A & P 102: FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Mammary Glands
• Mammary gland (female breast tissue) has 1-2 dozen lobules, each with its own
mammary duct
o Duct begins at nipple and divides into numerous other ducts ending in blind sacs
called
alveoli
• In non-lactating breast, ducts far outnumber alveoli since alveoli are made up of cells
that can produce milk
• Milk is not produced during pregnancy because prolactin is needed for
lactation (milk production) to begin
o Prolactin is suppressed by estrogen and progesterone
• A few days after delivery, milk production begins
o Prior to milk production, breasts produce a watery, yellowish-white fluid
called colostrum which has a similar composition to milk but has a higher
concentration of protein
, A & P 102: FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Internal view of a mammary gland,
with the
lobules highlighted in blue.
Oogenesis
• Oogenesis is the production of eggs in the ovaries that occurs during development
of fetus in womb and is complete by time of birth
o Therefore, at the time of birth a female has all the immature eggs that she can
, A & P 102: FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
later ovulate during her reproductive lifetime which extends from puberty to
about her 50th year of life
o End of female reproductive lifetime is known as menopause
• Female stem cells, known as oogonia, undergo mitotic division into two daughter cells
known as primary oocytes
o Primary oocytes are covered by follicles, known as primary follicles
▪ This process is completed by birth
• Anterior pituitary gland starts to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) when
a female reaches puberty
o FSH causes a few follicles to mature each month
• Primary oocyte in follicle undergoes its first meiotic division into two daughter cells: the
secondary oocyte and the first polar body
o A polar body is produced so that the chromosomes divide properly, but all the
cytoplasm is “donated” from polar body to the secondary oocyte in case of
fertilization
o It takes tremendous amounts of cellular energy to sustain life during the first
several cell divisions, so the secondary oocyte needs to support as much of the
cell contents as possible
• If secondary oocyte is united with sperm after ovulation, the second meiotic division
occurs,
which produces a second polar body and an ovum with 23 chromosomes
STUDY GUIDE
Mammary Glands
• Mammary gland (female breast tissue) has 1-2 dozen lobules, each with its own
mammary duct
o Duct begins at nipple and divides into numerous other ducts ending in blind sacs
called
alveoli
• In non-lactating breast, ducts far outnumber alveoli since alveoli are made up of cells
that can produce milk
• Milk is not produced during pregnancy because prolactin is needed for
lactation (milk production) to begin
o Prolactin is suppressed by estrogen and progesterone
• A few days after delivery, milk production begins
o Prior to milk production, breasts produce a watery, yellowish-white fluid
called colostrum which has a similar composition to milk but has a higher
concentration of protein
, A & P 102: FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Internal view of a mammary gland,
with the
lobules highlighted in blue.
Oogenesis
• Oogenesis is the production of eggs in the ovaries that occurs during development
of fetus in womb and is complete by time of birth
o Therefore, at the time of birth a female has all the immature eggs that she can
, A & P 102: FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
later ovulate during her reproductive lifetime which extends from puberty to
about her 50th year of life
o End of female reproductive lifetime is known as menopause
• Female stem cells, known as oogonia, undergo mitotic division into two daughter cells
known as primary oocytes
o Primary oocytes are covered by follicles, known as primary follicles
▪ This process is completed by birth
• Anterior pituitary gland starts to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) when
a female reaches puberty
o FSH causes a few follicles to mature each month
• Primary oocyte in follicle undergoes its first meiotic division into two daughter cells: the
secondary oocyte and the first polar body
o A polar body is produced so that the chromosomes divide properly, but all the
cytoplasm is “donated” from polar body to the secondary oocyte in case of
fertilization
o It takes tremendous amounts of cellular energy to sustain life during the first
several cell divisions, so the secondary oocyte needs to support as much of the
cell contents as possible
• If secondary oocyte is united with sperm after ovulation, the second meiotic division
occurs,
which produces a second polar body and an ovum with 23 chromosomes
