B.

Sc DEGREE COURSE IN NURSINGIV YEAR

(BASIC)
Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing

UNIT : 2 REVIEW OF ANATOMY AND

PHYSIOLOGY OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM AND FOETALDEVELOPMENT

TOPIC : Anatomy And Physiology Female

Reproductive System

Mrs.R.Mohana.M.Sc (Nsg)
WHY DO WE NEED TO REPRODUCE?INTRODUCTION:

• To ensure survival of the species

• To produce eggs and sperm cells
• To transport and sustain these cells
• To nurture the developing offspring
• To produce hormones
OVERVIEW

 The female reproductive system is designed to carryout several functions.

 4 is the normal pH of the vagina.
 40 weeks is the normal gestation period.
 400 oocytes released between menarche andmenopause.
 400,000 oocytes present at puberty.
 28 days in a normal menstrual cycle.
 280 days (from last normal menstrual period) in anormal gestation period
TERMINOLOGIES

 OOGENESIS-The development of the egg ovum inthe ovary.

 OOGONIA: during fetal growth the oogonia (2n) divide to form primary oocytes
(2n), at puberty these willform secondary oocytes (n) and later eggs (n) each month.
 GRANULOSA CELLS: nourish the developing eggcells
 Diploid : (2n)-human cell contains 46 chromosomesand is called diploid (2n).
 Haploid : (n). sex cells, called gametes, contain only23 chromosomes, haploid
(n).
 VAGINA : canal that connects the uterus to theenvironment
 CERVIX : muscular ring of tissue at mouth of uterusseparating it from the
vagina, holds the fetus in place
FUNCTIONS OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVESYSTEM

Formation of ova
 Reception of spermatozoa
 Provision of suitable environment for fertilization andfetal development
 Parturition
 Lactation, the production of breast milk, which provides complete nourishment
for the baby in its earlylife.
FUNCTIONS OF EXTERNAL FEMALEREPRODUCTIVE ORGAN

To enable sperm to enter the body

Protect the internal genital organs from infectiousorganisms.
FUNCTIONS OF INTERNAL FEMALEREPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
The internal genital organs form a pathway (the genitaltract). This pathway consists
of the following functions:

Vagina (part of the birth canal), where sperm aredeposited and from which
a baby can emerge

 Uterus, where an embryo can develop into a fetus

 Fallopian tubes (oviducts), where a sperm can fertilizean egg
 Ovaries, which produce and release eggs
EXTERNAL FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS

MONS PUBIS
A region of adipose tissue above the vagina that iscovered with hair.

LABIA: Rich in nerve endings and blood vesselsProtects internal organs against
pathogens Functions in sexual arousal
LABIA MAJORA

Has two folds of adipose tissue that border each sideof the vagina.

The labia majora enclose and protect the otherexternal reproductive organs.

Literally translated as "large lips," the labia majora arerelatively large and fleshy

It contain sebaceous glands . After puberty, the labiamajora are covered with
hair.
LABIA MINORA

The labia minora are smaller folds (forchette) of skin thatlie inside the labia majora.

Contains no hair follicles or sweat glands.

The folds contain connective tissues numerous sebaceous gland, erectile muscle
fibers and numerousvessels and nerve endings

surround the openings to the vagina (the canal that joinsthe lower part of the uterus to
the outside of the body) and urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the
outside of the body).
 CLITORIS

It is small cylindrical erectile bodyMeasuring about

1.5 to 2cm

Situated in the most anterior part of the vulva The twolabia minora meet at the
clitoris

A small, sensitive protrusion.

The clitoris is covered by a fold of skin, called theprepuce, richly supplied

with nerves.

The clitoris is very sensitive to stimulation and canbecome erect.

VESTIBULE

The vestibule is formed by the labia minora.

It encloses
Urethral opening,
Vaginal orifice and hymen, Ducts from the greatervestibular
URETHERAL OPENING
Situated in midline just infront of the vaginal orificeAbout 1-1.5 cm below the

pubic arch.
 VAGINAL ORIFICE AND HYMEN

Lies in the posterior end of the vestibule

It completely enclosed by a septum of mucousmembrane called hymen

Hymen Located just inside the vaginal OpeningNo known function; not

always present

It is usually ruptured at the consummation of marriage

DUCTS FROM THE GREATER VESTIBULAR

Bartholin's glands:

