Anatomy and Physiology of Female Reproductive System

Anatomy and Physiology
The Female Reproductive System
Divided in two parts the
>External Genitalia - the external genitalia protect body openings and play important
role in sexual functioning.
Mons Pubis- fatty layer of tissue over pubic symphysis; during puberty it becomes covered
with pubic hair.
Labia Majora- two folds of skin covering mons pubis back to found and extending back to
fourchette forming a cleft.
Labia Minora- two smaller thinner, asymmetrical folds of skin within labia majora that
form the clitoral hood (prepuce) and frenulum , then split to enclose vestibule and
converge near anus and fourchette.
Clitoris- Richly innervated erectile organ between the labia minora, has visible glans and a
shaft that lies beneath the skin homologous to the penis.
Vestibule- area protected by labia minora that contains openings to vagina and urethra or
urinary meatus.
Introitus - vaginal orifice covered by thin , perforated membrane (hymen)
Skene Glands -lesser vestibular or paraurethral glands secrete fluids the help to lubricate
the urinary meatus and facilitate coitus.
Bartholin's Glands- greater vestibular or vulvovaginal and glands that secrete mucus to
lubricate the inner labial surfaces and enhance the motility and motility of the sperm.
Perineum- area with less hair, skin and subcutaneous tissue lying between anus and vaginal
orifice.
Perineum Body - fibrous structure composed of highly elastic fiber, connective tissue , and
connective tissue and common attachment of bulbocavernosus external and anal sphincter
>.Internal Genitalia - this organs are essential to production and include ovaries and
fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina.
Vagina- is an elastic, fibromuscular canal that 9 to 10 cm length. It extends up and back

introitus to the lower portion of the uterus.
Uterus- is a hollow, pear shaped organ whose lower end and opens into vagina. It anchors
and protects a fertilized ovum , provides and optimal environment while the ovum
develops, and pushes out at birth.
> The uterus of a mature , nonpregnant female is approximately 7 to 9 cm long and 6.5
wide , with muscular walls 3.5 thick
> The uterus has two major parts the body or corpus, and the cervix
> The top of the corpus above, the insertion of the fallopian tubes is called fundus
> The Diameter of the uterine cavity is widest at the fundus and the narrowest is the
Isthmus
> The Cervix or "neck of the uterus,". Extends from the isthmus to the vagina. The
passageway between the cervix's upper opening (the internal os) and its lower opening (the
external os) is called the endocervical canal The entire uterus, like the upper vagina, is
innervated exclusively by motor and sensory fibers of the autonomic nervous system.
The uterine Wall is composed of three layers
> The Perimetrium - is the outer serious membrane that covers the uterus
> The Myometrium - is the thick muscular middle layer . It is the thickest of the fundus ,
apparently to facilitate birth
> The Endometrium - or uterine lining , is composed of a functional layer and spongy middle
layer and a basal layer
Fallopian tubes- These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the
uterus and serve as tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus.
Conception, the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, normally occurs in the fallopian tubes.
The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants to the uterine wall
Ovaries- the ovaries the female gonads, are the primary female reproductive organs. Their
two main functions are secretion of female sex hormones and development and release of
female gametes, or ova.
FEMALE SEX HORMONES
Estrogen is a generic term for any of three similar hor-mones: estradiol, estrone, and
estriol. Estradiol (E2) is the most potent and plentiful of the three and is principally
produced (95%) by the ovaries (ovarian follicle and corpus luteum). Limited amounts are
secreted by the cortices of the adrenal glands and the placenta during pregnancy.
Progesterone Luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary stimulates the corpus
luteum to secrete progesterone, the second major female sex hormone. With estrogen,
progesterone controls the ovarian-menstrual cycle.
THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

The term menstrual cycle refers to the series of changes that occur in sexually mature,
nonpregnant females and that result in menses.
Menses
In a menstrual cycle in which pregnancy does not occur, the levels of estrogen and
progesterone decline to very low levels as the corpus luteum degenerates. The drop in
these hormones initiates the beginning of menses, or menstrual bleeding.
follicular/proliferative phase.
This phase is named for two simultaneous processes: maturation of an ovarian follicle and
proliferation of the endometrium (see Figure 31-10). During this phase, the anterior
pituitary gland secretes FSH, which causes an ovarian follicle to develop. While the follicle
is developing, its granulosa cells secrete estrogen and the estrogen causes cells of the
endometrium to proliferate.* By the time the ovarian follicle is mature, the endometrial
lining is restored and ovulation occurs.
Ovulatory phase
Rising estrogen levels during the follicular phase trigger your pituitary gland to release
luteinizing hormone (LH). This is what starts the process of ovulation.
Ovulation is when your ovary releases a mature egg. The egg travels down the fallopian
tube toward the uterus to be fertilized by sperm
Luteal/secretory
The ovarian follicle begins its transformation into a corpus luteum LH from the anterior
pituitary stimulates the corpus luteum to secrete progesterone, which in turn initiates the
secretory phase of endometrial development. Glands and blood vessels in the endometrium
branch and curl throughout the functional layer, and the glands begin to secrete a thin,
glycogen-containing fluid.
.
Fertilization
fertilization, union of a sperm nucleus, of paternal origin, with an egg nucleus, of maternal
origin, to form the primary nucleus of an embryo. In all organisms the essence of
fertilization is, in fact, the fusion of the hereditary material of two different sex cells, or
gametes, each of which carries half the number of chromosomes typical of the species.
The most primitive form of fertilization, found in microorganisms and protozoans, consists
of an exchange of genetic material between two cells.
Implantation
or contact between the growing structure and the uterine endometrium, occurs
approximately 8 to 10 days after fertilization. After the 3rd or 4th day of free floating
(about 8 days from ovulation), the last residues of the corona and zona pellucida are shed
by the growing structure. The blastocyst brushes against the rich uterine endometrium (in
the second [secretoryl phase of the menstrual cycle), a process termed apposition. It
attaches to the surface of the endometrium (adhesion) and settles down into its soft folds
(invasion).

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Anatomy and Physiology

The Female Reproductive System

Divided in two parts the

Introitus - vaginal orifice covered by thin , perforated membrane (hymen)

Vagina- is an elastic, fibromuscular canal that 9 to 10 cm length. It extends up and back

FEMALE SEX HORMONES

THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

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