Female Reproductive System

Functions of the Female

Reproductive System
 It produces the female egg cells necessary
for reproduction, called the ova or oocytes.
 It is designed to transport the ova to the site
of fertilization.
 If fertilization does not take place, the
system is designed to menstruate.
 It produces female sex hormone that
maintain the reproductive cycle.
Mons Veneris / Pubis

The mons veneris is a pad of adipose tissue

located over the symphysis pubis, the pubic
bone joint.
It is covered by a triangle of coarse, curly
hairs.
The purpose is to protect the junction of the
pubic bone from trauma.
Itcontains many nerve ending that makes
the mons pubis sensitive to touch and
pressure.
 Labia Majora
 Consists of 2 rounded folds of fatty tissue. It is
analogous to the scrotum.
 The outer lips separates downward from the
mons and meet again below the vagina
introitus.
 It contains multitude of sebaceous and
sweat glands.
 It also serves as protection for the external
genitalia and the distal urethra and vagina.
 Labia Minora
 Located posterior to the mons pubis veneris,
spread 2 hairless folds of connective tissue.
It has 2 smaller lips located within the labia
majora.
 It appears thin pale pink in color.
When stimulated, it turns to dark red or dark pink
due to presence of blood vessels, no hair;
smooth in texture.
The internal structure is covered with mucous
membrane, and the external portion with skin
 Clitoris
 It is a small rounded organ of
erectile tissue at the forward
junction of the labia minora,
covered by a fold of skin called
prepuce.
 The clitoris is sensitive to touch
and temperature and is the
center for sexual arousal and
orgasm in the female.
 It contains erectile tissue
blood vessels and nerves.
 It is made up of erectile tissue which many large
and small venous channels surrounded by large
amount of involuntary muscle tissue, the
ischiocarvernosa facilitate erection of the organ.
 The clitoris measures 5 – 6 mm. long and 6 – 8 mm.
across.
 It has very rich blood and nerve supplies.
Functions :
 Stimulate and elevate levels of sexual tension.
 Serve as a landmark in locating urethral opening
during catheterization.
Vestibule

 It is a flattened smooth
surface inside the labia.

 The openings of the

bladder or the urethra,
and the uterus or the
vagina, are both arise
from the vestibule.
Urethral meatus /
urethral orifice
• although not a true
part, it is considered as
part of the reproductive
system because of its
closeness and
relationship to the vulva
Vulvovaginal /
bartholin’s gland
• pair of small, pea –
sized glands located
within the substances
of the labia majora
• they correspond to
the bulbourethral or
Cowper’s gland in male
• the gland secretes a
small amount of clear,
viscid mucus during
sexual excitement
 Paraurethral /
skene’s gland
•a pair of small glands
lying on each side of
the urethra
• they produce a small
amount of mucus and
are especially
susceptible to
gonorrheal infection
• it is homologous to
male prostate
Vaginal orifice /
introitus
• occupies the lower
portion of the
vestibule and varies
considerably in size
and shape

• the vagina has an

abundantly vascular
supply
 Fourchette
is the ridge of tissue formed by the
posterior joining of the labia minora and
the labia major

 this structure is sometimes cut

( episiotomy ) during childbirth to enlarge
the vaginal opening
Perineum
 located just posterior to the fourchette
 This is a muscular area, that’s easily
stretched during childbirth to allow
enlargement of the vagina and passage of
the fetal head.

Many exercises (Kegel’s,squatting & tailor-

sitting) are aimed at making the perineal
muscle more flexible to allow easier
expansion during birth without tearing of this
tissue.
 HYMEN
Is a tough but elastic
semicircle of tissue that covers


the opening to the vagina in

childhood.
 It is comprised mainly of
connective tissue both elastic
and collagen. Both surfaces
are covered by stratified
squamous epithelium.
 The hymen can be broken
through strenous physical
activities or masturbation.
 It is often torn during the
time of first sexual intercourse.
 Ovary
 It is approximately 4 cm long
by 2 cm in diameter and
approximately 1.5 cm thick or
the size and shape of an
almond.
Each ovary contains
approximately 200,000 to
400,000 follicles during female’s
childbirth.
 It secretes hormones
ESTROGEN and PROGESTERONE
which initiate and regulate
menstrual process.
 Layers of ovaries:

 Tunica albuginea - dense and dull

white and serves as protective layer.
 Cortex – main functional part
because it contains ova, graafian
follicles, corpora lutea, degenerated
corpora lutea (corpora albicantia).
 Medulla – or central portion of the
ovary is composed of loose connective
tissue.
Functions :

 ovulation
 hormone production
These also a counterpart to the
testes of male organ.
 Fallopian Tubes
 Slender structure that
extends from either side of
the uterus and end in a
fringed fashion near each
ovary.
 It transports mature ovum
from the ovary to the uterus
and to provide place for
fertilization of the ovum.
It takes about 3 days for an egg to travel the length, but
unfertilized egg lives only 24 hours.
If unfertilized it will die before it arrives in the uterus.
Functions :
site of fertilization
provide transport for the ovum from the ovary to the
uterus
serveas a warm, moist, nourishing environment for the
ovum or zygote
Parts of the Fallopian Tube
1. Interstital portion

 lies within the uterine wall

 approximately 1 cm in length
 lumen is 1 mm in the diameter
 Isthmus
 next distal portion
 2 cm in length
 this portion is cut and sealed in
tubal ligation
 Ampulla
 Longest portion
 5 cm length
 Fertilization of ovum occurs
1.
4. Infundibular
Most distal segment
2 cm in length
Funnel shape
The rim of the funnel is covered by
fimbriae or small hairs that
Help to guide the ovum into the
fallopian tube .
The wall of the fallopian tube is made up of
4 layers :

 Peritoneal (serous) – covers the tubes.

