Female Reproductive System

summary • ovary: produce ovum & secret steroid hormones. • uterine tube: transport ovum+fertilization • uterus: where embryonic & fetal development occurs. • vagina • external genitalia

一、 ovary • capsule ： epithulium + albuginea. • parenchyma ： cortex + medulla • cortex ： ovarian follicles + CT. • medulla ： LCT + elastic f + blood vessels

ovary

（一） ovarian follicle • Follicle = an oocyte + surrounding follicul cells. • 4 steps : primordial 、 primary 、 secondary and mature follicle 。

1. Primordial follicle • location: beneath the albuginea. • small & more. • primary oocyte + follicul C • primary oocyte : round , eosinophilic.

ovary ovary

Primordial Primordial follicles follicles

Primordial follicle

2. Primary follicle • primary oocyte. • Follicle C→proliferate ， squamous→cuboidal or columnar ， simple→stratified. • Zona pellucida: homogeneous.

Cortex Cortex of of ovary ovary

3. Secondary follicle • Primary oocyte: size increase to the apex. • antrum: follicular fluid, 6 ～ 12 layers of granulosa cells.

Secondary follicle

Follicle C : granulosa C. stratum granulosum ： formed by several granulosa C , the wall. Cumulus oophorus ： primary oocyte + zona pellucida + corona radiata + granulosa C. protruding into the antrum

antrum Cumulus oophorus

Granulosa

cells

4. Mature follicle • secondary follicle→mature follicle • follicular fluid • the wall • move towards the surface of ovary. • primary oocyte →secondary oocyte

Mature Mature follicle follicle

Mature Mature follicle follicle

（二） ovulation • Mature follicle rupture ， secondary oocyte + corona radiata + zona pellucida + follicular fluid, expelled from the follicle.

fate of secondary oocyte after ovulation • In 24h, degenerate and disappear if not fertilizing. • Or else ， go on with the 2nd meiotic division ， form haploid mature ovum.