RGD - Female Reproductive System Lesson

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Female Reproductive System

Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

Although male and female reproductive organs develop from similar tissue during embryonic development, they differ in shape and structure. However, both systems are designed to produce, support, and/or transport their respective gamete.

The female anatomy/the female reproductive system

 

The female reproductive system, unlike its male counterpart, is located exclusively inside the body. The internal organs of the female reproductive include the:

  • vaginaFunctions of the vagina include: Sexual intercourse, a pathway for a baby to exit the body during childbirth, and a pathway for blood to leave the uterus during menstruation.
  • uterus
  • fallopian tubes
  • ovaries

The vagina is a hollow muscular tube that extends from the vaginal opening (behind the opening of the urethra) to the uterus. It is a flexible structure, able to expand and contract in width and length due to its muscular walls.  

Functions of the vagina include:

  1. sexual intercourse
  2. pathway for baby to exit the body during childbirth
  3. pathway for blood to leave the uterus during menstruation

The walls of the vagina are covered with mucous membranes, allowing the structure to stay moist and clean. Special glands near the opening of the vagina and cervix provide lubrication during arousal to aid in sexual intercourse.

The hymen is a membrane of thin tissue that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening. The tissue of the hymen may or may not be ruptured during intercourse; it can also be ruptured by delivery, a pelvic examination, injury, or sports.

The uterus is a thick-walled muscular organ shaped like an upside-down pear. The muscles in this organ are some of the strongest in the female body. Although normally only approximately 3 inches long and 2 inches wide, the uterus can expand to accommodate a developing baby and work to push the baby out of the body during labor.

The neck of the uterus is called the cervix. This structure connects the uterus to the vagina. Normally, the opening of the cervix is no wider than the width of a straw; however, during childbirth, it can expand to approximately 10 cm allowing the baby to pass.

The fallopian tubes are located on either side of the top corners of the uterus. These structures connect the ovaries to the uterus. During ovulation, the egg is deposited from the ovary into the fringed, funnel-like end of the fallopian tube. Tiny hairs sweep the mature oocyte through the narrow tube to the uterus. Typically, fertilization occurs within the fallopian tubes. It is these structures that are cut and clamped as a form of permanent birth control during a procedure called tubal ligation, commonly known as getting a woman's "tubes tied."

The ovaries are the main female reproductive organs. These oval-shaped structures have the following functions:

  1. ovulation (produce, store, and release eggs into fallopian tubes)
  2. endocrine functions (produce female sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone)

Although the main organs of the female reproductive system are found internally, there are several external support structures. The vulva, which means "covering," is a general term that describes the structure that covers the vagina and other reproductive organs.

 

The external and internal views of the female reproductive organs.

 

The external structures of the vulva include:

  1. mons pubis - the soft, fleshy mound located just above the vaginal opening
  2. labia - two pairs (major and minor) of skin flaps surrounding the vaginal opening
  3. clitoris - a small sensory organ located towards the front of the vulva where the folds of the labia join; contains erectile tissue and bundles of nerve similar to what is found in the penis
  4. urethra - the opening of the urethra is found just above the vaginal opening

Functions of the Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive system has two main functions similar to those of the male reproductive system:

  • produces gametes, the reproductive cells, which are called eggs in females
  • secretes a major sex hormone, estrogen

The oocyte is much larger than a sperm cell, and contains almost all of the cytoplasm needed for a developing embryo during its first few days of life.One of the main roles of the female reproductive system is to produce oocytes (eggs). In females, gametogenesis is called oogenesis and occurs in the ovaries. Eggs are the mature female gametes that not only provide the other half of the DNA during fertilization, but also organelles, building blocks for compounds such as proteins and nucleic acids, and other necessary materials.  

The oocyte is much larger than a sperm cell and contains almost all of the cytoplasm needed for a developing embryo during its first few days of life. This makes the process of oogenesis a much more complicated process than spermatogenesis. Oogenesis occurs in the ovaries and starts before birth. The process of oogenesis is not completed until after fertilization.

As you learned in the endocrine system module, estrogen is the main sex hormone in females. Estrogen has two major roles:

  1. During the teen years, estrogen causes the reproductive organs to develop. It also causes other female traits to develop. For example, it causes the breasts to grow.
  2. During adulthood, estrogen is needed for a woman to release eggs. On average, a woman releases one egg each month from her ovaries.

 

Disorders of the Female Reproductive System

Learn about common disorders of the female reproductive system in the learning object below.

Review the anatomy of the female reproductive system in the learning object below.

 

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