Anatomy of The Female Reproductive System - Assignment Example

Anatomy and Physiology The Female Reproductive System Human Anatomy and Physiology: The Female Reproductive System Part I What are the hormonal and physical changes that occurred in Ambers normal menstrual cycle before she became pregnant? Amber’s normal menstrual cycle normally lasts for 28 days. There is interplay of the ovarian and endometrial histology and hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is the start of the follicular phase. From Day 1, there is a slow increase in estradiol levels due to the maturing follicle in the ovary. On about the 13th day, the luteinizing hormone, together with the follicle-stimulating hormone surges upward with the release of an ovum (ovulation) by day 14. In the ovary, the remnant of the maturing follicle now becomes the corpus luteum after ovulation. This coincides with the plunge in estradiol levels (an estrogen from the follicle) and a slowly rise in progesterone (from the corpus luteum) for the next 14 days which is the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. (Cunningham, FG 2001) 2. Apparently Amber did not use a birth control method. If she had, what options did she have and how do the various methods work? Amber could have tried 1) coitus interruptus, which is withdrawal of the penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation. This is not a particularly reliable method of contraception, as few men have the self-control to correctly practice the method at every single act of sexual intercourse. The most common form of contraceptive is the 2) condom. This consists of a latex sheath placed over the penis of the male and functions as a barrier preventing the sperm from entering the vagina. A female condom is also available and serves for the same purpose. Various 3) abortifacients have been used throughout human history. Some of them are effective, some are not; those that are most effective also have major side effects. The 4) rhythm method was developed in the early 20th century, as researchers discovered that a woman only ovulates once per menstrual cycle. Not until the 1950s were methods of 5) hormonal contraception and modern methods of fertility awareness developed. Combinations of synthetic estrogens and synthetic progesterone’s are commonly used. They function by changing the hormone levels of the menstrual cycle and making the area impossible for implantation of the fertilized egg. Other modern methods are devices which are placed inside the uterus called an 6) intrauterine device or IUD. There are two main types of IUD’s: those that contain copper (which has a spermicidal effect), and those that release a progesterone. The former specifically acts by disrupting the lining of the uterus and makes implantation of the fertilized egg impossible. The later acts by preventing ovulation. Another method is 7) surgical sterilization which is available in the form of tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men. This serves to prevent sperm from joining the unfertilized egg by cutting or knotting the passageways. Unfortunately, this method is permanent. (Cunningham, FG 2001) 3. What are the normal stages of development in a fetus during the first weeks after conception? The fourth week after conception marks the beginning of the embryonic period, when the babys brain, spinal cord, heart and other organs begin to form. On the 5th week, the circulatory system begins to take shape. The fetus’ blood vessels will complete an internal system, and the heart will begin to beat. With these changes, blood circulation begins. At 6 weeks, the fetus’ basic facial features will begin to appear, including an opening for the mouth masses and the auditory canal. The digestive and respiratory systems begin to form as well. Tissue that will become connective tissue, ribs and muscles now develop. Small buds will soon grow into arms and legs. At 7 weeks, the umbilical cord and the placenta are now clearly visible. The cavities and passages needed to circulate spinal fluid in your babys brain have formed. Growth is now rapid, hence from the 8th to the 12th week, the extremities begin to take form, movement is now evident, the baby’s gender may be finally noticed. At the end of this week, the finger and toenail are become visible. (Cunningham, FG 2001) 4. What are the hormonal and physical changes going on in Amber during her pregnancy? What is keeping her from menstruating as normal? After conception, the blastocyst travels the fallopian tube to implant in the endometrial lining. After implantation, the cells of the placenta begin to form a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is also the hormone that prevents ovulation temporarily. The ovaries then respond by preventing menstruation. Part II 1. How does a pregnancy test work? Most pregnancy tests are chemical tests which detect the presence of the minutest amounts of the beta subunit of hCG in the blood or urine. hCG can be detected in urine or blood after implantation, which occurs six to twelve days after fertilization. (Cunningham, FG 2001) When this is detected, the pregnancy test apparatus is designed to show a change in color to indicate the presence of hCG. This is interpreted as a positive pregnancy test. 2. How can we account for Ambers symptoms? Amber’s fatigued or feeling of being more tired than the usual is a pregnancy symptom which can also start as early as the first week after conception. Another symptom Amber felt was nausea or “morning sickness.” This is the effect of the hCG levels that was slowly increasing. This symptom often shows up between 2-8 weeks after conception. She also developed lower backaches which may be due to impending menstruation, stress, other back problems, or physical and/or mental strains. (Cunningham, FG 2001) 3. Can we consider the embryo a parasite in Ambers body?  