produce

ova
receive sperm
site of fertilization
hold & nourish embryo/fetus
bear infant
nurse infant

Vulvawhich runs from the pubic area

downward to the rectum.

Mons pubis or "mound of Venus" is the Vshaped area covered with hair

Labia majora or "greater lips" are the part

around the vagina containing two glands
(Bartholins glands)which helps lubrication
during intercourse.
Male Homolog = scrotum

 Labia

minora or "lesser lips" are the thin

hairless ridges at the entrance of the
vagina, which joins behind and in front.
In front they split to enclose the clitoris

Clitoris

is a small pea-shaped structure

(equivalent to penis in males ) It plays an
important part in sexual excitement in
females. Male Homolog = penis

Urethral orifice or external urinary opening is

below the clitoris on the upper wall of the vagina
and is the passage for urine

Introitus or opening of the vagina is separate from

the urinary opening (unlike males) and located
below it.

Hymen is a thin cresentic fold of tissue which

partially covers the opening of the vagina. medically
it is no longer considered to be a 100% proof of
female virginity.

 Skenes

Glands or para-urethral glands

are ducts open to the urethra and
contributes to the lubrication of external
genitalia during coitus.

Fourchette

is the fusion of the posterior

labia minora and labia majora which is
often cut during episiotomy.

 Perineal

Body is the muscular area

which when stretch during birth allows for
easy passage of fetus.

 Ovaries
Each ovary is about the size and shape of an

almond. In young women the ovaries are about 1 2 inches long, 1 inch wide & 1/3 inch thick. After
menopause they tend to shrink.
they produce eggs (also called ova) every female is
born with a lifetime supply of eggs
they also produce hormones:

Estrogen & Progesterone

Male Homolog = testes

PARTS:
Medulla
Cortex

 Follicles contain oocytes

Primordial
Primary
Secondary
Graafian (vesicular)
Corpus luteum
Corpus albicans

 Fallopian (Uterine) Tube

Stretch from the uterus to the ovaries and

measure about 8 to 13 cm in length.

range in width from about one inch at the end
next to the ovary, to the diameter of a strand
of thin spaghetti.
The ends of the fallopian tubes lying next to
the ovaries feather into ends called fimbria

 Millions of tiny hair-like cilia line the fimbria

and interior of the fallopian tubes. The cilia
beat in waves hundreds of times a second
catching the egg at ovulation and moving it
through the tube to the uterine cavity.
Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian
tube

PARTS:
Infundibulum:

open, funnelshaped end

Fimbriae:
thin, finger-like
ends of
infundibulum

Uterus
Pear-shaped muscular organ in the upper female

reproductive tract.
The fundus is the upper portion of the uterus where
pregnancy occurs.
The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus that connects
with the vagina and serves as a sphincter to keep the
uterus closed during pregnancy until it is time to deliver a
baby.
The uterus expands considerably during the reproductive
process. the organ grows to from 10 to 20 times its normal
size during pregnancy.

Layers:
Perimetrium
Serosa, peritoneum

Myometrium
Smooth muscle

Endometrium
Stratum basalis
Stratum functionalis

 Cervix
The lower portion or neck of the uterus.
The cervix is lined with mucus, the quality

and quantity of which is governed by monthly

fluctuations in the levels of the estrogen and
progesterone.

When estrogen levels are low, the mucus tends

to be thick and sparse, hindering sperm from
reaching the fallopian tubes. But when an egg is
ready for fertilization, estrogen levels are high,
the mucus then becomes thin and slippery,
offering a friendly environment to sperm

At the end of pregnancy, the cervix acts as the passage

through which the baby exits the uterus into the vagina. The
cervical canal expands to roughly 50 times its normal width in
order to accommodate the passage of the baby during birth

 Vagina

vagin = sheath

a muscular, ridged sheath connecting

the external genitals to the uterus.

 functions

as a two-way street, accepting

the penis and sperm during intercourse
and roughly nine months later, serving as
the avenue of birth through which the new
baby enters the world

 Lower

part of birth canal

Receptacle for penis
Lined with stratified squamous epithelium
Extensible
Expands to allow passage of fetal head, ~ 10
cm diameter

Pelvic bones with supporting ligaments.

The false pelvis is a shallow cavity above the inlet;

the true pelvis is a deeper portion of the cavity
below the inlet

The true pelvis consists of the inlet,

cavity (midpelvis), and outlet.

Muscles of the pelvic floor. (The puborectalis,

pubovaginalis, and coccygeal muscles cannot be
seen from this view.)

Pelvic blood supply

When the girl becomes sexually mature, the

primary oocytes recommence their
development, usually one at a time and once
a month.

The primary oocyte grows much larger and

completes the MEISOSIS I, forming a large
secondary oocyte and a small polar body
that receives little more than one set of
chromosomes.

In humans (and most vertebrates), the first

polar body does not go on to meiosis II, but
the secondary oocyte does proceed as far as
metaphase of MEIOSIS II and then stops.

Only if fertilization occurs will meiosis II

ever be completed. Entry of the sperm
restarts the cell cycle.

 The

timing of ovulation varies with the

length of a woman's menstrual cycle.

In the average 28 day menstrual cycle,

the LH surge usually occurs between
cycle days 11-13 and ovulation follows
about 36-48 hours later, on or close to
cycle day 14.

 Women

with shorter menstrual cycle

lengths tend to ovulate earlier and women
with longer cycle lengths tend to ovulate
later than cycle day 14.

Despite the variations in menstrual cycle

length, the time from ovulation to the
onset of the next menstrual period is
usually constant (2 weeks). This principle
is the basis for the use of ovulation
calendars that take into account an
individual's shortest and longest cycle
lengths.

 Follicular

phase
Growth, development of follicles to
ovulation.

Luteal

phase
Development & secretion by corpus
luteum

 MENSTRUAL PHASE

commences as hormone production by

corpus luteum declines

PROLIFERATIVE PHASE
concurrent with follicular maturation and
influenced by estrogens
SECRETORY PHASE
concurrent with luteal phase and
influenced by progesterone

 MENSTRUATION

First days of cycle when endometrium is

shed.
PROLIFERATIVE PHASE
Major hormone involved is estrogen,
which influences build-up of
endometrium; also called FOLLICULAR
PHASE.

 OVULATION

Release of ovum, usually 14 days (plus

or minus 2) before cycle end.

SECRETORY PHASE
Major hormone is progesterone, which
influences myometrium (decreased
irritability); also called LUTEAL PHASE.