FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
The Female Reproductive System Functions are:
1- Produce female sex cells (ova) in the ovaries or gonads.
2- Provides environment for fertilization of ovum by sperm.
3- Nourishes the embryo during pregnancy.
The External Female Structures (Vulva) are:
Mons Pubis -Labia Majora -Labia Minora – Clitoris – Vestibule – Perineum.
The Internal Female Structures are:
Ovaries- Fallopian tubes – Uterus –Vagina
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The female gonads (the ovaries)
The female gonads are paired ovaries that lie, one on each side of the uterus, below and
behind the uterine tubes.
Between the ages of 10-14 years, the first menstruation (menarche) occurs.
Each ovary is covered by simple germinal (cuboidal) epithelium, under it tunica
albuginea C. T.
Ovary is made up of an outer cortex and an inner medulla.
The Cortex contains ovarian follicles.
The Medulla contain vascular C. T.
At birth most female ovaries contain between 200,000 to 400,000 immature ova
(oocytes) in each ovary called Primordial follicles.
The follicle develops from Primordial follicles to primary follicle to a secondary
follicle to a tertiary follicle to a Graafian (Mature) follicle.
Oogenesis is the production of an egg; the female gametes.
Ovulation
The process of ovulation is controlled by the release of luteinizing hormone by the
pituitary gland.
The Graafian follicle balloons out of the ovary and bursts, releasing the secondary
oocyte (often called an egg or ovum) which enters an oviduct.
The ovaries alternate in producing one egg a month.
A female is born with as many as 2 million follicles, but the number is reduced to
300.000 - 400.000 by the time of puberty.
Only a small number of follicles; about 400 ever mature because a female usually
produces only one egg per month during her reproductive years.
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The female sex hormones (Estrogen and progesterone)
Estrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries are the female sex hormones.
Estrogen is largely responsible for the secondary sex characteristics in females
during puberty; including body hair (axillary and pubic hair) and breast
development.
Females have greater accumulation of fat beneath the skin than males.
Pelvic cavity usually has a larger relative size in females than males.
The female genital tract
The oviducts (uterine tubes or fallopian tubes)
The two tubes extended from the uterus to the ovaries.
They have fingerlike projections called fimbriae (sing fimbria) that sweep over the
ovaries.
The oviducts join the uterus at its upper end.
Its divided into 4 parts:
1. Interstitial part.
2. Isthmus.
3. Ampulla.
4. Infundibulum
The functions of uterine tube: Gamete transport (ovum pickup, ovum transport, sperm
transport).
When an egg bursts from an ovary during ovulation, it usually is swept into an
oviduct by the combined action of the fimbriae and the beating of cilia that line the
oviducts.
In the oviduct, the egg is propelled slowly by ciliary movement and tubular muscle
contraction toward the uterus.
An egg only lives approximately 6 to 24 hours unless fertilization occurs.
Fertilization, and therefore zygote formation, usually takes place in the oviduct.
If fertilization does not occur, the ovum will be released along with the
endometrium during menstruation.
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The uterus
The uterus is a thick-walled, muscular organ, lies above the urinary bladder.
It divided in to three parts:
Body: upper rounded part.
Fundus: dome shaped part above entrance of uterine tube.
Cervix: lower cylindrical part project into vagina.
The lining of the uterus, called the endometrium.
The endometrium has two zone:
a- Functional zone: outer portion sloughed during menstruation.
b- Basal zone: deep portion remain after menstruation and regenerate.
The cervix
The cervix join the uterus at its lower end.
A small opening in the cervix leads to the vaginal canal.
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The menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is the regular natural change that occurs in the female reproductive
system (specifically the uterus and ovaries) that makes pregnancy possible.
The ovarian cycle (28 days)
The ovarian cycle consists of development of a Graafian follicle, ovulation and then
development of the corpus luteum.
Corpus luteum – present during second half of the cycle produces progesterone.
If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum begins to degenerate as the corpus
albicans after about 10 days.
corpus albicans Degenerating stage of the corpus luteum.
Mass of white scar tissue composed of collagen and scattered fibroblasts.
Phases of ovarian cycle
1- Follicular phase
Follicular phase (days 1-13): Follicle differentiation, estrogen secretion.
Ovulation
Ovulation usually occurs on day 14 of a 28-day cycle.
Stimulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) surge.
2- Luteal phase (days 15-28):
During the second half or luteal phase of the ovarian cycle, LH from
the anterior pituitary promotes the development of the corpus luteum which
secretes progesterone and some estrogen.
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The uterine cycle
Cyclic changes in endometrium in response to ovarian hormones
Estrogen and progesterone regulate the uterine cycle.
Twenty-eight-day cycles are divided as follows:
Menstruation
During days 1-5 of the uterine cycle, a low level of female sex hormones causes the
endometrium to breaks down as menstruation; also called the menstrual period.
Proliferative phase
During days 6-13 of the uterine cycle, increased production of estrogen by
a new ovarian follicle in the ovary causes the endometrium to rebuild.
The functional zone regenerates from the basal zone.
Secretory phase
During days 15-28 of the uterine cycle, increased production of progesterone by the
corpus luteum causes the endometrium to thicken and the uterine glands become
secretory; producing a thick mucoid secretion.
There is secretion of glycoproteins to support a developing embryo in case
fertilization occur. These changes are a response to progesterone released by the
corpus luteum in the ovary.
If pregnancy does not occur, these cells are sloughed with the menses.
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