There are two bartholin’s glands one on each side

Each gland has a duct which measures about 2 cmand open into vestibular
outside

Close to the posterior end of the vestibular bulb

During sexual excitement it secretes abundant alkalinemucus which helps in

lubrication.
BLOOD SUPPLY

Arteries – Branch of internal pudendal arteryBranch of femoral

artery

Veins – Internal pudendal vein

Vesicle or vaginal venous plexusLong saphenous
vein
NERVE SUPPLY
Bilateral somatic nerve

Anterosuperior part:

Cutaneous branch from ilioinguinal Genital branch from

genitofemoral nerve

Posteroinferior part:

Pudental branch from posterior cutaneoys nerve

LYMPHATIC

Superficial inguinal nodes

Intermediate groups of inguinal lymph nodesExternal and internal

iliac lymph nodes

INTERNAL FEMALE GENITAL ORGAN

Vagina = “birth canal”

• A tube like, muscular but elastic organ

• About 4 to 5 inches long in an adult woman.
• PH- 4 acidic
• It is the passageway for sperm to the egg and formenstrual bleeding
• Organ of copulation and forms the birth canal ofparturition
STRUCTURE OF THE VAGINA

Posterior wall of vagina is 10 c m longAnterior wall is

only 7.5 cm length

The upper end of the vagina is known as thevault

Pink in appearance

It connects the external genital organs to theuterus. the organ of

sexual intercourse in women.
FORNICS OF THE VAGINA

Formed at the top of vagina due to projection of theuterine cervix

Four fornics are there

One anterior – front of cervixOne posterior
– behind
Two lateral – either side of cervix
RELATIONS OF THE VAGINA

Anterior to the vagina – lie the bladder and the urethra which
are closely connected to the anterior vaginal wall

Posterior to the vagina – lie the pouch of douglas, the rectum and the perineal body;
each occupying one third of the posteriorvaginal wall

Laterally – on the upper two third are the pelvic fascia and the
ureters, which pass beside the cervix

Superior to the vagina – lies the utreus

Inferior to the vagina – lies the external genitalia

BLOOD SUPPLY

Arteries – cervico vaginal branch of uterine arteryvaginal artery-anterior division

of internal iliac & Internal pudendal

Veins – Internal iliac vein

Internal pudendal vein
LYMPHATIC

Internal iliac group Superficial inguinal

group
NERVE SUPPLY

Sympathetic and parasympathetic from the pelvicplexus

Lower part is supplied by the pudendal nerve

Female Reproductive System
Female

Vagina
–canalthat joints thecervix to
theOutside of the body
–also known as the birth
canal
Female

Uterus
–hollow organ that is the home
to a developingfetus
Female

Ovaries
–produce eggs and
horomone
–oval-shaped Glands that are
Located on eithersideof the
uterus
Female
Fallopian Tubes
–tunnelsforthe eggcell
totravelfromtheovaries
totheuterus
–where fertilization
happens
REVIEW:

TheJourneyoftheEggCell (3)

(2)

(1)
Girls are born with over a million egg cells

but only about 400 are released during alifetime of menstrual

cycles.

No new eggs develop after birth.

STRUCTURE

The uterus is a thick-walled, muscular, pear-shapedorgan

Located in the middle of the pelvis, behind the bladder,and in front of the rectum.

The uterus is anchored in position by severalligaments.

The uterus consists of the cervix and the main body(corpus).

Continud….

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, whichprotrudes into the upper
part of the vagina

It can be seen during a pelvic examination.

Like the vagina, the cervix is lined with a mucous membrane, but the mucous
membrane of the cervixis smooth.

Sperm can enter and menstrual blood can exit theuterus through a channel in
the cervix (cervical canal).
The cervical canal is usually narrow, but duringlabor, the canal widens to let
the baby through.

The cervix is usually a good barrier against bacteria, except around the time an
egg is released by the ovaries (ovulation), during themenstrual period, or during
labor..
FUNCTIONS OF THE UTREUS

The main function of the uterus is to sustain adeveloping fetus.

It prepare for this possibility for each month

At termination of pregnancy it expels the uterinecontents

Male+Female=Fertilization

sperm enters theegg

cell
Male+Female=Fertilization

- fertilization of an eggby a sperm, normallyoccurs in

thefallopiantubes

- fertilizedeggcelliscalleda zygote

- The zygote then moves to the uterus,where it

implants intothe lining of the uterine wall
RELATIONS
Anterior – the uterovesical pouch and the bladderPosterior – the rectouterine pouch of

the douglasLaterally – the broad ligament, the uterine tubes Superior – the intestine

Inferior – the vagina

MEARUREMENTS & PARTS
Pear shaped and Measures 8 cm long, 5 cm wide
1.25 cm thick Weight
50 gms

Parts
The body of corpusThe
fundus
The cornua The
isthumusThe cervis
Internal and external osCervical
canal
LAYERS

Endometrum : inner lining of uterus, nourishesdeveloping embryo, built up each

month for pregnancy, if not, shed during menstruation.

