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Chapter 4 - Physiology of the Female Reproductive System

from Section 1 - Physiology of Reproduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2021

Edited by
Eliezer Girsh
Eliezer Girsh
Affiliation:
Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon
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Summary

The physiological importance of the female reproductive system is the production of offspring. The female produces gametes that can be fertilized by the male gamete to form the first cell of the offspring. The sequence of events is tightly dependent on the proper functionality of the endocrine system.

Much of the endocrine system is governed by rhythms, some of which are intrinsic, while others are influenced by the environment. Rhythms that are longer than 24 hours, the infradian rhythms, include the seasonal breeding patterns in some animals and the female menstrual cycle. Circadian or 24-hour rhythms include the sleep–wake cycle and the increase in gonadotropin secretion seen at night in adolescents. Finally, cycles of less than 24 hour, the ultradian cycles, include the pulsatile release of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), growth hormone, and prolactin.

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A Textbook of Clinical Embryology , pp. 28 - 55
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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