ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS.pptx

1. ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY OF
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS
BY GALCHU T
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2. Female external genitalia/Structures
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3. Female External Structures
 The structures that form the female external genitalia are termed as the vulva (from the Latin word
which means covering)
 Mons Veneris (Mons pubis)
 Labia Majora
 Labia Minora
 Other External Organs
 Vestibule
 Clitoris
 Skene's glands and Bartholin's glands
 Fourchette
 Hymen
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4. 1. Mons Veneris (Mons pubis)
 The mons veneris is a pad(fat filled organ) of adipose tissue
 located over the symphysis pubis, the pubic bone joint.
 It is covered by hairs after puberty
 Function -protect the junction of the pubic bone from trauma.
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5. 2. Labia Majora (greater lips)
 are two folds of adipose(fat storage) tissue
 covered by loose connective tissue and epithelium;
 they are positioned lateral to the labia minora.
 Covered by pubic hair after puberty
 Function:- protection for the external genitalia and the distal(far from the center)
urethra and vagina
 They are fused anteriorly but separated posteriorly
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6. Cont…
 Embryologically, the labia majora are homologous with the male scrotum.
 They are
 7 to 8 cm in length,
 2 to 3 cm in width, and
 1 to 1.5 cm in thickness, and are somewhat tapered(reduce thickness) at the lower
extremities
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7. 3. Labia Minora (lesser lips)
 Located Just posterior to the mons veneris
 spread in to two hairless folds of connective tissue
 It is moist and reddish
 These folds are:-
 fairly small Before menarche;
 are firm and full by childbearing age;
 atrophy and again become much smaller after menopause
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8. Cont…
 The internal surface of labia minora is covered with mucous membrane, and the
external surface with skin
 The labia minora vary greatly in size and shape.
 In nulliparous women - not visible behind the nonseparated labia majora.
 In multiparas- project beyond the labia majora
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9. Cont…
 The interior of the labial folds is composed of:-
 connective tissue with many vessels and some smooth muscular fibers.
 supplied with a variety of nerve endings and
 are extremely sensitive.
Function
 Contains mucus for lubrication
 Sensitive for sexual arousal
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10. Cont…
 The tissues of the labia minora converge superiorly, where each is divided into two
lamellae(thin layers);
 the lower pair fuse to form the frenulum(ridge) of the clitoris, and
 the upper pair merge to form the prepuce(foreskin, fold of skin surrounding
the clitoris).
 Inferiorly, the tissue of labia minora fuse to form the fourchette(thin fold of skin
at the back of vulva).
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11. Other External Organs
A. Vestibule
 The vestibule is the flattened, smooth surface enclosed by the labia minora.
 The openings to the bladder (the urethra) and the uterus (the vagina) both arise
from the vestibule.
 The posterior portion of the vestibule between the fourchette and the vaginal
opening is called the fossa navicularis, and it is usually observed only in
nulliparous women
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12. Cont…
In the mature state, the vestibule usually is perforated by six openings:
 the urethra,
 the vagina,
 the two ducts of the Bartholin glands, and,
 at times, the two ducts of the paraurethral glands, also called the Skene
ducts(passageway for glandular secretions) and glands.
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13. Cont…
B. Clitoris
 It is a small (approximately 1 to 2 cm), rounded organ of erectile tissue at the
forward junction of the labia minora.
 It is covered by a fold of skin, the prepuce.
 The clitoris is sensitive to touch and temperature and is the center of sexual
arousal and orgasm in the female.
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14. Cont…
 The clitoris is the principal female erogenous(sensitive to sexual stimulation)
organ.
 It is the homologue of the penis and is located near the superior extremity of the
vulva
 glans: tip of the clitoris
 prepuce (clitoral hood): loose-fitting fold of skin covering the clitoral glans
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15. Cont…
C. Skene's glands and Bartholin's glands
Skene's glands (paraurethral glands)
 located just lateral to the urinary meatus(opening leading to interior of the body),
 Two in number, one on each side.
 The ducts open into the urethra
Bartholin's glands (vulvovaginal glands)
 located just lateral to the vaginal opening
 Two in number, on both sides and
 their ducts open into the distal vagina.
 Secretions from both of these glands help to lubricate the external genitalia during
coitus
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16. Cont…
D. Fourchette
 The fourchette is the ridge of tissue formed by the posterior joining of the two
labia minora and the labia majora.
 This is the structure that is sometimes cut (episiotomy) during childbirth to enlarge
the vaginal opening
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17. Cont…
E. Hymen
 The hymen is a tough but elastic semicircle of tissue that covers the opening to the
vagina in childhood.
 It is often torn during the time of first sexual intercourse.
 However, due to the use of tampons(modes) and active sports participation, many
girls who have not had sexual relations do not have intact hymens at the time of
their first pelvic examination.
 Is it a Guarantee for virginity?????
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18. Cont…
 Hymen
 No known function; not always present
 Some females may be born w/o it; usually has several holes
 Allows passage of menstrual flow
 1ST time w/intercourse – female may experience pain & bleeding, NOT ALWAYS true with all
females!