What prevents Ambers body from rejecting the new tissue developing in her body that is genetically different from her tissues? Amber’s baby is an organism living in her uterine cavity. Since Amber and her baby are of the same species, the relationship which exists between them is not parasitic but an obligatory dependent relationship because the baby derives its nourishment from Amber, who is the mother. The baby developing in the uterine cavity does not usually cause harm to the mother, whereas a parasite is generally harmful to some degree to the host. A unique relationship between the mother and embryo exists that prevents rejection. (Cunningham, FG 2001) Amber’s body produces humoral antibodies which is suppose to reject the embryo, but the trophoblast, which is the jacket of cells surrounding the embryo, blocks the action of these antibodies and therefore the embryo or fetus is not rejected. 4. How much control does the embryo/fetus have over its own development? According to a Text book of Obstetric and Gynecology, the fetus has no control over its development. The development of the fetus per se is solely dependent on the mother. But genetically speaking, the result of the play of genes from the mother and the father dictates the physical, emotional, genetic, and mental characteristics of the fetus. Still, this is not dependent on the fetus itself but from the parents. (Cunningham, FG 2001) Part III 1. How is the sex of an embryo determined, and what happens during the developmental process when the sex organs finally become apparent? Whether the fetus becomes a male or female is determined by the presence or absence of the Y chromosome known as the SRY gene product. It was discovered by studying a human XY female. It turned out that she had a deletion in the Y chromosome that did not allow testis development. Mapping of the deletion allowed isolation and characterization of the gene. The presence in females of two X chromosomes raises the separate issue of gene dosage and in the case of humans this is regulated by inactivating one of the X chromosomes. This determines the sex of the fetus. It is then at the 11th week of gestation that the externals genitals begin to take on their proper gender characteristics. (Cunningham, FG 2001) 2.   Where is the fetal development at the end of the first trimester? At the end of the 11th week of pregnancy, the fetus will increase his or her weight 30 times and will about triple in length. The blood vessels in the placenta grow larger and multiply to make sure the fetus gets enough nutrients. By the end of the first trimester, the fetus’ external genitalia will have developed into a recognizable penis and scrotum or clitoris and labia majora. 3. What are the regulations regarding abortion in your state and what are the medical, religious, and political reasons behind the legislation? The laws of the United States e.g., Massachusetts, do not acknowledge the right of a father to stop the abortion of his own child, but rather places that act solely within the decision of the mother. On the one hand, the father who wants to defend the life of his child is often accused of meddling in something that is not his business. On the other hand, the father who wants to leave the (mistaken) decision of abortion in the hands of the mother alone is often accused of being uncaring and distant. This, in turn, can create feelings of isolation in the mother, which in turn makes it easier for her to resort to abortion. Furthermore, the law being a powerful teacher states that “the father has no rights in the abortion decision.” But the other side of the coin of "rights" is "responsibilities." The current state of the law regarding fathers and abortion can easily foster a sense of irresponsibility in young men. Whether a male has a legal right to advance his personal interest, be it towards abortion, fatherhood, or adoption, over that of the female partner in the relationship differs by region. Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malawi, Morocco, Nicaragua, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates all have laws which require that an abortion first be authorized by the womans husband. However, in some countries, this stipulation can be bypassed or overridden if there is genuine concern for maternal health. Some regions in the United States have enacted laws, which require spousal notification or consent prior to abortion. (Fr. Frank, 2000) 4. Is it appropriate for the physician to raise the issue of abortion? Objectively speaking, definitely yes. The physician who oftentimes knows the complete history of the mother has all the right to raise the issue of abortion. More so if the abortion is indicated by a life-threatening condition for the mother and/or the fetus. Approaching it from the moral point of view, the physician should give an option to the couple based on the existing laws of the religion and the state they are in. (Fr. Frank, 2000) 5. Should the father have any say in the question of abortion? Before birth, the mother and the father together make the decisions about where to live, what doctor to see, what nutrition plan the mother should be on, how they will divide the responsibilities after birth, and much more. Anticipating delivery, the typical father is deeply concerned for the health and safety of both the mother and child. After birth, the father should have the same rights as the mother Assuming the couple is married, they make all the important life decisions together, such as what to name their baby, and where to send the child to school. Its hard to imagine a happier picture than that of a proud father cradling his newborn baby in his arms. Even so in abortion, the father should have the same right in decision making regarding abortion just like all his rights in the aforementioned issues. (Fr. Frank, 2000) In areas where the parents are unmarried or divorced, the courts give certain parental rights to non-custodial fathers. They can spend time with the child, take trips, make decisions about the childs future — and of course pay out the money needed to support the child. References Cunningham, FG, Grant NF, Leveno KJ, Gilstrap LC, Hauth JC, Wenstrom KD, Werner CL, Cox SM, William’s Obstetrics and Gynecology, 21st Ed, 2001, McGraw-Hill Professional Fr. Frank, (2000) Men and Abortion. Retrieved March 19,2008 from http://www.priestsforlife.org/postabortion/casestudyproject.htm Read More