FUNCTIONS OF FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Reproduction of the human
species
FUNCTIONS OF FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Production of hormones
STRUCTURES AND THEIR
FUNCTIONS
Structures
 Essential Organs
– Gonads or Ovaries produce ova.
 Accessory Organs
– Series of ducts and modified duct
structures.
– Mammary glands
– External Genitals
OVUM
Female reproductive cell
Ovum at 3 weeks
STRUCTURES
OVARIES
Pair of organs resembling
almonds in size and shape
Lie in the superior portion of
pelvic cavity
–one on each side of uterus
OVARIES
Newborn girls are born with 1
million immature sex cells
called Oocytes.
Reduced to 400,000 by puberty
now called primary follicles.
Primary follicles increase in size
and become secondary follicles.
– Cell within a cell (Antrum)
OVARIES
Only about 350-500 develop into
mature follicles.
Mature follicles are often called
Graafian follicles after dutch
anatomist.
After ovulation, ruptured follicle
becomes hormone secreting
structure called Corpus Luteum.
Oogenesis
Production of female sex cells.
Process of meiosis divides cell
into daughter cells.
– Divides chromosomes equally but
not cytoplasm.
– One large ovum
– Smaller daughter cells called
polar cells.
Oogenesis
Ovum is one of the largest cells
in the body.
Fuses with male sex cells
during fertilization.
– 23 chromosomes from each. (46)
Hormone Production
Estrogen and Progesterone
At puberty:
– Granulosa cell around oocyte
secretes estrogen.
– Corpus luteum, after ovulation,
secretes progesterone.
• Some estrogen.
Hormone Production
Estrogen
– Develops and maintains
secondary sex characteristics.
– Stimulates growth of lining of
uterus.
– Develops and matures female
reproductive organs.
Hormone Production
Estrogen
– Pubic hair and breast
development.
– Female body contours.
– Initiation of first menstrual cycle.
Hormone Production
Progesterone
– Produced by corpus leteum for
about 11 days after ovulation.
– Stimulates proliferation and
vascularization of lining of uterus.
FALLOPIAN TUBES
Called oviducts
Outer end of tube open to
abdominal cavity called
Fimbriae.
– Funnel-shaped with fringelike
projections.
Inner end attaches to the uterus.
FALLOPIAN TUBES
Ovum is discharged by ovary
into the abdominal cavity.
Fimbriae creates wavelike
motion to guide egg into the
tube.
Fertilization occurs in distal one
third of tube.
UTERUS
 Pear shaped
 Located in the pelvic cavity between
the bladder and rectum
UTERUS SUBDIVISIONS
FUNDUS:
–Dome shaped portion
superior to the tubes
UTERUS SUBDIVISIONS
BODY:
–Central portion
–Consists of three layers
THREE LAYERS
PERIMETRIUM- Outer most layer
MYOMETRIUM- Middle muscular
layer
ENDOMETRIUM- Inner vascular
layers and sheds one of its two
layers during menstruation
CERVIX
Inferior narrow portion opening
into the vagina
Forms the neck of the uterus
Functions of Uterus
Menstruation
Pregnancy
Labor and expulsion of fetus
Menstrual Cycle
Corpus Leteum decreases
progesterone approx. 11 days
after ovulation.
When hormone levels are at its
lowest 3 days later the
endometrium begins to pull
loose and exit thru vagina.
Menstrual Cycle
Endometrium begins to grow
back in preparation for
pregnancy.
If fertilization does not occur,
cycle with start again.
– Approx. every 28 days until
menopause.
3 Phases of Menstration
 Menses- (Day 1-5) Uterine lining
sloughs off.
 Proliferative- (Day 6-13) Epithelial
cells repair lining.
 *Ovulation (Day 14) Ovum is
released into fallopian tube.
 Secretory- (Day 15-28) Lining grows
thicker and develops great blood
supply for possible fertilized ovum.
Menstrual Cycle
Cycle changes are regulated by
the anterior pituitary gland.
– FSH (Stimulates follicle to grow)
– LH (Ovulation hormone)
Birth control pills suppress FSH
secretion, preventing ovulation.
Vagina
Tubular, fibromuscular organ
lined with mucous membrane
–10cm in length
Located below uretheral meatus
–Situated between the urinary
bladder and rectum
Functions of vagina
Passageway for menstrual flow
and childbirth
Receives semen from the penis
during sexual intercourse
ACCESSORY
REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS
Bartholin’s Glands
Also known as greater vestibular
glands.
Located on each side of vaginal
orifice.
Secretes mucuslike lubricating
fluid into the vestibule.
BREAST
 Located over the pectoralis
major and serratus muscles
 Lactiferous glands produce milk
–Consists of 15 to 20 lobes
–Each separated by adipose
tissue
BREAST
Suspensory ligaments
(cooper’s ligaments)
Connective tissue that
supports the breast
BREAST
Function
Synthesis, secretion, and
ejection of milk
Associated with pregnancy and
childbirth and together are called
lactation
BREAST
Areola
Circular pigmented area of skin
surrounding the nipple
BREAST
Each breast has one pigment
projection
–Nipple -contains a series of
openings called lactiferous
ducts
• Milk emerges
VULVA
External genitalia of the female
COMPONENTS
Mons pubis
–Anterior to the vaginal and
urethral opening
–Elevation of adipose tissue
covered by skin and coarse
hair
–Cushions the pubic symphysis
LABIA MAJORA
From the mons pubis
–Two longitudinal folds of skin
extending inferiorly and
posteriorly
–Adipose tissue
–Outer surface covered with
pigmented skin and hair.
LABIA MINORA
Medial to the labia majora
–Two smaller folds of skin
VESTIBULE
Region between the labia minora
–Forms an entrance to the
vagina
Within the vestibule are:
–Hymen -if still present
–Vaginal orifice -opening of the
vagina to the exterior
CLITORIS
Small, cylindrical mass of
erectile tissue and nerves
Located at the anterior junction
of the labia minora
–Prepuce is a layer of skin that
covers the clitoris
Plays a role in sexual
excitement of the female
PERINEUM
Area between vaginal opening
and anus.
Sometimes cut during vaginal
birth to prevent tearing.
–Episiotomy
FEMALE REPRODUCTION
THE
END