Myometrium: muscular, supports fetus, contractsat birth and to shed the

endometrium during menstruation.

Perimetrium: is a serous membrane that lines theoutside of the uterus.

BLOOD SUPPLY
Arteries –uterine artery- branch of internal iliac artery
Veins – Internal iliac vein

LYMPHATIC
Deep and Superficial lymph vessels

NERVE SUPPLY
Parasympathetic and sympathetic
FALLOPIAN TUBES
Connects each ovary, egg will enter through an openingcalled a FIMBRIA, cilia
sweep the egg down towards theuterus fertilization will occur here, or it will die
within 48 hours

The two fallopian tubes, which are about 4 to 5 inches (about 10 to 13 centimeters)
long, extend from the upperedges of the uterus toward the ovaries.

The fallopian tubes are lined with tiny hairlike projections (cilia). The cilia and
the muscles in the tube's wall propel an egg downward through the tube to the
uterus.

The egg may be fertilized by a sperm in the fallopian tube

RELATIONS
Anterior, Posterior and Superior – the peritoneal cavityand intestine
Laterally – the sidewall of pelvis
Inferior – the broad ligament and the ovaries Medial – the uterus lies between
the uterine tubes

PARTS
The intestinal portionThe
isthumus
The ampulla
The infundibulum The intra
mural part
BLOOD SUPPLY
Artery – uterine and ovaryVenous –
ovarian vein

LYMPHATIC
Along with the ovarian vessels to para-aortic nodes

NERVE SUPPLY
Uterine and ovarian nerves
OVARY
The ovaries are usually pearl-colored, oblong, andabout the size of a walnut.

They are attached to the uterus by ligaments. In addition to producing

female sex hormones(estrogen and progesterone ) and male sex
hormones, the ovaries produce and release eggs.

The developing egg cells (oocytes) are contained in fluid-filled cavities (follicles)
in the wall of the ovaries.Each follicle contains one oocyte
RELATIONS
Anterior to the ovaries are the broad ligaments

Posterior to the ovaries are the intestine

Laterally to the ovaries are the infundibulopelvicligaments and side walls of

the pelvis

Superior to the ovaries lie the uterine tube Inferior to the ovaries lies the

ovarian ligaments
STRUCTURE

MEDULLASS
supporting frame work Made of fibrous tissueHas ovarian blood vessels
Lymphatics and nerve travels through it

CORTEX
Functioning part of the ovum
Contains ovarian follicles in different stage
BLOOD SUPPLY
Artery –ovarian and abdominal aortaVenous –
ovarian vein

LYMPHATIC
Along the ovarian vessels to para-aortic nodes

NERVE SUPPLY
Ovarian nerves from T10 segment
MAMMARY GLANDS
The mammary glands are sweat glands specialized for theproduction of milk.
The milk-producing secretory cells form walls of bulb-shaped chambers called
alveoli that join together with ducts, in grapelikefashion, to form clusters called
lobules.
Numerous lobules assemble to form a lobe. Each breast contains a single mammary
gland consisting of 15 to 20 of theselobes.
 MAMMARY GLANDS

• Lactiferous ducts leading away from the lobes widen into

lactiferous sinuses thatserve as temporary reservoirs for milk.
• The breasts begin to enlarge in females atthe onset of puberty.
Proliferating adipose(fat) tissue expands the breast, while suspensory
ligaments attached to the underlying fascia provide support.
• In non-pregnant females (and in males), theglands and ducts are not
fully developed.
Amnion

- transparentsacthat
protectsthe
babyinside

- filled with
amnioticfluid
 Sperm

Cell
6 weeks
 8 weeks

placenta
SUMMARY

Today we discussed about the FemaleReproductive System:

• Overview, Terminologies
• Functions of the female reproductive system
•Structure, blood supply, lymphatic, nerve supply, functions of the internal and
external female genitalorgans
• Structure of the uterus and its functions etc….
• Structure of the fallopian tubes and its functionsetc….
• Structure of the breast
The greatest reward for doing is
the opportunity to do more.

Sources:
ROSS AND WILSON ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN HEALTH AND
ILLNESS 13th Edition, Elsevier publication 2018

Richard Drake, GRAY’S ANATOMY FOR STUDENTS,4th Edition, Elsevier

publication 2019

www.wikipedia.org

www.kidshealth.com

www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova
THEEND