 Tissue is very flexible & may stay intact during intercourse!
 b/c it has openings, sperm released at the vaginal opening can swim into vagina and up to the ovum
 A girl Can get pregnant & still have hymen intact!
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19. Cont…
Female internal reproductive organs include
ovaries,
fallopian tubes,
uterus, and
vagina
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20. Female internal reproductive organs
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21. 1. Ovaries
 Ovaries are a primary female reproductive organ.
 Lie on each side of lower abdomen
 Compared with each other, as well as between women, the ovaries vary considerably in
size.
 During childbearing years, they are from 2.5 to 5 cm in length, 1.5 to 3 cm in breadth, and 0.6 to
1.5 cm in thickness
 Produce ovum (egg)
 Each month one ovum is released into fallopian tubes (ovulation).
 are similar in function to the male testes
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22. Cont…
 Each ovary contains thousands of follicles, and each follicle contains an egg.
 Ovulation occurs approximately 2 weeks prior to menstruation.
 The ovaries are held suspended, but not attached, with the ends of the fallopian tubes by
three strong supporting ligaments attached to the uterus or the pelvic wall
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23. Cont…
 These are
 Mesovarium:- attach the ovary with the broad ligament of the uterus
 The utero-ovarian ligament :-attach the ovary with uterus
 infundibulopelvic or suspensory ligament:- attach the ovary with pelvic wall
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24. Cont…
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25. Cont…
Functions of ovaries
 produce, mature, and discharge ova (the egg cells).
 produce estrogen and progesterone
 initiate and regulate menstrual cycles
 Ovarian function is necessary for maturation and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics in
females
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26. Cont…
Reproductive Cells (Gametes)
 At birth,
each ovary contains approximately 2 million
immature ova (oocytes),
Oocytes are formed during the first 5 months
of intrauterine life.
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27. Cont…
 At birth 2 million oocytes are present in each ovary.
 By age 7 years, only approximately 500,000 are present in each ovary;
 by 22 years, there are approximately 300,000; and
 by menopause, or the end of the fertile period in females, none are left (all have
either matured or atrophied).

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28. 2. Fallopian(uterine) Tubes(Oviducts)
 Named after the person, Gebriele Falloppio
 The fallopian tubes
 arise from each upper corner of the uterine body and
 extend outward and backward until each opens at its distal end, next to an ovary.
 Fallopian tubes are approximately 10 cm in length in a mature woman
 The tubal ostium is the point where the tubal canal meets with peritoneal cavity
 Utero –tubal junction:-FT meets with uterine cavity
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29. Cont…
Function
 transport the ovum from the ovaries to the uterus and
 provide a place for fertilization of the ovum by sperm.
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30. Cont…
 Fallopian tube is anatomically divided into four separate parts.
A. Interstitial
B. Isthmus
C. Ampulla
D. Infundibulum
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31. Cont…
Anterior view of fallopian tubes
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32. Cont…
A. Interstitial
 the most proximal division that lies within the uterine wall.
 This portion is only about 1 cm in length;
 the lumen of the tube is only 1 mm in diameter at this point.
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33. Cont…
B.Isthmus
 the next distal portion.
 Like the interstitial tube, it is extremely narrow.
 This segment is approximately 2 cm in length.
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34. Cont…
C. Ampulla
 the longest portion of the tube.
 It is approximately 5 cm in length.
 It is in this ampullar portion that fertilization of an ovum usually occurs.
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35. Cont…
D. Infundibulum
 the most distal segment of the tube.
 It is approximately 2 cm long and is funnel-shaped.
 The rim(outer edge) of the funnel is covered by fimbria (small hairs) that help to
guide the ovum into the fallopian tube.
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36. 3. Uterus (womb)
 The uterus is a hollow, muscular organ located in the lower pelvis, posterior to the
bladder and anterior to the rectum.
 Under 17 years old, the uterus does not reach its adult size.
 This may be a contributing factor to the low-birth weight babies typically born to
adolescents younger than this age
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37. Cont…
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38. Cont…
 With maturity, a uterus is approximately
 5 to 7 cm long,
 5 cm wide.
 In a non-pregnant state, it weighs approximately 60 g
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39. Cont…
The functions of the uterus include:-
 to receive the ovum from the fallopian tube;
 provide a place for implantation and
 nourishment during fetal growth;
 furnish protection to a growing fetus; and,
 at maturity of the fetus, expel it from a woman's body by uterine contraction
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40. Cont…
 After a pregnancy, the uterus never returns to its non-pregnant size.
 In a woman who has borne a child, uterine dimensions are approximately
9 cm long,
6 cm wide, and
80 g in weight.
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41. Cont…
 Anatomically, the uterus consists of three divisions:
 body or corpus,
isthmus, and
cervix.
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42. Cont…
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43. Cont…
A. Body or corpus
 It is the uppermost part and forms the bulk(greater part) of the organ.
 The lining of the cavity is continuous with that of the fallopian tubes.
