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Biology
Big Picture
The female reproductive system consists of the female sex organs, the two most important of which are the uterus and the ovary.
The female reproductive organ has many responsibilities that include the reception of sperm and support for a developing fetus
during and post-birth. The female reproductive system develops before birth but doesn’t reach maturity until puberty. From
puberty until around midlife, females will have a monthly menstrual cycle that will allow the female to have a child when an egg
cell is fertilized by a sperm cell. When a woman reaches midlife, she undergoes menopause, meaning she will enter a non-
reproductive state.
Key Terms
Reproductive System: The system of organs that produces Ovulation: The release of the secondary oocyte from its
gametes and secretes sex hormones. follicle and from the ovary. The secondary oocyte will
travel down the fallopian tube into the uterus.
Vulva: The external female reproductive organs.
Puberty: Period during which humans become sexually
Vagina: A mucous-lined muscular tract leading from the vulva to mature.
the uterus.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH): Pituitary gland hormone that
Uterus: Female sex organ where the fetus develops. stimulates the testes to secrete testosterone and the
Contraction of the uterus leads to childbirth. ovaries to secrete estrogen
Endometrium: The inner lining of the uterus. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Pituitary gland
Ovaries: Two egg-producing sex organs located on either side of hormone that stimulates the ovaries to secrete estrogen
the uterus. The ovaries also include endocrine glands that and follicles in the ovaries to mature.
secrete estrogen. Adolescent Growth Spurt: Period of rapid growth that
Estrogen: Female sex hormone. occurs during puberty.
Follicle: Structure that houses and protects a maturing egg cell. Menstrual Cycle: The physiological changes that occur
monthly in non-pregnant, fertile females.
Fallopian Tubes: Two tubes that extend from the upper right
and left corners of the uterus to the ovaries. Menarche: The first menstrual cycle.
Oogenesis: The production of an egg cell. Menstruation: The shedding of the endometrium from the
uterine wall.
Oogonium: A diploid reproductive cell that will undergo mitosis
to produce primary oocytes. Menopause: The transition from fertile to non-
reproductive that occurs around midlife in women.
Primary Oocyte: A diploid daughter cell that will begin but not
complete meiosis during fetal development.
The breasts are also a part of the female reproductive system. The breasts are not
involved in reproduction, but they do nourish a baby after birth. The breasts contain
mammary glands that secrete milk. Image Credit: Mysid, Public Domain
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Biology Female Reproductive System cont.
Egg Production
Oogenesis
Begins before birth, starts when a diploid oogonium undergoes mitosis to produce
a primary oocyte
A diploid cell contains the usual number of chromosomes
The primary oocyte starts to go through meiosis I but does not complete meiosis
until later
The primary oocyte remains in a resting state in an immature follicle
At birth, a female’s ovaries contain all the (immature) eggs she will ever produce
Maturation of a Follicle
Beginning during puberty, each month a follicle and its respective primary oocyte
will mature
The primary oocyte will resume meiosis and form two haploid cells: a secondary
oocyte, and a smaller cell called a polar body
A haploid cell contains half the usual number of chromosomes
Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle includes ovulation and menstruation.
Menarche is the first menstrual cycle. The timing of the first cycle
depends on genetic and environmental factors.
The endometrium is shed from the body during mensturation. After
menstruation, the endometrium will reform and grow again.
A follicle will start to mature in an ovary, and ovulation will occur
around day 14 of the cycle.
The endometrium builds up in preparation for a fertilized egg.
If the egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum secrete a hormone that
prevents the endometrium from breaking down. The endometrium
helps nourish the egg.
If the egg is not fertilized, the endometrium will break down and be
shed. A new menstrual cycle begins.
Since the number of eggs a woman will have during her lifetime is set
at birth, the menstrual cycles will eventually stop. A woman then goes
through menopause, which occurs around midlife, typically in the
early fifties.
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