1. REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY: Part One—Female

2. REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY: Part One—Female
Introduction--why is pelvis so hard?
Review—Female Reproductive Organs
Female Orgasm
Making a new human—what it’s all about
Menstrual Cycle
Hormonal Control of Menstruation and Pregnancy

3. Frolich, Human Anatomy, Reproductive Physiology
Why is the pelvis hard
“Private parts” don’t uncover except in most intimate setting (or medical setting!)
Not comfortable seeing or talking about (except jokes)
Now serious-many medical issues
Realize and confront, not dehumanize--develop professional manner and language--starts with anatomy
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Reproductive Physiology

4. Frolich, Human Anatomy, Pelvis I

5. Female reproductive organs
Clitoris, homologous with penis suspended from pubic bone
Bladder with short direct urethral exit just behind pubis
Vaginal opening behind urethra. Vagina is muscular tube
Labia majorum surround clitoris, urethra, vaginal opening
Cervix (neck—”cervical”) of uterus inserts into end of vagina
Oviducts (left, right) bring eggs from ovaries to uterus
Ovaries are site of initial meiosis, where unfertilized eggs are produced

6. The pelvic floor (review)
MUSCULAR FLOOR AND SPHINCHTERS
transverse perineal m.
Anal triangle and urogentical triangle
Levator ani m.
Urogenital diaphragm
MAIN STRUCTURES
Ischial tuberosity
Pubic symphysis
Coccyx
Sacrotuberous ligament
Ischipubic ramus
Perineal body
Anus
External urethral opening
Vaginal opening
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Clitoris or penis
Ischiocavernosus m.
Bulbospongiosus m. (and labia majorum)
Frolich, Human Anatomy, Pelvis I

7. Frolich, Human Anatomy, Pelvis I

8. Frolich, Human Anatomy, Pelvis I

9. Female Orgasm

10. Female Orgasm
Excitement Phase: Clitoris spongy tissue engorge; vaginal secretions; uterus elevates; increased breathing/heart-beat; nipples erect
Plateau Phase: clitoris retracts; vagina expands; labia minora expand and fill with blood
Orgasm Phase: Uterus contracts pushing cervis into vagina; Vagina contracts with rhythmic peristalsis (said to help move sperm in) in conjunction with bulbospongiusus and ishiocavernosus muscles (said to provide intense pleasure sensations)
Resolution Phase: Tension release; uterus and vagina return to usual position; heart/breathing rate drop
Differences from men: No ejaculation; can cycle quickly, or without resolution phase back to plateau and orgasm.

11. Starting a new person—the end game: How are genetic traits combined and passed on from parent to offspring (Basic Bio review)
Meiosis produces gametes or sex cells (eggs and sperm) with just one member of each chromosome pair
Fertilization results in union of female gamete (egg) with male gamete (sperm)
Subsequent embryonic, fetal and embryonic development by mitosis and differentiation of cell types produces new individual

12. Meiosis (Basic Bio Review)
Two nuclear divisions occur to make 4 haploid cells (cells with just one member of each chromosome pair)
Meiosis results in gametes (egg and sperm)
Has 8 phases (4 in each meiosis I & II)

13. Where does meiosis happen?
Meiosis occurs in ovaries
Phase I occurs in fetal ovary
one egg per month (ovulation part of menstrual cycle) matures and bursts from wall of ovary to be taken up into Fallopian tube
Phase II of meiosis occurs the moment the egg is fertilized (if that happens)

14. Ovulation and Meiosis

15. Female menstrual cycle (no pregnancy)

16. Endometrium Two layers
Stratum basalis
Stratum functionalis
Stratum functionalis builds up each month in response to ovarian hormones
Uterine glands secrete glycoproteins--nutrients for potential zygote--into uterine cavity
At menstruation, functional layer self-digests, spiral arteries kink and constrict so cells die.
Just before menstrual flow starts, spiral aa. Open wide, capillaries burst and functional layer sloughs off.

17. Endometrium and menstrual cycle

18. Endometrium and menstrual cycle
Menstrual Phase (Days 1-5): Sloughed Functional layer of endometrium expelled through vagina as menstrua flow
Proliferative phase (Days 6-14): In response to estrogen from growing ovarian follicle, new functional layer elaborates
Ovulation (about Day 14)
Secretory phase (Days 15-28):
Spiral aa. Elongate and coil
Uterine glands secret glycoproteins
More estrogen (and progesterone) from corpus luteum
If pregnancy, secretory phase continues due to embryonic estrogen production
If no pregnancy, corpus luteum degenerates, estrogen drops leading to menstruation

20. If pregnancy occurs (no menstruation)

21. Fertilization and Implantation
Approximately one week to implantation
No growth, just mitosis producing smaller cells
Ectopic pregnancy—fertilized egg implants but not in uterine wall

22. Implantation Endometium ready for implantation
Blastocyst implants with ICM against uterine wall
Ectopic pregnancy--implantation outside built-up endometrium (potential for bleeding since embryo stimulates vascularization)

23. Hormonal Control of Menstruation and Pregnancy

24. Frolich, Human Anatomy, Pelvis I

26. Fig , p. 1063

28. Birth control options