FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

INTERNAL PARTS

EXTERNAL GENITALIA
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY majora generally hides, partially or clitoris. The labia minora protect the
entirely, the other parts of the vulva. vaginal and urethral openings. Both the
ENTERNAL GENITALIA: There is also a longitudinal separation inner and outer labia are quite sensitive
Vulva called the pudendal cleft. These labia to touch and pressure.
The external female genitals are are usually covered with pubic hair.
collectively referred to as The Vulva. The color of the outside skin of the Clitoris
This consists of the labia majora and labia majora is usually close to the
labia minora (while these names overall color of the individual, although The clitoris, visible as the small white
translate as "large" and "small" lips, there may be some variation. The oval between the top of the labia
often the "minora" can be larger, and inside skin is usually pink to light minora and the clitoral hood, is a small
protrude outside the "majora"), mons brown. They contain numerous sweat body of spongy tissue that functions
pubis, clitoris, opening of the urethra and oil glands. It has been suggested solely for sexual pleasure. Only the tip
(meatus), vaginal vestibule, vestibular that the scent from these oils are or glans of the clitoris shows
bulbs, vestibular glands. The term sexually arousing. externally, but the organ itself is
"vagina" is often improperly used as a elongated and branched into two forks,
generic term to refer to the vulva or Labia Minora the crura, which extend downward
female genitals, even though - strictly along the rim of the vaginal opening
speaking - the vagina is a specific Medial to the labia majora are the labia toward the perineum. Thus the clitoris
internal structure and the vulva is the minora. The labia minora are the inner is much larger than most people think it
exterior genitalia only. Calling the lips of the vulva. They are thin is, about 4" long on average.
vulva the vagina is akin to calling the stretches of tissue within the labia
mouth the throat. majora that fold and protect the vagina, The clitoral glans or external tip of the
urethra, and clitoris. The appearance of clitoris is protected by the prepuce, or
Labia Majora labia minora can vary widely, from tiny clitoral hood, a covering of tissue
lips that hide between the labia majora similar to the foreskin of the male
The labia majora are the outer "lips" to large lips that protrude. There is no penis. However, unlike the penis, the
of the vulva. They are pads of loose pubic hair on the labia minora, but clitoris does not contain any part of the
connective and adipose tissue, as well there are sebaceous glands. The two urethra.
as some smooth muscle. The labia smaller lips of the labia minora come
majora wrap around the vulva from the together longitudinally to form the During sexual excitement, the clitoris
mons pubis to the perineum. The labia prepuce, a fold that covers part of the erects and extends, the hood retracts,
making the clitoral glans more Sometimes it may partially cover the cause penetrating trauma to the hymen.
accessible. The size of the clitoris is vaginal orifice. The hymen is usually Therefore, the appearance of the hymen
variable between women. On some, the perforated during later fetal is not a reliable indicator of virginity or
clitoral glans is very small; on others, it development. chastity.
is large and the hood does not
completely cover it. Because of the belief that first vaginal INTERNAL PARTS:
penetration would usually tear this
Urethra membrane and cause bleeding, its
"intactness" has been considered a Vagina
The opening to the urethra is just below guarantor of virginity. However, the
the clitoris. Although it is not related to hymen is a poor indicator of whether a The vagina is a muscular, hollow tube
sex or reproduction, it is included in the woman has actually engaged in sexual that extends from the vaginal opening
vulva. The urethra is actually used for intercourse because a normal hymen to the cervix of the uterus. It is situated
the passage of urine. The urethra is does not completely block the vaginal between the urinary bladder and the
connected to the bladder. In females the opening. The normal hymen is never rectum. It is about three to five inches
urethra is 1.5 inches long, compared to actually "intact" since there is always long in a grown woman. The muscular
males whose urethra is 8 inches long. an opening in it. Furthermore, there is wall allows the vagina to expand and
Because the urethra is so close to the not always bleeding at first vaginal contract. The muscular walls are lined
anus, women should always wipe penetration. The blood that is with mucous membranes, which keep it
themselves from front to back to avoid sometimes, but not always, observed protected and moist. A thin sheet of
infecting the vagina and urethra with after first penetration can be due to tissue with one or more holes in it,
bacteria. This location issue is the tearing of the hymen, but it can also be called the hymen, partially covers the
reason for bladder infections being from injury to nearby tissues. opening of the vagina. The vagina
more common among females. receives sperm during sexual
A tear to the hymen, medically referred intercourse from the penis. The sperm
Hymen to as a "transection," can be seen in a that survive the acidic condition of the
small percentage of women or girls vagina continue on through to the
after first penetration. A transection is fallopian tubes where fertilization may
The hymen is a thin fold of mucous caused by penetrating trauma. occur.
membrane that separates the lumen of Masturbation and tampon insertion can,
the vagina from the urethral sinus. but generally are not forceful enough to
Cervix Fallopian Tubes

The cervix (from Latin "neck") is the At the upper corners of the uterus are
lower, narrow portion of the uterus the fallopian tubes. There are two
where it joins with the top end of the fallopian tubes, also called the uterine
vagina. Where they join together forms tubes or the oviducts. Each fallopian
an almost 90 degree curve. It is tube attaches to a side of the uterus and
cylindrical or conical in shape and connects to an ovary. They are
protrudes through the upper anterior positioned between the ligaments that
vaginal wall. Approximately half its support the uterus. The fallopian tubes
length is visible with appropriate are about four inches long and about as
medical equipment; the remainder lies wide as a piece of spaghetti. Within
above the vagina beyond view. It is each tube is a tiny passageway no
occasionally called "cervix uteri", or wider than a sewing needle. At the
"neck of the uterus". other end of each fallopian tube is a
fringed area that looks like a funnel.
Uterus This fringed area, called the
infundibulum, lies close to the ovary,
The uterus is shaped like an upside- but is not attached. The ovaries
down pear, with a thick lining and alternately release an egg. When an
muscular walls. Located near the floor ovary does ovulate, or release an egg, it
of the pelvic cavity, it is hollow to is swept into the lumen of the fallopian
allow a blastocyte, or fertilized egg, to tube by the fimbriae.
implant and grow. It also allows for the
inner lining of the uterus to build up
until a fertilized egg is implanted, or it
is sloughed off during menses.