The document summarizes the major organs of the female reproductive system. It describes how the ovaries produce eggs and hormones, the fallopian tubes catch eggs and transport them to the uterus, the uterus provides a protective environment for embryo implantation and fetal development, and the vagina is the birth canal. The cervix acts as a passageway during birth and the endometrial lining thickens each month to potentially support implantation of a fertilized egg.
2. Female Reproductive System
Produce sex hormones
Estrogen, Progesterone
Produce egg (ova)
Support & protect developing embryo
Give birth to new baby
4. The Cervix
The lower portion or neck of the uterus.
The cervix is lined with mucus, known as
cervical mucus
Cervical mucus provides lubrication &
sperm transport during sexual intercourse
During ovulation secretion of cervical
mucus increases in response to estrogen
But when an egg is ready for fertilization,
the mucus then becomes thin and slippery,
offering a “friendly environment” to sperm
5. The Cervix
At the end of pregnancy
The cervix acts as the passage
through which the baby exits
the uterus into the vagina.
The cervical canal expands to
roughly 50 times its normal
width for the passage of the
baby during birth
6. The Vagina
A muscular, ridged sheath
connecting the external
genitals to the uterus.
Functions as a two-way street,
accepting the penis and sperm
during intercourse
Serving as the avenue of birth
through which the new baby
enters the world
7. External genetalia
Vulva—which runs from the pubic area downward to the rectum.
Labia majora or "greater lips" are the part around the vagina
containing two glands (Bartholin’s glands) which helps lubrication
during intercourse.
Labia minora or "lesser lips" are
the thin hairless ridges at the
entrance of the vagina, which
joins behind and in front. In front
they split to enclose the clitoris
The clitoris is a small pea-
shaped structure. It plays an
important part in sexual
excitement in females.
8.
9. External genetalia
The urethral orifice or external
urinary opening is below the clitoris
on the upper wall of the vagina and
is the passage for urine
Opening of the vagina is separate
from the urinary opening and
located below it.
The hymen is a thin cresentic fold
of tissue which partially covers the
opening of the vagina. medically it
is no longer considered to be a
100% proof of female virginity.
10. Ovaries
Also known as female gonads
They produce eggs (also
called ova) every female is
born with a lifetime supply of
eggs
They also produce hormones:
Estrogen & Progesterone
11.
12. Fallopian tubes [uterine tubes]
Stretch from the uterus to the ovaries and measure about 8
to 13 cm in length.
The ends of the fallopian tubes lying next to the ovaries
feather into ends called fimbria
Millions of tiny hair-like cilia line the fimbria and interior of
the fallopian tubes.
The cilia beat in waves hundreds of times a second catching
the egg at ovulation and moving it through the tube to the
uterine cavity.
Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tube
13.
14. Uterus
Pear-shaped muscular organ in the female reproductive tract.
The fundus is the upper portion of the uterus where
pregnancy occurs.
The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus that connects
with the vagina and serves as a sphincter to keep the uterus
closed during pregnancy until it is time to deliver a baby.
The uterus expands considerably during the reproductive
process.
The organ grows to from 10 to 20 times its normal size during
pregnancy.
15. Uterus
The main body consists
of a firm outer coat of
muscle (myometrium)
and an inner lining of
vascular, glandular
material (endometrium).
The endometrium thickens during the menstrual cycle to
allow implantation of a fertilized egg.
Pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants
successfully into the endometrial lining.
16. Endometrium
The endometrium is the innermost
layer as a lining for the uterus
During the menstrual cycle, the
endometrium grows to a thick, blood
vessel-rich, glandular tissue layer.
This represents an optimal
environment for the implantation of
a blastocyst upon its arrival in the
uterus.
17. Endometrium
The endometrium is central,
echogenic (detectable using
ultrasound scanners), and has
an average thickness of 6.7
mm.
During pregnancy, the blood
vessels in the endometrium
further increase in size and
number, forming the placenta,
Placenta supplies oxygen and
nutrition to the embryo & fetus.
Editor's Notes
The vagina ends at the cervix, (cervical mucus changes: employed by birth control pills, shots and implants. One of the ways they prevent conception is to render the cervical mucus thick, sparse, and hostile to sperm.)
It was thought to be proof of virginity as it is broken after the first sexual intercourse. However it is stretchable, and may break due to vigorous exercises, cycling, gymnastics or tampon use.Therefore
They are among the first organs to be formed as a female baby develops in the uterus. At the 20-week mark, the structures that will become the ovaries house roughly 6 to 7 million potential egg cells. From that point on, the number begins to decrease rapidly. A newborn infant has between 1 million to 2 million egg cells. By puberty the number has plummeted to 300,000. For every egg that matures and undergoes ovulation, roughly a thousand will fail, so that by menopause, only a few thousand remain. During the course of an average reproductive lifespan, roughly 300 mature eggs are produced for potential conception. The ovaries produce these hormones throughout the fertile period of a woman's life. It is the hormones that control the menstrual cycle. As you get older and menopause approaches, the ovaries make less and less of these hormones and the periods eventually stop altogether. So the normal ovaries cannot usually be felt in a clinical examination except in young, thin women. The ovaries are the main source of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). These hormones control the development of female body characteristics, such as the breasts, body shape, and body hair. They also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. What is estrogen? Estrogen is a group of female sex hormones that stimulate the appearance of secondary female sex characteristics in girls at puberty. Estrogen controls controls the growth of the lining of the uterus during the first part of the menstrual cycle, cause breast development in pregnancy and regulates various metabolic processes.
(4 to 6 inches) = length called fimbria (Latin for "fringes" or "fingers").each tube has about about 20 to 25 Millions of tiny hair-like cilia line the fimbria and interior of the fallopian tubes. The cilia beat in waves hundreds of times a second catching the egg at ovulation and moving it through the tube to the uterine cavity. Other cells in the tube's inner lining or endothelium nourish the egg and lubricate it's path during its stay inside the fallopian tube. Once inside the fallopian tube, the egg and sperm meet and the egg is fertilized. If an egg doesn't become fertilized within 24 to 36 hours after ovulation, it will deteriorate and be removed by the body's immune system like any other dead cell in the body.
Size = 3 in long x2 inch diameter Weighs about 1-1.5 oz Pregnancy – watermelon sized
Endometrium is about 10% of uterus mass – myometrium almost 90% - thin outer coat called perimetrium This cyclic process – the menstrual cycle – results from the interaction between the female reproductive organs and the endocrine system.