BIO108: Human Biology

UNC-Asheville, s2008

Female Reproductive System

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

The female reproductive system consists of those structures within the female body within that are designed to create and nourish new life. The system includes the ovaries, includes fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina.

Kyla Jones Rae Kares DiAnna Ritola

view showing relationships to pelvis

ovary ovary uterine uterine tube tube

uterus uterus bladder bladder

vag vag in ina a

clitoris clitoris

Ovary Ovarian Tube (Fallopian Tube) Uterus (endometrium) Cervix Vagina

FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA ovary uterine tube Clitoris Labia Minora VULVA UTERUS Labia Majora
Pubic region (Mons veneris)

Urethra opening Vaginal opening Perineum

cervix

Anus

vagina

BIO108: Human Biology

UNC-Asheville, s2008

Vagina: the female organ of copulation, a muscular sheath (7-9 cm long) extends from the cervix to vestibule of vagina (cleft bet. the labia minora).

The Clitoris
The clitoris is the primary organ of sexual excitement for most women. With 8000 nerve endings (nearly 2x that of the head of the penis), it is the most sensitive portion of the womans body. It is found at the top of the woman vulva above the urethra and under the clitoral hood. When engorged the clitoris can be anywhere from the size of a chocolate chip to the size of a thumb. YouTube - The Internal Clitoris http://youtube.com/watch?v=cWRO0IIN_QE

labia

Vaginal opening

Clitoris Mass of erectile tissue (cavernous tissue) Anchored to base of pubic symphysis Protected by skin (prepuce) Entirely sensory function [dorsal N. of clitoris, from pudendal N.]

Erectile tissues (clitoris, bulb of vestibule) Overlying muscles UG diaphragm (external urethral sphincter)

Sexual sensation primarily through pudendal nerve [8000 fibers to clitoris?]

Greater Vestibular gland (Bartholins gland)

BIO108: Human Biology

UNC-Asheville, s2008

The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is the entire cycle of egg release from the ovary through the travel down the Fallopian tubes into the uterus where, if it has not been fertilized, it is released along with the thickened blood lining the uterus, which has built up over the 25-35 days since the last cycle to 25nourish the possible pregnancy.

Ovarian Cycle
oocyte OVULATION
Release of oocyte (mid-cycle)

ov ary

corpus luteum
forms from remnants forms from remnants of follicle makes of follicle makes progesterone progesterone

follicle

oocyte

corpus luteum degenerates.

Usu. release only one oocyte per month High multiple births in recent years is due to fertility treatments

Uterine Cycle (Menstrual Cycle)

begins at puberty (10-16 years) usually lasts ~28 days [24-32] menstruation bleeding that accompanies shedding of uterine lining (lasts ~5 days) ovulation (release of egg) occurs at middle of cycle amenorrhea (stopping of menstruation) can be caused by malnutrition, other problems

Idealized Reproductive Cycle, overview

Days* Phase 1-5
Click me! >>

Events shed uterine lining (bleeding) follicle matures, oocyte grows LH, FSH spike oocyte released corpus luteum secretes progesterone endometrium thickens to prepare for implantation

Menstruation Proliferative phase Ovulation Secretory phase

6-13

Medical Animation Library: Egg Production

http://www.pennhealth.com/health_info/animationplayer/egg_production.html

14 15-28

*specific days and time of ovulation vary between individuals and cycles

BIO108: Human Biology

UNC-Asheville, s2008

Hormones chemical messenger molecules carried by the blood potentially affect all cells of body (but, cell must have a receptor for the hormone) slow-acting; produce long-term changes in the activity of cells. all hormone-releasing tissues in the body together are the endocrine system.

