Anatomy & Physiology of Female Reproductive System

How does the female reproductive system work?

The female reproductive system provides several functions. The ovaries produce the
egg cells, called the ova or oocytes. The oocytes are then transported to the fallopian
tube where fertilization by a sperm may occur. The fertilized egg then moves to the
uterus, where the uterine lining has thickened in response to the normal hormones of
the reproductive cycle. Once in the uterus, the fertilized egg can implant into the
thickened uterine lining and continue to develop. If implantation does not take place, the
uterine lining is shed as menstrual flow. In addition, the female reproductive system
produces female sex hormones that maintain the reproductive cycle.
The main external structures of the female reproductive system include:
Labia majora: The labia majora (“large lips”) enclose and protect the other external
reproductive organs. During puberty, hair growth occurs on the skin of the labia majora,
which also contains sweat and oil-secreting glands.
Labia minora: The labia minora (“small lips”) can have a variety of sizes and shapes.
They lie just inside the labia majora and surround the openings to the vagina (the canal
that joins the lower part of the uterus to the outside of the body) and the urethra (the
tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body). This skin is very
delicate and can become easily irritated and swollen.
Bartholin’s glands: These glands are located next to the vaginal opening on each side
and produce a fluid (mucus) secretion.
Clitoris: The two labia minora meet at the clitoris, a small, sensitive protrusion that is
comparable to the penis in males. The clitoris is covered by a fold of skin, called the
prepuce, which is similar to the foreskin at the end of the penis. Like the penis, the
clitoris is very sensitive to stimulation and can become erect.
Vulva: The main functions of the vulva are to protect the internal parts of the female
reproductive system (labia majora and minora). It plays a role in sexual arousal and
stimulation (clitoris). It also facilitates sex, such as through providing lubrication
(Bartholin’s glands) and cushioning (mons pubis).
The internal reproductive organs include:
Vagina: The vagina is a canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of the uterus) to the
outside of the body. It also is known as the birth canal.
Uterus (womb): The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is the home to a
developing fetus. The uterus is divided into two parts: the cervix, which is the lower part
that opens into the vagina, and the main body of the uterus, called the corpus. The
corpus can easily expand to hold a developing baby. A canal through the cervix allows
sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit.
Ovaries: The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of
the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and hormones
Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the
uterus and serve as pathways for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the
uterus. 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 lining.
Normal Menstrual Cycle
What is a menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle is the series of changes a woman's body goes through to prepare
for a pregnancy. About once a month, the uterus grows a new lining (endometrium) to
get ready for a fertilized egg. When there is no fertilized egg to start a pregnancy, the
uterus sheds its lining. This is the monthly menstrual bleeding (also called menstrual
period) that women have from their early teen years until menopause, around age 50.
Females of reproductive age (beginning anywhere from 11 to 16 years of age)
experience cycles of hormonal activity that repeat at about one-month intervals.
Menstru means "monthly” – leading to the term menstrual cycle. With every cycle, a
woman’s body prepares for a potential pregnancy, whether or not that is the woman’s
intention. The term menstruation refers to the periodic shedding of the uterine lining.
Many women call the days that they notice vaginal bleeding their “period,” “menstrual”
or cycle.
Menstrual cycle
The average menstrual cycle takes about 28 days and occurs in phases.

These phases include:

•The follicular phase (development of the egg)
•The ovulatory phase (release of the egg)
•The luteal phase (hormone levels decrease if the egg does not implant)

Follicular phase
This phase starts on the first day of your period. During the follicular phase of the
menstrual cycle, the following events occur:
 Two hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
are released from the brain and travel in the blood to the ovaries.
  The hormones stimulate the growth of about 15 to 20 eggs in the ovaries, each in
its own "shell," called a follicle.
 These hormones (FSH and LH) also trigger an increase in the production of the
female hormone estrogen.
 As estrogen levels rise, like a switch, it turns off the production of follicle-
stimulating hormones. This careful balance of hormones allows the body to limit
the number of follicles that will prepare eggs to be released.
 As the follicular phase progresses, one follicle in one ovary becomes dominant
and continues to mature. This dominant follicle suppresses all of the other
follicles in the group. As a result, they stop growing and die. The dominant follicle
continues to produce estrogen.

Ovulatory phase
The ovulatory phase (ovulation) usually starts about 14 days after the follicular phase
started, but this can vary. The ovulatory phase falls between the follicular phase and
luteal phase. Most women will have a menstrual period 10 to 16 days after ovulation.
During this phase, the following events occur:

 The rise in estrogen from the dominant follicle triggers a surge in the amount of
luteinizing hormone that is produced by the brain.
 This causes the dominant follicle to release its egg from the ovary.
 As the egg is released (a process called ovulation) it is captured by finger-like
projections on the end of the fallopian tubes (fimbriae). The fimbriae sweep the
egg into the tube.
 For one to five days prior to ovulation, many women will notice an increase in
egg white cervical mucus. This mucus is the vaginal discharge that helps to
capture and nourish sperm on its way to meet the egg for fertilization.

Luteal phase
The luteal phase begins right after ovulation and involves the following processes:
 Once it releases its egg, the empty ovarian follicle develops into a new structure
called the corpus luteum.
 The corpus luteum secretes the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Progesterone prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg to implant.
 If intercourse has taken place and a man's sperm has fertilized the egg (a
process called conception), the fertilized egg (embryo) will travel through the
fallopian tube to implant in the uterus. The woman is now considered pregnant.
 If the egg is not fertilized, it passes through the uterus. Not needed to support a
pregnancy, the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds, and the next
menstrual period begins.
 Process of conception

Conception occurs when a sperm cell from a fertile man swims up through the vagina
and into the uterus of a woman and joins with the woman's egg cell as it travels down
one of the fallopian tubes from the ovary to the uterus.

Ovulation
Each month, one of a woman's two ovaries releases a mature egg in a process known
as ovulation.

Moving Into the Fallopian Tube

The released egg travels into the Fallopian tube, where it is fertilized by a single sperm.

The Sperm's Long Journey

When a man ejaculates, 40 to 150 million sperm may be contained in the fluid. The
sperm start swimming upstream in the woman's reproductive tract toward the Fallopian
tubes.

Fertilization: Sperm Penetrates Egg

The process of fertilization takes about 24 hours. Once a sperm has penetrated the egg,
the egg surface changes, preventing entry of other sperm. Fertilization completes the
genetic makeup of the baby, including whether it will be a girl or boy.

The Cells Start to Divide

Once the egg is fertilized, a rapid process of division begins. The fertilized egg leaves
the Fallopian tube and enters the uterus 3 to 4 days after fertilization. A tubal or ectopic
pregnancy results in the rare cases in which the fertilized egg does not properly enter
the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy poses serious health risks to the mother.

Implantation
Implantation is the process by which the fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium
(lining tissues of the uterus). The cells in the fertilized egg continue to divide.

Pregnancy Hormones
A hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) is produced by the cells that
will eventually form the placenta. It can be found in the mother's blood within about a
week of conception and is detected in pregnancy tests done on blood or urine.

Fetal Development
After implantation in the uterus, some of the cells form the placenta while others form
the embryo. The heartbeat begins during the fifth week of gestation. At the eighth week,
the developing embryo is now called a fetus. The fetus at eight weeks is about ½ inch
long and constantly growing.