ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF THE

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
DR. BEDA OLABU
 2 LECTURE OBJECTIVES
1. Outline the components and functions of the female
reproductive system

2. Review the process of oogenesis

3. State the components of the hypothalamo-

hypophyseal-ovarian axis

4. Describe the female reproductive cycles

COMPONENTS OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM

1. Female external genitalia

2. Female internal genitalia

3. Female accessory reproductive organ

 4
FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
The vulva:
1. Mons pubis

2. Labia majora

3. Clitoris

4. Labia minora

5. The vestibule
5 THE PERINEUM
A diamond shaped

region in the lower part

of the trunk

Acts as pelvic outlet

 6
DIVISIONS OF THE PERINEUM
Urogenital triangle: The external genitalia
Anorectal triangle: Anus & ischiorectal fossae
 7
FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA

Female gonad - ovary

Female reproductive tract: vaginal

canal, cervix, uterus, Fallopian tubes

8
THE OVARY
Located on either side
of the uterus (adnexa)

Functions of the ovary:

1. Oogenesis

2. Endocrine functions
9 OOGENESIS
Within the ovarian cortex

Supported by the follicular

cells

Begins prenatally but the

process is arrested

Completed in cycles after

puberty
Primordial Germ Cells

Differentiation

Oogonia
Mitosis
Primary oocytes
Zona pellucida
Meiosis I
Prophase I arrest
 Primary oocytes
Prophase I arrest
Meiosis I Birth → Puberty
Cyclic completion
Secondary oocytes
Metaphase II
Meiosis II arrest
Ovulation
Fertilization
PARTS OF THE MATURE (GRAAFIAN) FOLLICLE
1.Secondary oocyte
2.Zona pellucida
3.Corona radiata
4.Cumulus oophorous
5.Granulosa cells
6.Follicular antrum
7.Theca cells
8.Corpus luteum?
13
14 CLASS DISCUSSION

Outline the differences between

oogenesis and spermatogenesis
 15 CLASS DISCUSSION
SPERMATOGENESIS OOGENESIS
Starts at puberty Starts prenatally
No meiotic arrest Two meiotic arrests
Lasts about 2 months Lasts many years
Equal cell division Unequal cell division
4 viable cells 1 viable (polar bodies)
16 CLASS DISCUSSION
SPERMATOGENESIS OOGENESIS
Meiosis complete Meiosis incomplete
Both X & Y types Only X type
Motile cells Immotile cells
Continuous Cyclic (monthly)
Throughout life Stops at menopause
17 THE FALLOPIAN TUBES
Muscular tubes lined by ciliated
epithelial cells

Connect the ovaries to the uterus

Has several parts:

 18 PARTS OF THE FALLOPIAN TUBE
UTERUS UTERINE TUBE (OVIDUCT)
Fundus

Isthmus Ampulla
Body Intramural
segment
Infundibulum
Cervix Fimbria
19
FUNCTIONS THE FALLOPIAN TUBES

1. Transport of gametes

2. Site of fertilization

3. For early embryonic

development
20 THE UTERUS
21
NORMAL UTERINE POSITION
22 THE UTERUS – RELATIONS
23 LAYERS OF THE UTERINE WALL
24
THE VAGINAL CANAL

Functions:
1. Copulation

2. Birth canal

3. Path for menstrual

flow
HYPOTHALAMO-HYPOPHYSEAL-OVARIAN AXIS
HYPOTHALAMUS

GnRH

ANTERIOR PITUITARY
FSH LH

THE OVARY
FOLLICULOGENESIS OVULATION
ESTROGEN SECRETION PROGESTERONE SECRETION
 FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES
Hormonally regulated “monthly” cycles

Regulated by gonadotropic hormones (from

pituitary) and ovarian hormones

Involves changes in the ovary (ovarian cycles)

and endometrial lining (endometrial cycles)
 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 4

27
FSH FSH
Pituitary hormones

Folliculogenesis Corpus luteum

Ovarian events
Follicular Ovulatory Luteal
phase phase phase
Estrogen Progesterone
Ovarian hormones secretion secretion
Estrogen phase Progesterone phase

Thickening Glands
Endometrial events Proliferative Secretory Menstrual
phase phase phase
28
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES

a) Ovarian cycles:

1. Follicular phase

2. Ovulatory phase

3. Luteal phase
29 FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES
b) Endometrial cycles:
1. Proliferative phase

2. Secretory phase

3. Menstrual phase
30 FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES

c) Hormonal phases:

1. Estrogen phase

2. Progesterone phase
31
CONCEPT OF SAFE DAYS
32
THE FEMALE BREAST
Parts

Extents

Quadrants

Axillary tail
33
THE FEMALE BREAST
Parts

Extents

Quadrants

Axillary tail
STRUCTURE OF THE BREAST
35

THE END