Female

Reproductive
System
Khushal Khan
Demonstrator Cardiology
KMU-IPMS
 Female Reproductive System
• The female reproductive organs (genitalia) include both external and
internal organs.

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 External Reproductive Organs
• External genitalia – collectively known as the vulva. It includes:

1. Labia Majora
• 2 large longitudinal folds forming boundary of vulva
• composed of skin, fibrous tissue, fat and sebaceous glands
• The folds join:
• Anteriorly – in front of the symphysis pubis
• Posteriorly – merge with the skin of the perineum
• At puberty – hair grows on the mons pubis and on the lateral surfaces of
the labia majora
• Perineum – roughly triangular area between the anus and the scrotum or
vulva
• Mons pubis – rounded mass of fatty tissue that lies over the pubic bones
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2. Labia Minora
• 2 smaller longitudinal skin folds - between the labia majora
• contains numerous sebaceous glands

3. Vestibule
• It is the cleft between the labia minora
• vagina, urethra, ducts of vestibular glands – open into the vestibule

4. Clitoris
• clitoris corresponds to the penis in the male
• contains sensory nerve endings and erectile tissue
• but it has no reproductive significance

5. Vaginal Orifice
• the opening of the vagina to the outside
• vaginal orifice is usually partially covered by a thin mucous membrane
– the hymen
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6. Hymen
• It is a thin layer of mucous membrane – partially occludes the
opening of the vagina
• It is normally incomplete – allow the passage of menstrual flow

7. Vestibular Glands (Bartholin’s Glands)

• The vestibular glands – also called Bartholin’s glands
• situated one on each side near the vaginal opening
• about the size of a small pea and have ducts
• They open into the vestibule – lateral to the attachment of the hymen
• They secrete mucus that keeps the vulva moist

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 Internal Reproductive Organs
• Also called – internal genitalia
• Internal genitalia lies inside the pelvic cavity. They include:

1. Vagina
• vagina is a fibromuscular tube lined with stratified squamous
epithelium
• It connects the external and internal organs of reproduction
• In the adult, the anterior wall - 7.5 cm long and the posterior wall –
about 9 cm long

• Structure: 3 layers
1. Outer layer – areolar tissue
2. Middle layer – smooth muscle
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• It has no secretory glands but the surface is kept moist by cervical
secretions.
• pH = 4.9-3.5 (acidic) – due to lactic acid produced by Lactobacillus
acidophilus (bacteria)
• The acidity inhibits the growth of most other microorganisms that may
enter the vagina from the perineum.

• Functions:
• vagina acts as the receptacle – for the penis during sexual
intercourse (coitus)
• provides an elastic passageway – for the baby to passes during
childbirth

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 2. Uterus

• Also called – Womb

• a hollow muscular pear-shaped organ, flattened anteroposteriorly
• It lies in the pelvic cavity – between the urinary bladder and the
rectum, horizontal position

• Dimension:
• about 7.5 cm long, 5 cm wide and its walls are about 2.5 cm thick.
• Isthmus - a constriction almost at the middle of uterus

• Weight:
• 30 to 40 grams

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• Parts:
i. Fundus – dome-shaped, above the openings of uterine tubes
ii. Body – main part, narrowest inferiorly at the internal os - continuous with the
cervix
iii. Cervix (Neck) – area below isthmus, protrudes through the anterior wall of the
vagina, opens at the external os

• Wall of the Uterus:

• composed of 3 layers of tissue

i. Perimetrium
• Derived from Peritoneum
• Anteriorly – covers the uterus completely
• Anteriorly it forms the vesicouterine pouch.
• Posteriorly – covers the uterus up to isthmus
• Posteriorly the peritoneum folds back on to the rectum – form the rectouterine
pouch (of Douglas)

