ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF FEMALE ● originating from Mon Pubis and

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM terminating the perineum

Reproduction - process of producing ● its outer surface is thick and

offspring. covered by hair; the inner surface
is smooth and moist.
Genitals - external sex organs.
● it provides covering & Protection
Primary sex characteristic - sex to the external organs located
characteristics that are present at birth. under it.

Secondary sex characteristics - sex Nulliparous women: in close apposition to

characteristics that emerge during puberty. each other; nut tends to gape wider after birth.

gonads - produce germ cells and sex

hormones.
LABIA MINORA

● two thin folds of connective tissue

EXTERNAL ORGANS that joints anteriorly to form the
prepuce and posteriorly to form
the fourchette.

● Nulliparous women: Covers the

vaginal introitus, vestibule &
urethra.

MONS PUBIS

● pad of adipose tissue located

over the symphysis pubis.
● protects the junction of pubic
bone from trauma.

● richly supplied with sebaceous

glands.
CLITORIS

● known as the “seat of woman’s

LABIA MAJORA sexual arousal and orgasm”.
● highly sensitive and erectile.
● two thick folds of adipose tissues
 ● Tissue situated under the bladder to discharge urine
prepuce of Labia Minora. outside the body in a female.

VESTIBULE HYMEN

● Triangular space between the ● thin but tough and elastic

Labia Minora where the following semicircular membrane that
openings are located: covers the opening of vagina.

(1) Urethral Opening ● often torn during the first sexual

contact.
(2) Vaginal Opening

(3) Opening of Bartholin’s Glands

Imperforate Hymen- a hymen that completely
(4) Opening of Skene’s Glands covers the vaginal opening preventing coitus
and passage of menstrual discharge.

VAGINAL OPENING
Hymenotomy/Hymenectomy- surgical
● the external opening of the incision of an imperforate hymen.
vagina located just below the
urethral meatus.

● Grafenberg or G spot is located

at the anterior surface of the
vagina.

SKENE’S GLANDS

● Paraurethral glands; minor

vestibular glands
URETHRAL OPENING
● The Skene's glands are located
● external opening of female in the general area of the vulva
urethra located in the midline of on the anterior wall of the vagina
the vestibule just below the around the lower end of the
clitoris urethra.
● the external opening of the
transport tube that leads from the
 VAGINA

● a tubular Musculo membranous

structure about 8-12 cm long that
BARTHOLIN’S GLANDS extends from the vulva to the
uterus.
● vulvovaginal glands; Major
vestibular glands; paravaginal Functions are:
glands
- an excretory canal of the
● situated on each inner side of the uterus through which
vagina uterine secretions and
menstrual flow escape.
● lubricates the external vulva
during coitus with an alkaline - The female organ for
secretion that enhances sperm copulation forms part of
survival. the birth canal.

UTERUS
FOURCHETTE ● a hollow muscular canal
resembling an inverted pear that
● also known as “Frenulum of is situated in the true pelvis.
Labia Minora”.
Functions:
● the ridge of tissue formed by the
posterior joining of the two labia; (1) Organ of reproduction.
sometimes cut during episiotomy.
(2) Organ of menstruation.

(3) Uterine contraction for the expulsion

INTERNAL ORGANS of the fetus during delivery and to seal
torn blood vessels after placental
delivery.
 (2) Endocervical Canal- continuation of
uterine cavity.
LAYERS OF THE UTERUS
(3) External Cervical Os- opens into the
Perimetrium- outermost serosal layer attached vagina.
to the broad ligament.

Myometrium- middle muscular layer.

Responsible for uterine contractions and
thickest at the fundamental area.

Endometrium- innermost ciliated mucosal

layer.

STRUCTURE OF UTERUS

FUNDUS – uppermost convex triangular

portion between the points of insertion of
fallopian tube

BODY – usual site for implantation of the

blastocyst.
ISTHMUS- becomes only prominent near the
end of labor to form the lower uterine segment
together with the cervix.
CERVIX – lower part of uterus linking it with
the vagina. This part is structurally and
functionally different to the rest of the uterus.
FALLOPIAN TUBES - pair of tube-like
structures originating from the cornual of the
uterus with distal ends located near the ovaries
Parts of Fallopian Tubes:
(1) Interstitial/Intramural.
(2) Isthmus – narrowest portion.

(3) Ampulla- middle, widest part; site for

fertilization.

