MODULE

Sexual Anatomy and Physiology of Female

2

Intended Learning Outcome

At the end of the lesson, the students shall be able to:

1. Correctly identify and describe the functions of the internal and external sexual
organs of female reproductive organs.
2. Identify the changes that usually occur during puberty, and describe the changes
that typically happen in body’s assigned female at birth.
3. Describe the three phases of menstrual cycle.

Introduction

Human experience various physical and emotional changes from childhood to

adulthood. These changes are gradual and progress at different ages and speed in
different people. These stages are based on human growth and development from
childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.
This Lesson focuses on the adolescent stage of human development, which is
characterized by dynamic changes in physical and behavioral traits. Despite
differences in physical appearance, the sexual organs of men and women arise from
the same structures and fulfill similar functions. Each person has a pair of gonads:
ovaries are female gonads; testes are the male gonads. The gonads produce germ
cells and sex hormones. The female germ cells are ova (egg). Ova and sperm are the
basic units of reproduction; their union can lead to the creation of a new life.

Reflective Questions
1. What are the female internal and external reproductive structures and its functions?
2. What are the physical changes that occur in female during puberty?
3. What are the three phases of Menstrual Cycle?

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Lesson Proper

The Biological Female

The female sexual anatomy is designed for the production and fertilization of
ovum, as well as carrying and delivering infant offspring. Puberty signals the final
development of primary and accessory organs that support reproduction.
The female reproductive system is made up of the internal and external sex
organs that function in reproduction of new offspring. In humans, the female
reproductive system is immature at birth and develops to maturity at puberty to be able
to produce gametes, and to carry a fetus to full term.
The internal sex organs are the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The uterus
or womb accommodates the embryo which develops into the fetus. The uterus also
produces vaginal and uterine secretions which help the transit of sperm to the Fallopian
tubes. The ovaries produce the ova (egg cells).
The external sex organs are also known as the genitals and these are the organs
of the vulva including the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening. The vagina is connected to
the uterus at the cervix.[1]

Internal Female Sex Organs

The female internal reproductive organs are the vagina, uterus, Fallopian tubes,
and ovaries.

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Vagina. The vagina is a fibro muscular (made up of fibrous and muscular tissue) canal
leading from the outside of the body to the cervix of the uterus or worm. It is also
referred to as the birth canal in the context of pregnancy. The vagina accommodates
the male penis during sexual intercourse. Semen containing spermatozoa is ejaculated
from the male orgasm, into vagina potentially enabling fertilization of the egg cell (ovum)
to take place.
Cervix. The cervix is the neck of the uterus, the lower, narrow portion where it joins
with the upper part of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes
through the upper anterior vaginal wall. Approximately half its length is visible, the
remainder lies above the vagina beyond view. The vagina has a thick layer outside and
it is the opening where the fetus emerges during delivery.
Uterus. The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ. The strongest
muscle in the female body. A pear-shaped muscular organ. Its major function is to
accept a fertilized ovum which becomes implanted into the endometrium, and derives
nourishment from blood vessels which develop exclusively for this purpose. The
fertilized ovum becomes an embryo, develops into a fetus and gestates until childbirth.
If the egg does not embed in the wall of the uterus, a female begins menstruation.
Fallopian Tubes. The two tubes leading from the ovaries into the uterus. On maturity of
an ovum, the follicle and the ovary's wall rupture, allowing the ovum to escape and enter
the Fallopian tube. There it travels toward the uterus, pushed along by movements
of cilia on the inner lining of the tubes. This trip takes hours or days. If the ovum is
fertilized while in the Fallopian tube, then it normally implants in the endometrium when
it reaches the uterus, which signals the beginning of pregnancy.
Ovaries. The ovaries are small, paired organs located near the lateral walls of the
pelvic cavity. These organs are responsible for the production of the egg cells (ova) and
the secretion of hormones. The process by which the egg cell (ovum) is released is
called ovulation. The speed of ovulation is periodic and impacts directly to the length of
a menstrual cycle.

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The External Female Sex Organs

The external genitalia are the accessory structures of the female reproductive
system that are external to the vagina. They are also referred to as the vulva or
pudendum. The external genitalia include the labia majora, mons pubis, labia
minora, clitoris, and glands within the vestibule.
Vulva. The vulva is the outer part of the female genitals. The vulva includes the
opening of the vagina (sometimes called the vestibule), the labia majora (outer lips), the
labia minora (inner lips), and the clitoris
Mons Veneris. The fatty cushion of flesh in human females situated over the junction
of the pubic bones. During puberty, it becomes covered with hair. The mons
pubis contains oil-secreting (sebaceous) glands that release substances that are
involved in sexual attraction (pheromones).