• Broad Ligament
• Laterally, the peritoneum forms a double fold with the uterine tubes – the
broad ligament, which attaches the uterus to the sides of the pelvis
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ii. Myometrium
• The thickest layer of tissue in the uterine wall
• It is a mass of smooth muscle fibres interlaced with areolar tissue, blood vessels and
nerves

iii. Endometrium
• This layer consists of columnar epithelium – containing mucus secreting tubular
glands
• It is divided functionally into 2 layers:
• The functional layer – upper layer
• It thickens and becomes rich in blood vessels in the first half of the
menstrual cycle
• If the ovum is not fertilised and does not implant, this layer is shed during
menstruation.
• The basal layer – lies next to the myometrium
• It is not lost during menstruation
• It is generates the fresh functional layer during each cycle

• Cervical Canal
• Upper 2-3rd – lined with this mucous membrane
• Lower portion – stratified squamous epithelium – continuous with lining of the
vagina
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• Functions:
• After puberty – the uterus (endometrium) goes through a regular
monthly cycle of changes called – the menstrual cycle
• The purpose of the menstrual cycle is to prepare the uterus to
receive, nourish and protect a fertilised ovum.
• If the ovum is not fertilised a new cycle begins with a short
period of bleeding (menstruation)
• If the ovum is fertilised the zygote embeds itself in the uterine
wall
• The uterine muscle grows to accommodate the developing embryo

• Uterine secretions – nourish the ovum before it implants in the

endometrium

• During labour, the uterus forcefully expels the baby by means of

powerful rhythmical contractions – caused by oxytocin

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 3. Uterine Tubes
• The uterine tubes – also called Fallopian tubes – extends from each side of the body &
fundus
• They lie in the upper free border of the broad ligament
• fimbriae - finger like projections at the end of each tube
• Structure
• about 10 cm long
• Consist of 3 layers
• Outer covering – peritoneum (broad ligament)
• Middle layer - smooth muscle
• Inner layer – ciliated epithelium
• Functions
• Uterine tubes move the ovum from the ovary to the uterus – peristalsis and ciliary
movement
• Mucus secreted by mucosa – provides ideal conditions for movement of ova and
spermatozoa
• Site of fertilization of the ovum by sperm and zygote is propelled into the uterus for
implantation
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 4. Ovaries
• Ovaries are the female gonads (glands producing sex hormones and ova)

• They lie in a shallow fossa on the lateral walls of the pelvis

• Dimensions:
• They are 2.5 to 3.5 cm long, 2 cm wide and 1 cm thick

• Attachment to the uterus

• To the upper part of the uterus - by ovarian ligament
• To the back of the broad ligament through - mesovarium
• Blood vessels and nerves pass to the ovary through the mesovarium

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• Structure
• The ovaries have 2layers of tissue

1. Medulla – inner layer

• This lies in the centre – consists of
fibrous tissue, blood vessels and
nerves

2. Cortex – outer layer

• This surrounds the medulla – has a
framework of connective tissue
(stroma) covered by germinal
epithelium
• It contains ovarian follicles in various
stages of maturity, each contains an
ovum

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 Ovarian Follicle
• Glandular structures – present in cortex
• Each follicle contains:
• Ovum
• Epithelial cells – granulosa cells (surrounds the ovum)
• Primordial follicle – ovum + granulosa cells (single layer)
• Granulosa cells
• Provide nourishment for the ovum – throughout childhood
• Secrete an oocyte maturation inhibiting factor – that keeps the
ovum in its primordial state (meiotic – prophase stage)
• All ova present in the ovaries are formed before birth. No new ovum is
developed after birth.
• Onset of puberty – secretion of FSH and LH causes primordial follicle to grow in
different stages.
Primordial Follicle → Primary Follicle → Vesicular Follicle → Matured
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• Ovulation
• During the childbearing years, about every 28 days – one ovarian follicle
(Graafian follicle) matures, ruptures and releases its ovum into the
peritoneal cavity – Ovulation
• It occurs during most menstrual cycles
• Corpus Luteum
• After ovulation, the ruptured follicle develops into the corpus luteum
(yellow body)
• Corpus albicans (meaning ‘white body’) - a small permanent scar of
fibrous tissue on the surface of the ovary

• Functions of Ovaries
• Organ for storage and development of female gametes (ovum) before
ovulation
• Endocrine function - the ovary (follicles) releases hormones – estrogen
and progesterone essential to the physiological changes during the
reproductive cycle
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Thank You
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