FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM OVARY UTERINE TUBE CERVIX
FUNCTIONS
• Production, transport, and fertilization of gametes
– OVARY produces oocytes in FOLLICLES – Fertilization occurs in UTERINE TUBE• Gestation of the embryo
– In mammals, the function of the UTERUS
OVARY
• Paired in mammals • Divisible into a CORTEX and a MEDULLA
– Cortex contains developing oocytes – Medulla a CT“core” for routing of BV’s, etc. – Cortex outside medulla in MOST species
• Horses an exception
PARENCHYMA & STROMA
• PARENCHYMA of cortex is the functional tissue
– FOLLICLES in various stages ofdevelopment
• STROMA is the CT investing follicles
– Collagenous fibers continuous with medulla and capsule – Continuation of ovarian medulla
OVARIAN FOLLICLES
• The basic functional unit •Recognizable stages of follicle development • Each contains an oocyte that may or may not develop
– Female mammals born with full complement – Oocytes arrested in 1st meiotic prophase until puberty –500,000 to 2,000,000 in an individual
• Most will never develop at all
FOLLICULAR DEVELOPMENT
• • • • • • • • • PRIMORDIAL follicles PRIMARY follicles SECONDARY follicles PRE-ANTRAL folliclesANTRAL follicles MATURE follicles OVULATION/ATRESIA CORPUS LUTEUM CORPUS ALBICANS
PRIMORDIAL FOLLICLES
• Earliest and most numerous stage
– Oocytes in suspended state
• First meiotic prophase
–Only a few progress beyond this stage
• Located near periphery of cortex • Formed in “nests” from a single oogonium • Surrounded by a single layer of squamous epithelium
1° FOLLICLES
• Atpuberty some begin to develop
– Follicular epithelium becomes simple cuboidal
• Oocyte is still quiescent but may enlarge later in this stage
– As follicular epithelium grows, oocyte produces morecytoplasm
• Follicle as a whole enlarges • Epithelial cells in vicinity begin to develop as theca
2 ° FOLLICLES
• A transitional stage • Follicular epithelium stratifies and becomes…