release a mature egg disintegrate and this can happen at any stage of follicular development. This is known as atresia. About 99% of ovarian follicles will disintegrate and never become mature enough to release/ovulate an egg. Corpus Luteum - yellow hormone-secreting body in the female reproductive system. It is formed in an ovary at the site of a follicle, or sac, that has matured and released its ovum, or egg,

Follicular Phase During the follicular phase, an egg follicle on an ovary gets ready to release an egg. Usually, one egg is released each cycle. This process can be short or long and plays the biggest role in how long your cycle is. At the same time, the uterus starts growing a new endometrium to prepare for pregnancy. The last 5 days of the follicular phase, plus ovulation day, are your fertile window. This is when you are most likely to become pregnant if you have sex without using birth control.

Luteal Phase This phase starts on ovulation day, `the day the egg is released from the egg follicle on the ovary. It can happen any time from Day 7 to Day 22 of a normal menstrual cycle. During ovulation, some women have less than a day of red spotting or lower pelvic pain or discomfort (mittelschmerz). These signs of ovulation are normal. If the egg is fertilized by sperm and then implants in (attaches to) the endometrium, a pregnancy begins. (This pregnancy is dated from Day 1 of this menstrual cycle.) If the egg is not fertilized or does not implant, the endometrium begins to break down.

Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall The Menstrual Cycle Ovulation The menstrual cycle is divided into four phases. Notice the changes in hormone levels in the blood, the development of the follicle, and the changes in the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle. Copyright Pearson Prentice Hall

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Female Reproductive System Eggs mature in the ovaries Move from ovary through fallopian tube (oviduct) to uterus

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Fertilization When sperm and egg unite, zygote is formed Only one sperm can penetrate the egg Enzymes at tip of sperm allow it to penetrate egg’s outer covering Fertilization occurs in fallopian tubes

Fertilization Zygote immediate starts dividing

Internal Development Placenta – connects mother to fetus Nutrients and wastes are exchanged Blood NEVER mixes Amniotic sac – filled with fluid Fetus is enclosed in sac