2. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ANATOMY
INTRODUCTION
•Anatomy and physiology of the female
organs is an essential reproductive health
topic in the field of nursing.
•A nurse need to know the anatomical
features of the female body and understand
the processes of reproduction.
•Therefore we are going to discuss the
anatomy and physiology of the female
reproductive organs.
2
3. GENERAL OBJECTIVE
•At the end of the discussion/ lecture students
should be able to acquire knowledge on the
anatomy and physiology of the female
reproductive organs.
3
4. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
At the end of the discussion/ lecture students
should to:
•Define female reproductive system
•Draw and label the parts of female reproductive
system
•Describe the structures of female reproductive
system
•State the physiology of female reproductive
organs
4
7. DIVISION OF THE FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
The structures of female
reproductive system can be describe
into two:
•The external genitalia
• The internal genitalia.
7
8. EXTERNAL GENTILIA
The vulva refers to parts that are outwardly visible
The vulva includes:
•Mons pubis
•Labia majora
•Labia minora
•Clitoris
•Urethral opening
•Vaginal opening
•Perineum
chibumba 8
10. MONS PUBIS
The triangular mound of fatty tissue that
covers the pubic bone
It protects the pubic symphysis
During adolescence sex hormones trigger
the growth of pubic hair on the mons pubis
Hair varies in coarseness curliness, amount,
color and thickness
10
11. LABIA MAJORA (the outer lips)
•They have a darker pigmentation
•The Labia Majora:
Protect the introitus and urethral
openings
Are covered with hair and sebaceous
glands
Tend to be smooth, moist, and hairless
Become flaccid with age and after
childbirth
11
12. LABIA MINORA “inner lips”
Made up of erectile, connective tissue that
darkens and swells during sexual arousal
Located inside the labia majora
They are more sensitive and responsive to
touch than the labia majora
The labia minora tightens during intercourse
12
13. CLITORIS
Highly sensitive organ composed of nerves, blood
vessels, and erectile tissue
Located under the prepuce
It is made up of a shaft and a glans
Becomes engorged with blood during sexual
stimulation
Key to sexual pleasure for most women
Urethral opening is located directly below clitoris
13
14. VAGINAL OPENING
(INTROITUS)
Opening may be covered by a thin sheath
called the hymen
Using the presence of an intact hymen for
determining virginity is erroneous
Some women are born without hymens
The hymen can be perforated by many
different events
Remunants of the hymen are referred to as
carunculae myrtiformes or hymenal tags
14
15. PERINEUM
The muscle and tissue located between the
vaginal opening and anal canal
It supports and surrounds the lower parts of the
urinary and digestive tracts
The perineum contains an abundance of nerve
endings that make it sensitive to touch
An episiotomy is an incision of the perineum
used during childbirth for widening the vaginal
opening
15
17. VAGINA
The vagina connects the cervix to the external
genitals
It is located between the bladder and rectum
It functions :
As a passageway for the menstrual flow
For uterine secretions to pass down through the
introitus
As the birth canal during labor
With the help of two Bartholin’s glands which
have the lubrication function
17
18. CERVIX
The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina
The cervical opening to the vagina is small
This acts as a safety precaution against
foreign bodies entering the uterus
During childbirth, the cervix dilates to
accommodate the passage of the fetus
This dilation is a sign that labor has begun
chibumba 18
19. UTERUS
•Commonly referred to as the womb
A pear shaped organ about the size of a
clenched fist
It weighs about 60 grams
It is made up of the endometrium,
myometrium and perimetrium
Uterine supports:
Mesometrium,largest division is the broad
ligament
Cardinal ligament
Round ligament
19
21. UTERINE LAYERS
ENDOMETRIUM: inner mucosal lining
It is made up of three layers and the first two
are known as functional layer as they are shed
during menstruation
1.Compact layer: lines the uterine cavity and is
made up of columnar epithelium
21
22. LAYERS OF ENDOMETRIUM …
2.Spongy layer: layer of connective tissue
that consists of glands that respond
hormones in order to thickening and
increase secretion.