 Subserous ( adventitial ) – contains the
blood and nerve supply
 Muscular - responsible for the peristaltic
movement of the tube.
 Mucosal – composed of ciliated and
unciliated cells with the number of ciliated
cells more abundant at the fimbria.
 Uterus
Pear-shaped approximately 3 inches
long, located between the urinary
bladder and the rectum.

Its primary purpose is to house and

nurture a pregnancy.

 It receives the ovum from the fallopian

tube, to provide a place for implantation
and nourishment during fetal growth and it
furnish protection to a growing fetus expel
from the women’s body.
The uterus consists of three divisions:

1.) the body or corpus – portion of the

structure that expands so greatly to
contain the growing fetus.
▪The portion of the uterus between the
points of attachment of the fallopian tube
is called fundus.
▪fundus is the portion that can be
palpated to measure uterine growth and
the force of uterine contraction during
labor.
2.) isthmus – short segment between the body &
cervix; during pregnancy, this portion also
enlarges greatly to aid in accomodating the
growing fetus.
-it is the portion of the uterus that is cut when a
fetus is delivered by CS
3.) cervix – lowest portion of the uterus
•cervical canal – central cavity
•internal cervical os – junction of the canal
at the isthmus
•external cervical os – distal opening to the
vagina
The cervical mucosa has 3
functions
provide lubrication for the vaginal canal
act as a bacteriostatic agent
provide an alkaline environment to shelter
deposited sperm from the acidic vagina.
Secretory cells of the cervix produce about
20 – 60 ml of mucus / day.
At time of ovulation, this mucus becomes
thinner and more alkaline.
provide an alkaline environment to
shelter deposited sperm from the acidic
vagina.
Secretory cells of the cervix produce
about 20 – 60 ml of mucus / day.
At time of ovulation, this mucus
becomes thinner and more alkaline.
Mucus provides for the energy needs
of the sperm, protects sperm from
environment of the vagina,
Mucus provides for the energy needs of
the sperm, protects sperm from
environment of the vagina, and protects
them from phagocytes.
 At other times, mucus becomes thick
and can form a cervical plug which
impedes passage of pathogens.
 Layers of uterus
 Perimetrium – a part of visceral
peritoneum
 Myometrium – bulk of uterus – three
layers of muscle that contract under
influence of oxytocin during labor.
 Endometrium – highly vascular
mucosa
•Stratum functionalis – shed during
menstruation
•Stratum basalis – deeper, permanent
layer, gives rise to new stratum
functionalis
Vagina
Passageway for sperm and menstrual flow
Receptacle for penis during intercourse
 Inferior portion of birth canal
 Capable of considerable distention
(stretching)
 Mucosa is continuous with that of
uterus and consists of nonkeratinized
stratified squamous epithelium.
 Contains large stores of glycogen
which decomposes to organic acids –
lower pH = less susceptible to
infection & less hospitable to sperm
 Mammary glands
 Accessory organs of the female reproductive
system
 Modified sweat glands
 Function is to synthesize, secrete and eject milk
(lactation)
 Lie over the pectoralis major muscles
 Are attached to fascia by the suspensory
ligaments (of Cooper)
 Breast size is determined more by fat than by
glandular tissue.
 Ampulla
 Portion of the duct just posterior to the nipples
serves as reservoir for milk before
breastfeeding.
  Composed of smooth
Nipple muscle that is capable of
erection on manual or
sucking stimulation.
 approximately 20 small
openings through which
milk is secreted.
 On stimulation, it transmits
sensations to the posterior
pituitary gland to release
oxytocin.
 Oxytocin- acts to constrict
milk gland cells and push
milk forward into the ducts
that lead to the nipple
Areola
 Darklypigmented
area surrounding the
nipple.

 Rough surface owing

many sebaceous
gland, called
MONTGOMERY’S
TUBERCLES.
 Itcontains the opening of sebaceous and
sweat glands (Montgomery glands) that
secrete lubricating substances for the
nipple
Breasts or Mammary Glands

Breasts are located anterior to the

pectoral muscle. In many women,
breast tissue extends well into the
axilla.
Each breast has 15-20 lobes
made up of several lobules.
Lobules are made of milk-
secreting cells arranged in alveoli.
 All
the glands in each lobe
produce milk by acini cells &
deliver it to the nipple by lactiferous
duct

 Milkproduction is stimulated mostly

by prolactin with some help from
estrogen & progesterone.
Gynecomastia

Increase in male breast size

Most evident in obese boys
Normal change of puberty