Female Reproductive organs in Human

Female Reproductive Organs

• The female reproductive system is  located in the pelvic region.

• It  comprises a pair of ovaries, oviduct or fallopian tube, uterus and vagina.

• These parts of the system alongwith a pair of the mammary glands are integrated structurally and functionaly to support the processes of ovulation, fertilisation, pregnancy, birth and child care.

• The female reproductive organs  produce haploid female gametes called ova  and secrete female sex hormones called  estrogen which is steroid in nature.

Ovaries

• The ovaries are located one on each side of the lower abdomen. Each ovary is about 2 to 4 cm in length and is connected to the pelvic wall and uterus by ligaments. 

• Each ovary is covered by a thin epithelium which encloses the ovarlan stroma. The stroma is divided into two zones - a peripheral cortex and an inner medulla.

• The ovaries are  female gonads that produce  female gametes called ova  and secrete female  sex hormones called Estrogen which are steroid in nature.

• The gametes produced by the ovaries are called ova or oocytes through the process of Oogenesis

• The main sex hormone secreted by the ovaries is estrogen.

• Each ovary is located at each  side of the uterus and attached by Fibrous ligaments  with oviduct and uterus.

• These ligaments keep the ovaries in proper position  in the pelvic part of the body.

• Each ovary is covered by a thin epithelium which encloses the ovarlan stroma. The stroma is divided into two zones - a peripheral cortex and an inner medulla.

• The ovary is also supplied with  blood and lymphatic vessels.

• The ovarian cortex consists of the functional units of the ovaries called ovarian follicles. 

• When these follicles are matured completely then the follicle ruptures and the ovum is released from the ovary by the process of ovulation.

Oviducts

• Each fallopian tube is about 10-12 cm long and extends from the periphery of each ovary to the uterus 

• The oviducts or  Fallopian tubes are  tubes like structures located  between the ovaries and the uterus.

• The part of oviducts called the infundibulum is located  very close to the ovaries.

• The infundibulum also has finger like projections called fimbriae that help to collect eggs from the ovaries into the oviducts.

• The infundibulum leads to a wider part of the oviduct called ampulla. The last part of the oviduct, isthmus has a narrow lumen and it joins the uterus

• The lower ends of the oviducts are attached to the upper part of the body of the uterus called ampulla. The oviducts  which  can help to move ova through the tube from the ovary to the uterus. 

• Some cells of oviduct secrete a fluid called tubular fluid. This fluid contains nutrients for sperm, ova, and zygotes.

• The tubular fluid also make some changes in Plasma membrane of sperm to make easy penetration of sperm into  egg.

• Contractions of the smooth muscle of oviduct allow peristalsis to help move eggs through the tubes.

Uterus

• The uterus is also  called the womb. It  is a pear-shaped, muscular organ .

• The position of the uterus in the pelvis is attached by several ligaments and of supportive tissue.

• The uterus where a foetus is developed during gestation. Contractions of the muscular wall of the uterus are involved in parturition or delivery of a baby through the birth canal.

• The uterus consists of three tissue layers, called the endometrium, myometrium, and perimetrium.

• The endometrium is the innermost tissue layer of the uterus.

• Endometrium undergoes cyclical changes during menstrual cycle. 

• If an ovum is fertilized, the  endometrium is maintained by hormones and provides nourishment to the embryo.

• The endometrium also develops a connection between  the maternal body and foetus called  placenta.

• The placenta is a temporary organ that consists of a mass of maternal and fetal blood vessels through which the mother’s and fetus’s blood exchange substances.

👌👌Remember - The myometrium is the middle layer of the uterus. It consists of smooth muscle tissue. Powerful contractions of the smooth muscle allow the uterus to contract and expel an infant during childbirth.

• The perimetrium is the outermost layer of the uterus.

• It covers the outer surface of the uterus. This layer is generally protective in nature.

• The uterus opens into vagina through a narrow cervix. The cavity of the cervix İs called cervical canal which alongwith vagina forms the birth canal.

Vagina

• The cervix of the uterus opens into the vagina. The body of the uterus lies above the cervix.

• A small canal that connects the uterine cavity with the lumen of the vagina is termed birth canal.

• This allows the baby to pass from the uterus into the vagina during birth.

• The rest of the uterus above the cervix is called the body of the uterus. The upper end of the uterus is connected with the two oviducts

Vulva

• Word vulva is generally used for all of the external female reproductive organs.

• The vulva includes the clitoris, labia, and external openings for the urethra and vagina.

External genitalia

• The female external genitalia include mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, hymen and clitoris.

• Mons pubis is a cushion of fattytissue covered by skin and pubic hair. 

• The labia majora are fleshy folds of tissue, which extend down from the mons pubis and surround the vaginal opening. The labia minora are paired folds of tissue under the labia majora

Hymen

• The opening of the vagina is often covered partially by a membrane called hymen.

• The hymen isoften torn during the first coitus However, it can also be broken by a sudden fall or  active participation in some sports like horseback riding, cycling, etc. 

• In some women the hymen persists even after coitus. In fact, the presence or absence of hymen is not a reliable indicator of virginity or sexual experience.

Labia

• The labia  are  lips like the structure  of the vulva. There are two pairs of labia, the outer and larger labia majora, and the inner and smaller labia minora.

• The labia minora contain numerous sebaceous glands. These glands release secretions that help lubricate the labia and area of vulva.

Clitoris

• The clitoris is located at the front of the vulva where the labia minora meet.

• The visible portion of the clitoris is called the glans clitoris. The clitoris is homologous to the male penis, and they both contain spongy tissue. 

• Stimulation of the glans clitoris during sexual activity generally results in sexual urge in females.

Mammary glands

• A functional paired mammary gland is characteristic of all female mammals.

• The mammary glands has glandular tissue and variable amount of fat. 

• The glandular tissue is divided into 15-20 mammary lobes  which has  clusters of cellsa Called alveoli.

• The cells of alveoli secrete milk, which is stored in  the cavities  of alveoli. The alveoli open into mammary tubules.

• The  mammary tubules  join to  mammary duct. 

• Several mammary ducts join to form a wider mammary ampulla which is connected to lactiferous duct through which milk is sucked out.