3.Basal layer: layer of connective tissue.
This layer is not shed during menstruation
as it is a basis for regeneration of the two
superficial layers
chibumba 22
24. MYOMETRIUM
Made up of 3 layers muscle layer
1.Circular muscle fibres (inner layer): These keep
or maintain the shape of the uterine cavity.
2.Criss crossing fibres or living ligatures ( middle
layer) : the main purpose is to control bleeding in
third stage of labour.
3.Longitudinal muscle fibres (outer layer):
extend from uterine fundus to the cervix but
more plenteous in the fundus. The muscles
contract and retract during labour in order to
expel the fetus
24
26. The Uterus
Blood supply
• Uterine arteries from
internal iliac
• Ovarian arteries from
abdominal aorta
(inferior to renal
arteries)
Fig 27-16
27. FALLOPIAN TUBES
Serve as a pathway for the ovum to the uterus
Are the site of fertilization by the male sperm
Often referred to as the oviducts or uterine
tubes
Fertilized egg takes approximately 6 to 10 days
to travel through the fallopian tube to implant in
the uterine lining
three parts: infundibulum, ampulla(site for
fertilization), isthmus
27
29. OVARIES
•The female gonads or sex glands
They develop and expel an ovum each month
A woman is born with approximately 400,000
immature eggs called follicles
During a lifetime a woman release 400 to 500
fully matured eggs for fertilization
The follicles in the ovaries produce the female
sex hormones, progesterone and estrogen
These hormones prepare the uterus for
implantation of the fertilized egg
29
30. Shape and size of an
ovaries
Paired, almond-shaped, flanking
the uterus in lateral wall of true
pelvis
Size : 3 x 1.5 x 1 cm
30
32. STRUCTURE OF OVARY
Fibrous capsule is called tunica albuginea
surrounds the cortex
Outer cortex (functional part) houses developing
gametes the oocytes and consists of the theca
cells
Inner medulla is loose connective tissue with
largest vessels and nerves
32
33. Two important ovarian cells
(Theca cell and granulosa cells)
When a primordial follicle starts to grow , flat
follicular cells becomes cuboidal and the
oocytes are now called primary follicle.
The follicle multiply to form stratified
epithelium around the oocyte called
granulosa cells
33
34. OVARIAN CELLS CONT..
As the granulosa cells cell continues to
divide , a large connective tissue called the
theca folliculi condense around the follicle.
When the theca cells are stimulated by
Luteinizing Hormone to secrete androgen
(male hormone).
The nearby granulosa cells under the
influence of the FSH will convert androgen
into the female sex hormone estrogens
34
35. FUNCTIONS OF THE OVARY
Production of a mature oocyte, capable of
fertilization and embryonic development.
Production of ovarian steroids (estradiol,
progesterone).
Production of gonadal peptides (inhibin)
Chibumba
35
36. Summary
In conclusion, we have discussed the anatomy
and physiology of female reproductive system.
Female reproductive system was defined as the
system of sex organs of female human beings
that are a part of the overall reproductive
process of human beings. The female
reproductive system is divided into external and
internal genitalia. Therefore every part is vital in
the reproductive health of a woman
chibumba 36
39. REFERENCES
1. Diane M and Margaret c. (2009) Myles Textbook
For Midwives.15thEdition. Nottinghan,UK.
2. Polden M, Mantle J (1990) Physiology in
obstetrics And Gynaecology. Butterworth-
Heinemann,London
3. Wilson k J W (1990) Ross and Wilson Anatomy
and Physiology in Health and Illness 7th
ed.churchill livingstone.edinburgh.
4. Sellers P.M (2008) A Textbook and Reference
Book For Midwives in Southern Africa.10th edition.
Pietermarizburg.
chibumba 39
