NOTES ON FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

1. Prepared by
Ms. Deepali Gupta
Tutor
RCN,JH

2.  The functions of the female reproductive
system are:
 formation of ova
 reception of spermatozoa
 provision of suitable environments for
fertilisation and fetal development
 parturition (childbirth)
 lactation, the production of breast milk,
which provides complete nourishment for the
baby in its early life.

3. w offspring.
 Female reproductive system produces the
female egg cells necessary for reproduction,
called the ova or oocytes.
 The fertilized egg is to implant into the walls
of the uterus, beginning the initial stages of
pregnancy.
 If fertilization and/or implantation does not
take place, the system is designed to
menstruate

7.  Mons Pubis.
 Labia Majora
 Labia Minora.
 Clitoris.
 Vestibule.
 Perineum

9.  Is rounded, soft fullness of subcutaneous
fatty tissue, prominence over the
symphysis pubis that forms the anterior
border of the external reproductive
organs. It is covered with varying amounts
of pubic hair.

10.  The labia Majora are two rounded, fleshy
folds of tissue that extended from the mons
pubis to the perineum.
 It is protect the labia minora, urinary meatus
and vaginal introitus.
 It is covered in pubic hair that serves as
additional protection against harmful
bacteria that may enter the structure

11.  It is located between the labia majora, are
narrow.
 The lateral and anterior aspects are usually
pigmented.
 The inner surfaces are similar to vaginal
mucosa, pink and moist.
 They are rich in vascularity.
 The internal surface is composed of mucous
membrane and the external surface is skin.
 It contains sebaceous glands all over the area

12.  The term clitoris comes from a Greek word
meaning key.
 Erectile organ.
 It’s rich vascular, highly sensitive to
temperature, touch, and pressure sensation

13.  Is oval-shaped area formed between the
labia minora, clitoris, and fourchette.
 Vestibule contains the external urethral
meatus, vaginal introitus, and Bartholins
glands.

14.  Is the most posterior part of the external
female reproductive organs.
 It extends from fourchette anteriorly to the
anus posteriorly.
 It is composed of fibrous and muscular
tissues that support pelvic structures.

15.  Vagina
 Uterus
 Fallopian tubes
 Ovaries

17.  It runs in the upper free border of the broad
ligament.
 Length 8 to 14 cm average 10 cm
 Its divided into 4 parts.
 The two tubes extended from the corner of
the uterus to the ovary.
 The fallopian tubes serve as the pathway of
the egg cells towards the uterus.

18.  It is a smooth, hollow tunnel that is divided
into four parts: the interstitial, which is 1 cm
in length; the isthmus, which is 2 cm in
length; the ampulla, which is 5 cm in length;
and the infundibulum, which is 2 cm long and
shaped like a funnel.
 Fertilization occurs in the ampulla.
 Fimbriae are fingerlike processes, one of
these is longer than the other and adherent
to the ovary.

19.  The funnel has small hairs called the fimbria
that propel the ovum into the fallopian tube.
 The fallopian tube is lined with mucous
membrane, and underneath is the connective
tissue and the muscle layer.
 The muscle layer is responsible for the
peristaltic movements that propel the ovum
forward.
 The distal ends of the fallopian tubes are
open, making a pathway for conception to
occur

21.  Gamete transport (ovum pickup, ovum
transport, sperm transport).
 Final maturation of gamete post ovulate
oocyte maturation, sperm capicitation.
 Fluid environment for early embryonic
development.
 Transport of fertilized and unfertilized ovum
to the uterus.

22.  Oval solid structure, 1.5 cm in thickness, 2.5
cm in width and 3.5 cm in length
respectively. Each weights about 4–8 gm.
 Ovary is located on each side of the uterus,
below and behind the uterine tubes
 It is located proximal to both sides of the
uterus at the lower abdomen.
 The ovaries are located within the pelvic
cavity, and are supported by the
mesovarium, an extension of the peritoneum
that connects the ovaries to the broad
ligament.

24.  For its function, the ovaries produce,
mature, and discharge the egg cells or ova.
 Ovarian function is for the maturation and
maintenance of the secondary sex
characteristics in females.
 It also has three divisions: the protective
layer of epithelium, the cortex, and the
central medulla.

