Lutheran School of Nursing

Diploma in General Nursing

Unit: MNH
Unit code: NUR 213

Topic: Physiology of Sexual Reproductive Health

Sub-topic: Female Reproductive Organs
Date: 17th February 2025

Subject Teacher: Sr. Dianne Kamong

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 Learning Outcomes

Students should;
1. Name the parts of the female external reproductive organs
and internal organs.

2. Describe the functions of common reproductive organs

both external and internal.

3. Label both external and internal reproductive organs.

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 Female External Reproductive organs
Mons pubis Clitoris

Prepuce

Urethral opening
Vestibule
Labia Majora Bartholin glands
Labia Minora Vagina
Hymen
Anus

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Vulva: “Refers to external female genital organs”
(Raynor & Catling, 2012, p.11)

• Mons pubis • Clitoris

• Labia Major • Urethral os
• Labia Minor • Vaginal os
• Vestibule • Perineum

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 Organs Description Function
Mons • Consist of mons pubis which is a pad • Protects other external
Pubis of a fat, overlying the symphysis reproductive organs
pubis • Hairs show sign of
• Covers with skin puberty
• Covers with hair
Labia • Two (2) fibro-fatty folds of skin • Contain
Majora • Situated anteriorly from mons pubis  sebaceous glands
• Runs downward to perineum  sweat glands
• Covered with hair outside  Bartholin glands
• Smooth inner surfaces Secretions -Moisture vagina
Labia • Two thin folds of skin • It protects the clitoris
Minora • Visible between two labia Majora Urethra, and vaginal
• No hairs opening from infections
• Highly vascular & covers vestibule & injuries
• Divided anteriorly enclosed the • Lubricates vulva to keep
clitoris, appears posteriorly to form moist/ for sexual act
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the fourchette.
Organs Description Function
Clitoris • A small sensitive organ • Correspond to male’s penis
• Highly vascular and erectile
Vestibule • Area between Labia Minora • It create urinal and vaginal
• Urethra and vagina open into it canal pathway

Vaginal • Opens into vestibule posteriorly • Allows sexual intercourse

canal • It is covered by a thin membrane • Passage for menstrual
called hymen flow
• The canal runs from vestibule to • Aids the baby’s birth
the cervix os and upwards and • Has high acidity vaginal
backwards direction following the fluid that protects
base of the pelvis. against infections
• Anterior wall is 7.5cm – 8cm
• Posterior wall is 9cm – 10cm
Hymen A thin membrane Prevent infection
Indication of females pride & honor during childhood &
2/18/2025
(Virgin = not sleptFemale
with Reproductive organs
any men) teenager stages 6
 Glands of the vulva

• Labia Majora

 sebaceous gland

• Sweat glands

• Bartholin’s glands

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Female Internal Reproductive Organs

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Organ Description Function
Uterus • Situated in uterine cavity of • Sheds lining during
true pelvis menstruation
• It is located between bladder • Support foetal growth
and rectum • Expand to accommodate
• Its hollow, muscular, & pear foetus
shaped organ • Contracts during labour
• It is - 7.5 cm long • Produce hormones
- 5.0 cm wide • Maintain fertility
- 2.5 cm in depth
Fornix Recesses formed around the • It forms the anterior and
cervix; posterior pouch of
- located anteriorly Douglas
- Posteriorly
- Laterally (Rt & Lt)

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Organ Description Function
Cervix • Protrudes into the vagina • Controls outlet of
• Internal os smaller round menstruation flow
opening between • Protects the uterus from
isthmus and cervix foreign invasion or
• External os, smaller infections
round opening at the • Allows the sperms to
lower end of the cervix pass through
• After birth lower cervix • Dilates during labour &
os becomes transverse allow baby to pass
slit through
• The cervical canal lies • Allow the afterbirth
between the internal os (placenta) to pass
and external os through
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 The uterus – consist of three (3) Parts;

Body (Corpus)
• It is the uterine cavity and it is about 2/3 of the
uterus that is the part between the fundus above and
the isthmus below.

