7.3 – Physiology (Function) of the Female Reproductive System
7.3 – Physiology (Function) of the Female Reproductive System
Ovulation
Following ovulation, the Fallopian tube receives the oocyte. Oocytes lack flagella, and therefore cannot move on their own.
- High concentrations of estrogen that occur around the time of ovulation induce contractions of the smooth muscle along the length of the Fallopian tube.
- These contractions occur every 4 to 8 seconds, causing the oocyte to flow towards the uterus, through the coordinated beating of the cilia that line the outside and lumen of the length of the Fallopian tube, which pulls the oocyte into the interior of the tube.
- Once inside, the muscular contractions and beating cilia move the oocyte slowly toward the uterus.
- When fertilization does occur, sperm typically meet the egg while it is still moving through the ampulla.
Watch this video
Watch the MedLine Plus video Ovulation [Video] to observe ovulation and its initiation in response to the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland.
Media 7.2: Ovulation. From Betts, et al., 2013. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a series of changes the female body goes through monthly to prepare for pregnancy. There are three phases of the menstrual cycle.
- The menses phase of the menstrual cycle is the phase during which reproductive hormone levels are low, the woman menstruates, and the lining is shed. The menses phase lasts between 2 – 7 days with an average of 5 days.
- The proliferative phase is when menstrual flow ceases and the endometrium begins to proliferate. During this phase, reproductive hormones are working in homeostasi to trigger ovulation on approximately day 14 of a typical 28-day menstrual cycle. Ovulation marks the end of the proliferative phase.
- The secretory phase is when the endometrial lining prepares for implantation of a fertilized egg. If no pregnancy occurs within approximately 10- 12 days, the endometrium will grow thinner and shed starting the first day of the next cycle.
Menopause
Menopause is the period of life when a woman will permanently stop having menstrual flows. The menopause is determined after the woman has gone 1 year with no menstruation periods. Menopause is a natural process of a woman growing older. It does not require treatment unless the woman is suffering frequent or severe symptoms. Common menopause symptoms are hot flashes, vaginal dryness, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. Symptoms may improve in the second year after menopause.
Medical Terms in Use
Female Reproductive System Terms Not Easily Broken into Word Parts
Female Reproductive System (Text version)
Practice these female reproductive medical terms that are not easily broken into word parts.
- adenomyosis
- (ad-ĕ-nō-mī-Ō-sis)
- growth of endometrium into the other muscular portion of the uterus
- anovulation
- (an-ov-yŭ-LĀ-shŏn)
- absence of ovulation
- Bartholin’s glands
- (BAR-tō-lĭns glăns)
- Also known as greater vestibular glands they are responsible to secrete mu