Hormone Levels

Gonadotropic Hormones FSH & LH produced by pituitary gland Regulate ovulation Corpus Luteum follicle w/out egg secretes progesterone

Ovarian Cycle

Sex Hormone Levels Uterine Lining

Estrogen Triggers FSH and LH release Progesterone causes growth of uterine lining Thickness of endometrium

Ovulation release of an oocyte

Uterine Lining secretory menstrual

proliferative

Menstruation
Shedding of the uterine lining Caused by drop in progesterone
Click me! >>

Menstrual cycle changes (animation)

http://www.pennhealth.com/health_info/animationplayer/menstrual_cycle_tool.html

ENDOMETRIOSIS Displaced endometrial tissue, adheres to other parts of pelvis, abdomen

Sexual Intercourse
Vaginal sexual intercourse is the primary way in which a woman becomes pregnant. The simplest explanation of intercourse is when an erect penis is inserted in the vagina, but this doesnt explain the doesn complexity of how sex happens.

BIO108: Human Biology

UNC-Asheville, s2008

Click me! >>

Sexual Intercourse!
http://www.pennhealth.com/health_info/animationplayer/conception_pregnancy.html

Things to know: Where does fertilization take place? Why are there so many more sperm than eggs? Why/how does only one sperm fertilize an oocyte?

from A. Tsiaras The Architecture and Design of Man and Woman

Fertilization
Fertilization occurs when the sperm and the egg meet. Thats not a guarantee of That pregnancy, though. Pregnancy occurs when the zygote attaches to the uterine wall. http://websrvr40nj.audiovideoweb.com/av webdsnjwebsrvr4501/portal/media/mediawebdsnjwebsrvr4501/portal/media/media050516-pregnancy.html 050516from A. Tsiaras The Architecture and Design of Man and Woman

Ovulation occurs at mid-cycle Oocyte swept into uterine tube by fimbriae

Sperm released into vagina

oviduct

FERTILIZATION
Occurs near beginning of oviduct

ovary

OVULATION

uterus cervix

Single sperm fuses with oocyte Oocyte activation

prevents other sperm from entering triggers division

vagina INTERCOURSE

ZYGOTE
nuclei fuse fertilized cell

BIO108: Human Biology

UNC-Asheville, s2008

1 oocyte ~200,000,000 sperm Single sperm cannot fertilize by itself enzymes digest cells around oocyte

IMPLANTATION: zygote divides into a hollow ball of cells (blastocyst) that sticks to endometrium, to form the embryo and placenta 3. Cell Division
zygote

Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the term used to describe when a woman has a growing fetus inside of her. In most cases, the fetus grows in the uterus.

2. fertilization 1. ovulation

Human pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, or just more than 9 months, from the start of the last menstrual period to childbirth. period

4. implantation

HCG
4 weeks

After implantation, cells begin to release HCG*

Maintains corpus luteum (of ovary) = increased progesterone (keep uterine lining) HCG is substance detected by home pregnancy tests Later, placenta makes its own progesterone

from A. Tsiaras The Architecture and Design of Man and Woman

*HCG = Human Chorionic Growth hormone

BIO108: Human Biology

UNC-Asheville, s2008

Location of Fetus in Abdomen

Pregnant (near-term) Non-pregnant

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY Ball of cells implants somewhere other than uterus (98% in uterine tube)

Can you understand why there are problems with urination and constipation during pregnancy?

How do I know Im pregnant? I

The primary sign of pregnancy is missing one or more consecutive menstrual periods. Nausea or vomiting, morning sickness Sore breasts or nipples Fatigue Headaches Food cravings or aversions Mood swings Frequent urination A pregnancy test is the best way to determine if you are pregnant.

Birth
Experts don't fully understand what triggers the onset of labor, and there's no way to predict exactly when it will start. Here are some things that may happen in the weeks may or days before labor starts: The baby "drops" There is an increase in Braxton Hicks contractions. The cervix starts to ripen: soften and thin out Loss of mucus plug or visibility of "bloody show." Amniotic sac ruptures aka the water breaks. Labor can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Each woman is different woman and by working with her midwife or obstetrician she can stay at home for the entire birth or she can choose to stay home for the majority of the labor and go to the labor birthing center or hospital as she gets closer to delivery.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=C0QIAZJ_CuE

YouTube Child Birth:

Terminology: Embryo
fertilization 8 weeks organogenesis cervix

PARTURITION

Fetus
8 weeks birth growth and maturation dilation

Full-term
38-42 weeks ~24 weeks (>50% survival)

Neonate
newborn breaks connection with mother expulsion Ejection of placenta (afterbirth)