 The portion of the uterus between the points of attachment of the fallopian tubes
is termed the fundus
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44. Cont…
 During pregnancy, the body of the uterus is the portion of the structure that
expands to contain the growing fetus
 The fundus is the portion that can be palpated abdominally to:-
 determine the amount of uterine growth occurring during pregnancy,
 measure the force of uterine contractions during labor, and
 assess that the uterus is returning to its nonpregnant state after childbirth.
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45. Cont…
2. Isthmus
 It is a short segment between the body and the cervix.
 During pregnancy, this portion also enlarges greatly to aid in accommodating the
growing fetus.
 It is the portion of the uterus that is most commonly cut when a fetus is born by a
cesarean birth
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46. Cont…
3. Cervix
 It is the lowest portion of the uterus.
 A central cavity is termed the cervical canal.
 Internal cervical os:- the opening of the canal at the junction of the cervix and
isthmus;
 External cervical os:- the distal opening to the vagina
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47. Cont…
 Before childbirth, the external cervical os is a small, regular, oval opening.
 The external cervical os never regains its pre-pregnancy appearance, it is no longer
shaped like circle but a fish mouth
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48. Cont…
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49. Uterine Coats
 The uterine wall consists of three separate coats or layers of tissue: These are
I. an inner one of mucous membrane (the endometrium),
II. middle one of muscle fibers (the myometrium), and
III. an outer one of connective tissue (the perimetrium).
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50. Cont…
I. The endometrium
 important for menstrual function.
 It is formed by two layers of cells.
 The layer closest to the uterine wall, the basal layer, is not influenced by hormones.
 In contrast, the inner glandular layer is greatly influenced by both estrogen and
progesterone.
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51. Cont…
 It grows and becomes so thick and responsive each month under the influence of
estrogen and progesterone that it is capable of supporting a pregnancy.
 If pregnancy does not occur, this is the layer that is shed as the menstrual flow
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52. Cont…
II. The myometrium
 muscle layer of the uterus,
 makes up the major portion of the uterus
 is composed of interwoven layers of smooth muscle, the fibers of which are
arranged in longitudinal, transverse, and oblique directions.
 This network offers extreme strength to the organ
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53. Cont…
Function:-
 Constricting the tubal junctions to prevent regurgitation of menstrual blood into the
tubes
 Holds the internal cervical os closed during pregnancy to prevent a preterm birth
 Contraction of uterus at the end of pregnancy to expel the fetus
 Involution of uterus after childbirth and the interlacing network of fibers are able to
constrict the blood vessels thereby limiting the loss of blood in the woman.
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54. Cont…
III. The perimetrium
 the outermost layer of the uterus,
 serves the purpose of adding strength and support to the structure
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55. 4.Vagina
 is a hollow, musculo-membranous canal
 located posterior to the bladder and anterior to the rectum.
 It extends from the cervix of the uterus to the external vulva.
 function
 act as the organ of intercourse
 transport sperm to the cervix
 With childbirth, it expands to serve as the birth canal.
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56. Cont…
 Approximate Length of vagina
 anterior wall 6 to 7 cm;
 posterior wall is 8 to 9 cm.
 The vagina is lined with stratified squamous epithelium.
 It has a middle connective tissue layer and a strong muscular wall
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57. Cont…
Rugae
many folds of the vaginal walls which lie in
close approximation to each other.
These folds make the vagina very elastic and
able to expand at the end of pregnancy to allow
a full-term baby to pass through without tearing
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58. Cont…
At childbirth
Vaginal tears tend to bleed profusely because
of rich blood supply.
The same rich blood supply is also the reason
that any vaginal trauma at birth heals rapidly.
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59. Cont…
 Why is vaginal PH is acidic?
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60. Cont…
Vaginal lining
produce mucus that has a rich glycogen
content.
When this glycogen is broken down by the
lactose-fermenting bacteria lactic acid will
be formed.
This makes the usual pH of the vagina acidic
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61. Breasts
 The mammary glands or breasts remain in a halted(low or none) stage of development
 until a rise in estrogen at puberty produces a marked increase in their size.
 The size increase consists mainly of connective tissue plus deposition of fat.
 The glandular tissue of the breasts, necessary for successful breast-feeding, remains
undeveloped until a first pregnancy begins.
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62. Cont…
 Milk glands of the breasts are divided by connective tissue partitions into approximately 20
lobes.
 All of the glands in each lobe produce milk by acinar cells and deliver it to the nipple via
a lactiferous duct.
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63. Cont…
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64. Cont…
 The nipple has approximately 20 small openings through which milk is secreted.
 An ampulla portion of the duct, located just posterior to the nipple, serves as a reservoir
for milk before breast-feeding.
 The nipple is surrounded by a darkly pigmented area of epithelium termed the areola
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65. Cont…
 A nipple is composed of smooth muscle that is capable of erection on manual or sucking
stimulation.
 On stimulation, it transmits sensations to the posterior pituitary gland to release
oxytocin.
 Oxytocin acts to constrict milk gland cells and push milk forward into the ducts that lead
to the nipple.
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