The female sex cell is an ovum released monthly from the ovary during ovulation. The endometrium lining the uterus prepares for implantation upon conception. The developing fetus resides in the uterus, which has three parts and connects to the fallopian tubes. Pregnancy is the normal 40-week development period of the fetus nourished by the placenta's umbilical cord attachment. Labor involves three stages: dilation of the cervix, expulsion of the fetus, and delivery of the afterbirth placenta.

1. Chapter 10 Presentation
Michaelia Fosses
Summer 2012

2. The female sex cell is an ovum.
• The ovary is stimulated
to release one ovum
per month during the
process of ovulation

3. The inner lining of the uterus is called
the endometrium.
• Estrogen and progesterone stimulate
the lining of the uterus to prepare to
receive a fertilized egg upon conception
• Upon implantation of
a fertilized egg, the
endometrium
provides nutrients and
protection for the fetus

4. The organ in which the developing
fetus resides is called the uterus.
• The uterus is a hollow organ
with a thick muscular wall
called the myometrium
• There are three parts to the
uterus: the upper fundus,
where the fallopian tubes
connect to the uterus, the
corpus or body of the
uterus, and the cervix,
which opens to the vagina

5. The time required for the
development of a fetus is called
pregnancy.
• Normal gestation is 40 weeks, although a fetus is
considered full term at 37 weeks
• During pregnancy, the fetus is nourished through the
placenta, which is attached to the fetus by the umbilical
cord

6. The three stages of labor and delivery
are the dilation stage, the expulsion
stage, and the placental stage.
• Contractions of the
myometrium help to push
the fetus out of the body
during delivery
• During the dilation stage, the
uterine muscle contracts to
push the fetus downward
• The expulsion stage starts
when the cervix is dilated at
least 10 cm
• Finally, the placenta is
delivered after the fetus is
pushed out of the body

7. References
• Photos courtesy: www.webmd.com,
www.meditrina.com;
www.medicalcenter.osu.edu;
www.babycenter.com
• Medical Terminology: A Living Language.
Fregman, Bonnie F. and Suzanne S. Frucht.
Pearson, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
2009.