(4) Infundibulum- has fimbriae (funnel shaped

opening at the distal end).

OVARIES - almond shape glandular organs

located on each side of the uterus; movable in
palpation.

Functions:

(1) Oogenesis- growth, development and

PARTS OF CERVIX maturation of egg cells.

(1) Internal Cervical Os – opens into the (2) Ovulation – release the mature egg cell.
corpus.
(3) Hormone production – synthesis and
secretion of steroid hormones.
PUBERTY
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Menstrual phase - this occurs if the ovum is
not fertilized and does not implant itself into the
uterine lining.
Proliferative phase - it occurs when the
hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to
release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) that
stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and
causes ova to mature in the ovarian follicles.
Secretory phase - it occurs when the pituitary
gland releases luteinizing hormone (LH) that
causes the ovary to release a mature ovum
and causes the remaining portion of the follicle
to develop into the corpus luteum.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH
MENSTRUATION
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) - 80-95% of
women experience
Dysmenorrhea - painful menstruation caused
by overproduction of prostaglandins causing
the uterine muscles to contract.
Amenorrhea - disruption or absence of
menstruation.
Menopause - usually around age 45-50, a
woman stops menstruating as ova are no
longer brought to maturity.
Female Secondary Sexual Characteristics
Emerge After Puberty
● Widening of hips and pelvis -
accommodates giving birth, but also
results in downward shift in center of
gravity
● Enlargement of breasts - at puberty,
both the glandular and fatty tissues of
the breasts develop considerably.
Differences in breast size between
women are primarily due to differences
in the amount of fatty tissue. It is also
not uncommon for one of a woman's
breasts to be slightly larger than the
other.
● Generally shorter than men.
● Greater proportion of body weight
composed of fat than men.
● Two X chromosomes reduces
expression of many sex-linked
conditions.
● Lower mortality rate at every age and
longer projected lifespan than men.

THE BIOLOGICAL MALE
THE MALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Prepuce Foreskin - covering head of penis,
removed in male circumcision.
Penis Glans - (head), shaft, and root. The
glans is particularly sensitive to stimulation.
Running the length of the penis is the urethra
surrounded by the spongy body and two
cylindrical chambers known as the cavernous
bodies.
Corona - rim of glans where it arises from the
shaft.
Frenulum - thin strip of skin connecting glans
and shaft on underside of penis.
Scrotum sac - that encloses the two
compartments housing the testes.
Urethral - opening found on head of penis.
This is the end of the tube connected to the
bladder and used for urination. It is also the
tube to which internal structures deliver semen
by which male ejaculate.
Perineum - area of skin separating the
genitalia from the anus, distance is greater in
males than females.
THE MALE INTERNAL GENITALIA
Testes - produce androgen, particularly large
quantities of testosterone, which greatly
influence male development and drive sexual
motivation.
vas deferens - travels from testicle toward
urethra carrying sperm.
Seminal vesicles - two glands that produce
alkaline fluid rich in fructose sugar, comprising
some 70% of semen volume. Alkaline nature
may stimulate sperm to start self-propulsion
and sugar may provide sperm nutrients. Ducts
carry fluid and connect with vas deferens
forming ejaculatory ducts.
Ejaculatory ducts – connect the vas deferens
to urethra.
Prostate – a gland producing alkaline
secretions that account for about 30% of
semen volume. Alkaline nature may help
counteract otherwise, acidic environment of
urethra and vagina making them more
hospitable to sperm. Fluid passes through a
series of ducts along the wall of the urethra.
Urethra - tube within penis that carries sperm
and semen the rest of the way to the opening
of the penis.
MALE HORMONES
Testosterone

- the major male hormone produced mainly by

the testes.

- responsible for the growth and development

of a boy during adolescence and for the
development of sperm and secondary sexual
characteristics.

Adrenal glands also produce some

testosterone.

MALE SECONDARY SEXUAL

CHARACTERISTICS

● no monthly cycle.
● elongation of vocal cords (lower
voice).
● broader shoulders.

● deeper chest cavity.

MORE MALE CHARACTERISTICS

● generally taller and greater

proportion of body weight
composed of water.
● proportionately larger heart and
lungs, presumably to handle
greater blood fluid volume.
● exposure to greater levels of
testosterone resulting in heavier
body and facial hair but also
increased frequency and degree
of baldness.

● single X chromosome resulting in

sex-linked conditions such as
colorblindness and hemophilia.