25.  Surface – formed by simple cuboidal
epithelium (known as germinal epithelium).
Underlying this layer is a dense connective
tissue capsule.
 Cortex – comprised of a connective tissue
stroma and numerous ovarian follicles. Each
follicle contains an oocyte, surrounded by a
single layer of follicular cells.
 Medulla – formed by loose connective tissue
and a rich neurovascular network, which
enters via the hilum of the ovary.

27.  The ovary is the organ in which the female
gametes are stored and develop prior to
ovulation.
 Their maturation is controlled by the
hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary
gland.

28.  The uterus is a hollow, pear shaped muscular
organ.
 The uterus measures about 7.5 X 5 X 2.5 cm
and weight about 50 – 60 gm.
 Its normal position is anteverted (rotated
forward and slightly antiflexed (flexed
forward)
 The uterus divided into three parts

29.  Parts of the uterus • for the descriptive purpose
uterus can be divided into three distinct parts.
 • Fundus • Body • Cervix
 Fundus. • This is the dome-shaped part of the
uterus above the openings of the uterine tubes.
 Body. • This is the main part. It is narrowest
inferiorly at the internal os where it is
continuous with the cervix.
 Cervix (‘neck’ of the uterus). • This protrudes
through the anterior wall of the vagina, opening
into it at the external os.
 Layers of the uterus • Perimetrium •
Myometrium • Endometrium

31.  Perimetrium. • This is peritoneum, which is
distributed differently on the various surfaces of the
uterus. Anteriorly it lies over the fundus and the body
where it is folded on to the upper surface of the
urinary bladder. This fold of peritoneum forms the
vesicouterine pouch. Posteriorly the peritoneum
covers the fundus, the body and the cervix, then it
folds back on to the rectum to form the rectouterine
pouch (of Douglas).
 Myometrium. • This is the thickest layer of tissue in
the uterine wall. It is a mass of smooth muscle fibres
interlaced with areolar tissue, blood vessels and
nerves. Made up of the Columnar epithelial
cells.Consist mucous secreting tubular glands

32.  Endometrium :Is the inner layer of the
uterus. It is responsive to the cyclic
variations of estrogen and progesterone
during the female reproductive cycle every
month. Made up of the Columnar epithelial
cells.Consist mucous secreting tubular glands

34.  Menstruation ----the uterus sloughs off the
endometrium.
 Pregnancy ---the uterus support fetus and
allows the fetus to grow.
 Labor and birth---the uterine muscles
contract and the cervix dilates during labor
to expel the fetus.

35.  It is an elastic fibro-muscular tube and
membranous tissue about 8 to 10 cm long.
 Lying between the bladder anteriorly and the
rectum posteriorly.
 The vagina connects the uterus above with
the vestibule below.
 The vaginal lining has multiple folds, or
rugae and muscle layer. These folds allow the
vagina to stretch considerably during
childbirth.

36.  The reaction of the vagina is acidic, the pH is
4.5 that protects the vagina against
infection.
 It has no secretory glands but the surface is
kept moist by cervical secretions. Between
puberty and the menopause, • Lactobacillus
acidophilus, bacteria that secrete lactic acid,
are normally present maintaining the pH
between 4.9 and 3.5. The acidity inhibits the
growth of most other micro-organisms that
may enter the vagina from the perineum or
during sexual intercourse.

37.  To allow discharge of the menstrual flow.
 The female organs of coitus.
 To allow passage of the fetus from the
uterus.

38.  The breasts or mammary glands are
accessory glands of the female reproductive
system.
 They exist also in the male, but in only a
rudimentary form.
 Structure • The mammary glands or breasts
consist of varying amounts of glandular
tissue, responsible for milk

40.  Each breast contains about 20 lobes, each of
which contains a number of glandular
structures called lobules, where milk is
produced.
 Lobules open into lactiferous ducts, which
drain milk towards the nipple. • breast itself
is covered in subcutaneous fat.
 In the lactating breast, glandular tissue
proliferates (hyperplasia) to support milk
production, and recedes again after lactation
stops.

42.  The nipple:This is a small conical eminence
at the centre of the breast surrounded by a
pigmented area, the areola.
 On the surface of the areola are numerous
sebaceous glands (Montgomery’s tubercles),
which lubricate the nipple during lactation

43. 1.EXPLAIN THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF
OVARIES
UTERUS
FALLOPIAN TUBES
2.DRAW A WELL LABEL DIAGRAM OF FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.
3.EXPLAIN THE STRUCTURE OF BREAST.
*NOTE: DATE OF SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENT-24/04/2020(3:00PM)