• The uterine cavity is lined by a specialized epithelium

known as endometrium.

• The endometrium is responsive to the ovarian

hormones and it prepares itself every month for
receiving a pregnancy.
 The uterus – consist of three
(3) Parts; cont…
Fundus
It is the dome shaped upper part superior to the
Cornua

Cornua
The points where the fallopian tubes emerge out of
the uterus.

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 The 3 Uterine Muscle Layers

• The Endometrium
• The Myometrium
• The Perimetrium

(Front view)
Picture 2. Three (3) Uterine Muscle Layers

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 1. The Endometrium

• In the uterine cavity this endometrium is

constantly changing in thickness throughout
the menstrual cycle.
• The basal layer does not alter, but provides the
foundation from which the upper layers
regenerate.
• The epithelial cells are cubical in shape and
dip down to form glands that secretes an
alkaline mucus.
 2. Myometrium
• This layer is thick in the upper part of the
uterus but sparser in the isthmus and cervix.

• Its fibres run in all directions and interlace

with the surrounding blood vessels and
lymphatics that pass to and from the
endometrium.

• The outer layer is formed of longitudinal fibres

that are continuous with those of the uterine
tube, the uterine ligaments and the vagina.
 3. The Perimetrium

• This is a double serous membrane.

• An extension of the peritoneum, which is draped

over the uterus, and covering all.

• However, a narrow strip on either side and the

anterior wall of the supra-vaginal cervix, from where
it is reflected up over the bladder.
 Fallopian Tubes
The uterine tubes
(fallopian tubes) extend
laterally from the
Cornua of the uterus
towards the side walls
of the pelvis.
Cornua

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 The Fallopian tube has 5 Portions:

• Interstitial portion
• Isthmus
Interstitial Portion
• Ampulla
• Infundibulum
• Fimbriae (fingers)
 Ovaries

• There are 2 ovaries

• Pearly white in colour

• Have a corrugated surface.

• Measures – Length=3cm, wide= 2cm, 1 cm in depth

• Located at the lateral pelvic walls close to the brim

Ligaments

Uterus
• Utero-sacral ligament
• Round uterine ligament
• Broad uterine ligament

Ovary
• Ovarian ligament
• Suspensory ovarian ligament

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 Cervical Endometrium cont…s

• The portion of the cervix that protrudes into the

vagina is covered with SQUAMOUS EPITHELIAL
CELLS similar to that lining the vagina.

• The point where epithelial cells’ changes, at the

external os is termed as; SQUAMOCOLUMNAR
JUNCTION or Transformation zone.
Different Types of Epithelial cells
Squamous Epithelial Cells
Columnar
Epithelial Cells

Gland cleft
Supra-vaginal Cervix

Fornix

Cervix os
The epithelial cells changes at the
squamous-columnar junction under the
influence of;

• Hormones

• Infections

• Pregnancies

• Age

• Birth
 Cervical Myometrium

• In the cervix the muscle fibres are

embedded in the COLLAGEN
FIBRES, which enable it to stretch in
labour.
 Cervical Myometrium
Functions
• It acts as a sphincter to the pregnant uterus.

• It produces mucus that acts as a lubricant;

- during the ovulation period that helps
in the ascent of sperm.
- protects against ascending infection.
 Reference
Bhide, A. G., Patki, A. S., & Levi, J. M. (2000). A textbook of Obstetrics
for NUrses and Midwives; Pregnancy and Childbirth. New Delhi: JP.

Fraser, D. M., & Cooper, M. A. (2012). Survival Guide to Midwifery.

Philadelphia: Elsevier.

Gray, J., Smith, R., & Homer, C. (2005). Illustrated Dictionary of

Midwifery. Victoria: Elsevier.

Henderson, C & Macdonald, S 2004, Mayers’ midwifery: a textbook for

midwives, 13th edition, Bailliere Tindall, London.

Johnson, R & Taylor, W 2010, Skills for midwifery practice, 3RD edition,
Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh