Female

Reproductive
System
Female Reproductive System is
designed to carry out several functions:

 for the production of female gamete,

called ovum, and for receiving the
male gamete.
 The site of fertilization
 Development of zygote
 Different parts
and its functions
Front view of the female reproductive organs
Side View section of female pelvis showing internal reproductive organs
 Ovaries-produce egss and hormones.
 Fallopian tube -transport the egg from the
ovary to the uterus.
 Uterus – site of implantation & development
 Urethra-tube that conveys urine from the urinary
bladder to the outside of the body.
 Cervix – narrow neck of the uterus which
projects into the vagina inferiorly
 Vagina – receives sperm during copulation;
serves as birth canal
 Clitoris-Located at the anterior junction of the
labia minora; highly innervated by sensory
neurons
 External Structures
 Labia majora - hair-covered, longitudinal folds
comprised mostly of adipose covered by
skin;Enclose and protect other external structures
 Labia minora - Hairless, flattened, longitudinal
folds located in the cleft between the labia majora;
Close to cover and protect vaginal and external
urethral openings
 Vestibule – region between the labia minora
 Process of oogenesis
 Ovum
- is produced in either
of the two ovaries which
are located in the
abdominal cavity. The
number of eggs cells is
predetermined at birth,
unlike sperms cell which
are produced everyday.
 At birth, a baby girl has about 2 million immature egg cells
called primary oocytes. At puberty, the primary oocytes and the
cluster of cells surrounding the oocyte develop to form a follicle.
As the follicle completes its first meiotic division, it results into
two cells that are of different sizes
The smaller one called the first polar body may later divide into
two but they eventually disintegrate. The larger cell is is called
the secondary follicle containing the secondary oocyte. This will
proceed to the second meiotic division but remains suspended
until the metaphase. The process is completed when the egg is
fertilized.
The Ovarian
Cycle
Two Phases:
 Follicular- when the ovum is released from the
ovary. The growth and maturation of the egg cell
takes place in the follicle. Hence, it is called
follicular phase (FSH). A hormone called
follicle-stimulating hormone produced by the
pituitary gland stimulates the follicle to mature
into egg cells. The FSH is produced through the
influence of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone
(GnRH) which is produced by the hypothalamus
of the brain.
As this happens, FSH stimulates the follicles: they
secrete estrogen, which increases the level of FSH
and at the same time signaling the uterine lining to
initiate thickening . The surge of estrogen level will
signal the secretion of the luteinizing hormone(LH).
This hormone will cause the competing follicles to
mature, but only one would be fast enough to
mature and burst, releasing an ovum. The process is
called ovulation.
 Luteal phase
-where LH is used to stimulate the development of
corpus luteum.

Corpus luteum is a yellow body from the follicle that

discharges the secondary oocyte.

The stimulation of the corpus luteum by the LH will

lead to the secretion of progesterone and estrogen. These
hormones will signal the uterus to continue thickening
in preparation for pregnancy.
 If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum
will disintegrate and the level of progesterone
will decrease. The decreased level of
progesterone will cause small arteries in the
endometrium to constrict, reducing oxygen
supply, causing cells in the endometrium to die
and damaged arteries to rupture and bleed
marking a period in the menstrual cycle.
 If fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum
continues to separate progesterone. The
production of progesterone continues further in a
successful implantation of a fertilized egg into
the uterus because the human embryo secretes
another hormone called human chorionic
gonadotrophin (HCG), a hormone which
stimulates the corpus luteum to secrete
progesterone during pregnancy. In fact, the
presence of HCG gives a positive indication of
pregnancy.
The Menstrual or
Uterine Cycle
 Once a month, every girl who is
sexually mature experiences
menstruation. Menstruation is just one
state of the menstrual cycle. What is
menstrual cycle and how does it differ
from the ovarian cycle?
 Ovarian Cycle involves the changes in the
ovaries that happen in a grown-up female each
month. On the other hand, menstrual cycle refers
to the changes in the uterus.
 Menstruation or Period
 Is a discharge of
blood, mucus, and
disintegrated tissues
that a woman
experiences once a
month.
 The process is due to
the shedding of the
uterine lining.
 Menstrual Cycle is divided into 3
phases:
 The Menstrual flow phase
marks the first day of the menstrual cycle as the
uterine wall sheds layer of blood and mucus that
formed. This period continuous for a few days.
 Proliferative phase
the endometrium begins to regenerate new uterine
lining for a week or two.
 Secretory phase
where the endometrium continues to thicken in
preparation for implantation, if ever an egg cell is
fertilized. This period last for two weeks. When a
fertilized egg is not implanted, the uterine wall begins to
shed. This marks the menstrual flow phase and the cycle
continues.
EYE-OPENING

FACTS
!
 Vaginas are lined with ringed muscular ridges.
The rings allow it to expand up to 200%
during childbirth.
 A doctor once removed a potato that started
sprouting vines out of a patient’s vagina. The
patient said her mother told her to put it there
to prevent pregnancy.
 Vaginas can be super strong. In 2009, a
woman reportedly set the vagina weightlifting
record by lifting 31 pounds
 Average period can release from one cup down to
a few tablespoon’s of blood.
 A woman can spend about 7-10% of her life on
her period.
 Some other animals, reabsorb their urine lining
instead of shedding it. Like rats.
 Menstrual blood is considered poison in 16th and
17th century in Europe.
 About 1 in 500 female babies are born without
vaginas. It is called Vaginal Agenesis.
THE
END