1. Chapter 17
Female Reproduction

2. The Female Reproductive System Produces Eggs and Nurtures the Embryo and Fetus

3. FIGURE 17.6a
The female reproductive system

4. FIGURE 17.6b
The female reproductive system

5. TABLE 17.3
REVIEW OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

6. Female Reproductive System
Ovaries: release oocytes and secrete the hormones estrogen and progesterone
Oviduct (a.k.a., Fallopian Tube)
After ovulation eggs enter oviduct
Site where fertilization occurs
Site of ectopic pregnancy

9. Female Reproductive System
Uterus: the organ where fertilized egg grows and develops
Layers
Endometrium: supports fertilized egg, sloughs off during menstrual flow
Endometriosis: ectopic growth outside uterus
Myometrium: Thick muscular layer, expands during pregnancy & responsible for labor contractions during childbirth
Cervix: the narrow opening in the lower part of the uterus that permits sperm to enter the uterus

10. True / False
Fertilization normally takes place in the uterus.

11. True / False
Implantation of the embryo normally occurs in the oviduct.

12. The Ovarian Cycle
Purpose:
Egg production and ovulation

13. FIGURE 17.8
The ovarian cycle. A follicle does not move around the ovary during its development, as depicted here. The steps indicate the sequence of events that occurs in a single place in the ovary during the approximately 28-day cycle.

14. Mature (Graafian) Follicle

15. The Menstrual Cycle
The ovarian and uterine cycles are coordinated by hormones
Estrogen, Progesterone
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

16. Menstrual Cycle: Ovarian Cycle
Ovarian Cycle: oocytes mature and are released
Follicle develops under the influence of FSH
Follicle produces increasing estrogen
(Graafian) Follicle matures & produces lots of estrogen
Increasing estrogen causes surge of LH (positive fdbk) which induces ovulation
Corpus luteum (CL) formed from follicle, large amounts of progesterone secreted
CL degenerates and progesterone declines

17. FIGURE 17.9
The ovarian and uterine cycles are coordinated by the interplay of hormones from the anterior pituitary gland and the ovary. The timing of events shown is for a 28-day cycle.

18. Ovarian follicles Are stimulated to develop by FSH
Contain a single egg
Secrete estrogen
Release an egg during ovulation

19. Menstrual Cycle: Uterine Cycle
Uterine cycle: prepares uterus for pregnancy
Menstrual phase (days 1-5): Progesterone levels decline → endometrial lining degenerates → menstruation occurs
Proliferative (follicular) phase (days 6-14): Estrogen increases → causes endometrial lining to proliferate
Ovulation (day 14): Induced by high estrogen & LH
Luteal phase: Corpus luteum produces progesterone (and estrogen) → endometrium proliferates further to prepare for implantation

20. FIGURE 17.9
The ovarian and uterine cycles are coordinated by the interplay of hormones from the anterior pituitary gland and the ovary. The timing of events shown is for a 28-day cycle.

21. Table: 17-T05
Title:
Ovarian and uterine cycles.
Caption:

22. Hormonal Control of Endometrium & Menstrual Bleeding

23. TABLE 17.4
REVIEW OF HORMONES INVOLVED IN THE REGULATION OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE PROCESSES

24. FIGURE 17.9
The ovarian and uterine cycles are coordinated by the interplay of hormones from the anterior pituitary gland and the ovary. The timing of events shown is for a 28-day cycle.

25. The Corpus Luteum Develops from the ovarian follicle after ovulation
Secretes progesterone and estrogen
Prepares the uterine endometrium for embryo implantation

26. Maintenance of Menstrual Cycle
Positive and negative feedback of steroid hormones on the pituitary
Positive feedback
At the end of follicular growth phase, increasing (i.e., very high) estrogen levels cause surge in LH
Negative feedback
In both follicular and luteal phases, steady (but lower) levels of estrogen and progesterone inhibit LH and FSH release

27. Figure 16.8

28. Mammalian Egg with Sperm
Human Egg with Sperm
Zona Pellucida

31. Pregnancy

32. What if the uterus becomes pregnant?
Sloughing of endometrium would be disastrous for a newly implanted embryo
Constant supply of progesterone from corpus luteum (CL) is necessary to maintain endometrium

33. hCG Saves the Embryo
Newly implanted embryo secretes hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which prolongs the lifespan of CL
CL continues to secrete progesterone which maintains endometrium (and hence fetus)

34. hCG is the basis of pregnancy test
hCG is specific (unique) to pregnancy
The presence of hCG in blood or urine is the basis of a positive test for pregnancy.

35. The protein hormone that rescues the CL and is the basis of the pregnancy test
Relaxin
hCG
Estrogen
FSH

36. Menopause ends a woman’s reproductive ability
Main Hypothesis
Ovaries become depleted of eggs

38. Infertility: Inability to Conceive
Many causes of infertility
Number and quality of sperm, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis
Enhancing fertility
Options: artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, GIFT and ZIFT, fertility enhancing drugs, surrogate mothers