Labia Majora. The labia majora are prominent hair‐bearing folds of skin that represent
the lateral boundaries of the vulva and meet to form the anterior boundary of the vulva
at the mons pubis. The outer lips surrounding all the other structures.
Prepuce. Clitoral hood (foreskin above and covering clitoris).

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Clitoris. Glans (head), shaft and crura (root), the clitoris is particularly sensitive to
stimulation. This is a gland that is highly sensitive and is made out of erectile tissue that
can become erect during arousal
Labia Minora. Inner lips surrounding the vestibule where sweat and oil glands,
extensive blood vessels, and nerve endings are located;
Vestibule. Area surrounding the urethral opening and vagina. Which is highly sensitive
with extensive blood vessels and nerve endings.
Urethral Opening. End of tube connecting to bladder and used for urination;
Vaginal Opening. Also called the vaginal vestibule or introitus. The opening into
the vagina. It's located between the urethra and the anus.
Perineum. Area of skin separating the genitalia from the anus; distance is less in
females than males.

Stage of Puberty
The menstrual cycle marks the beginning of puberty in females. The first episode
occurs between 11 to 15 years of age referred to as menarche. In generation of today,
others are already having their menstrual period even at the age of nine or ten years
old.
Menarche is a female’s first menstrual cycle, marked by her first episode of
menstrual bleeding. Menarche occurs during puberty preceded by breast growth,
axillary and pubic hair growth, and a growth spurt.
Menstruation pertains to the sloughing off of the uterine lining if conception has
not occurred. It may last within two to six days which follows a cycle ranging from 24 to
42 days. Regardless of the length of the cycle, menstruation begins about 14 day: after
ovulation (plus or minus one to two days). The overall cycle is governed by the
hypothalamus as it monitors hormone levels in the bloodstream.
It involves changes in the endometrium in response to the fluctuating blood levels
of ovarian hormones. These are three phases as described and shown in the figure
below.

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The Menstrual Phase

This occurs if the ovum is not fertilized and does not implant itself into the uterine
lining. The continued high levels of estrogen and progesterone causes the pituitary to
stop releasing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).
Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease causing the endometrium to be sloughed
off, and bleeding ensues. It is during this time that ovarian hormones are at their lowest
levels.
1. Proliferative Phase
It occurs when the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to release FSH
that stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and causes ova to mature in the ovarian
follicles. Endometrium is repaired, thickens, and becomes well-vascularized in response
to increasing levels of estrogens.
2. Secretory Phase
It occurs when the pituitary gland releases LH that causes them to release a
mature ovum and causes the remaining portion of the follicle to develop into the corpus
luteum. The corpus luteum then, produces progesterone. Endometrial glands begin to
secrete nutrients, and lining becomes more vascular in response to increasing level of
progesterone.

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Problems associated with menstruation include premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

(80-95% of women experience), dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation caused by
overproduction of prostaglandins, causing the uterine muscles to contract), and
amenorrhea (disruption or absence of menstruation). All of these involve the fluctuation
of hormone. levels associated with menstruation. At menopause (usually around age
45-50). A woman stops menstruating as ova are no longer brought to maturity. During
the three to four year. of these transition women may experience hot flashes, night
sweats, sleep disturbance. (resulting in fatigue, irritability, short-term memory loss,
difficult concentrating), headaches, anxiety, depression, and difficulty of becoming
sexually aroused

Female secondary sexual characteristics emerge after puberty:

1. Widening of hips and pelvis accommodates giving birth, but also results in downward
shift in center of gravity.
2. 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

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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.

Assessment

I. Direction: Identify the female external organs. Write your answer on the space
provided.

1. ________________________
2. ________________________
3. ________________________
4. ________________________
5. ________________________
6. ___________________________
7. ___________________________
8. ___________________________
9. ___________________________
10, ___________________________

II. What are some changes that female assigned bodies go through during puberty?
1.____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

2.____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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ASAQ

Assessment I
1. Clitoris 6. Ovary
2. Labia Majora 7. Vagina
3. Urethral Opening 8. Ovary
4. Labia Minora 9. Fallopian Tubes
5. Vagina 10. Cervix
Assessment II
1. Their hips become more rounded and they get a more defined waist.
2. The vulva, vagina and nipples get bigger and the breasts begin to develop.
3. Armpit and pubic hair will start to grow

References

Books/ Offline Source:

Atty. Eric Paul D. Peralta, Nepthaly Joel B. Botor, Dr. Teri Marie P. Laude. A Course Module for
Gender and Society: A Human Ecological Approach. Rex Bookstore

Physiology, Female Reproduction. Julie Rosner; Tijana Samardzic; Manbeer S.

Online Source:
Sarao Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537132

Female Reproductive System https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/female-repro.

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