Reproductive System

Anatomy of the breast

Breast
 Granular Tissue for milk production
 Connect Tissue for support
 Adipose Tissue for cushion

Areola
 Montgomery’s tubercles for lubrication

Nipple
 15-20 Lactiferous duct openings

Structure of the Uterus

 Reproductive System

Multiple cycles working simultaneously

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary cycle
Ovarian cycle
Endometrial (menstrual) cycle
 Reproductive System

Control of the Female Reproductive Complex  Ovaries - Estrogen, progesterone

 Hypothalamus  Pituitary  Ovary - H-P-O Elevations of Estrogen and Progesterone

(or H-P-A axis) inhibit GnRH
 Hypothalamus - GnRH
 Anterior Pituitary - FSH, LH
 Reproductive System

Anterior Pituitary
 FSH –Follicle Stimulating Hormone - Stimulates the follicle (which houses the eggs) to grow and mature
 LH-Luteinizing Hormone - After ovulation, converts the empty follicle into the corpus luteum and
supports this structure (which in turn supports an early pregnancy until the placenta forms)

Primary Female Hormones

Estrogens - 3 predominant
 Estradiol - available only during reproductive years
 Estriol - available only during pregnancy
 Estrone - the estrogen of menopause

Progesterone - The hormone of pregnancy

Prostaglandins
 PGE: vasodilatory; smooth muscle relaxant
 PGF: vasoconstrictive; smooth muscle contractor

Ovarian Cycle

Follicular Phase (days 1-14) - Growth of follicle

from primary to mature
 LH surge -> Release of the egg
 Estrogen dominance
 Variable

Luteal Phase (days 15-28) - Conversion of empty

follicle into the corpus luteum
 Progesterone dominance
 Relatively constant (average 14 days)
 Reproductive System

Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle

Ischemic/Menstrual Phase (bleed)

Proliferative Phase - Estrogen dominance
Secretory Phase
 Progesterone dominance
 Ready for EGG

If no pregnancy  Menstrual Phase again

Menstrual Cycle Length

Where would ovulation most likely occur for each cycle length?

Putting it all together