Female Reproductive system Anatomy and physiology

1. Anatomy and Physiology Of
Female Reproductive System
Lecture for 3rd year Public Health
students
Ambo University, CMHS
Dr. Rabirra Waktola
June 2020

2. organs of the female reproductive system
include the ovaries, the uterine (fallopian)
tubes, uterus, the vagina and external
organs, which are collectively called the
vulva
mammary glands also are considered part of
the female reproductive system
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4. Ovaries
paired almond-shaped ovaries, located on the lateral sides of the
uterus, measure about 3 cm by 1.5 cm by 1 cm
held in place by mesenteries and ligaments
 mesovarium (part of the broad ligament)
 suspensory ligament of the ovary
 ovarian ligament
Supplied by ovarian arteries and branches of the uterine
arteries
innervated by both divisions of the autonomic nervous system
Ovarian artery, veins and nerves reach the ovary by traveling
within the suspensory ligament and then through the
mesovarium
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6. surrounded by a fibrous capsule called the
tunica albuginea which inturn covered by
germinal epithelium
Ovary has cortex and medulla
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7. Functions of ovary
 Produce secondary oocytes in the process of
oogenesis
 Follicles develop in the process of
folliculogenesis
 Produce progesterone and estrogens (the female
sex hormones), inhibin and relaxin
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8. Oogenesis and folliculogenesis
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10. Fallopian tubes
extend laterally from the uterus
divided into 4 parts: interstitial, isthmus,
ampulla and infundibulum
Externally, the uterine tube is covered by
peritoneum and supported by a short
mesentery called the mesosalpinx
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12. Functions of fallopian tubes
 receive and provide a passageway for the
ovulated oocyte from the ovaries
 the site for fertilization
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13. Uterus
situated anterior to the rectum and posterosuperior
to urinary bladder and is shaped like an inverted
pear
Has 4 parts: fundus, body, isthmus and cervix
central lumen of the uterus is divided into the
cavity of the body and the cervical canal
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15. the uterus is composed of three basic layers
 Perimetrium
 Myometrium
 Endometrium :has two layers: the functional layer and basal
layer
Several ligaments and mesenteries help hold the
uterus in place
 broad ligament, cardinal ligaments, round ligaments
and uterosacral ligaments
peritoneum around and over the various pelvic
organs produces blind-ended peritoneal pouches
 vesicouterine pouch and rectouterine pouch

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17. Functions of uterus
 pathway for sperm deposited in the vagina to
reach the uterine tubes
 the site of implantation of a fertilized ovum and
development of the fetus during pregnancy
 source of menstrual flow
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18. Cervix
portion of the uterus which is cylindrical
and has small apertures at each end
Has 2 parts:supravaginal and vaginal
mainly of fibrous connective tissues
cervical glands that secrete a mucus that
fills the cervical canal and covers the
external cervical os
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20. Vagina
tubular canal that extends from the vulva to the uterine
cervix
situated between the urinary bladder and the rectum
Has 4 walls and 4 fornices
Fornix- recess formed where the widened superior part
of the vagina encircles the tip of the cervix
Hymen-membrane on the vaginal orifice
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21. muscular layer is composed of
smooth muscle that can stretch to
receive the penis during
intercourse and allow for
childbirth
Functions
 Organ of copulation (sexual
intercourse)
 the outlet for menstrual flow
 passageway for childbirth
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22. Perineum and Vulva
Perineum is
 the diamond-shaped area between the thighs
and buttocks of both males and females
 contains the external genitals and anus
Vulva refers to the external genitals of the
female which includes
 mons pubis
 labia majora
 labia minora
 Clitoris
 structures associated with the vestibule 22

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26. Mammary Glands
breasts lie over the pectoralis major and serratus
anterior muscles and are attached to them by a
layer of connective tissue
each mammary gland consists of 15 to 20 lobes
arranged radially and separated by adipose tissue
and strands of connective tissue called suspensory
ligaments of the breast (Cooper’s ligaments)
Function of the mammary glands is called
lactation which is synthesis, secretion and ejection
of milk
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28. Bones of the Pelvis
pelvis is the region of the body surrounded by the
pelvic bones and the inferior parts of the vertebral
column
Is continuous with the abdominal cavity above
The pelvic floor separates the pelvic cavity from the
perineum
Two regions
A) the greater or false pelvis or pelvis major
B) the true or lesser pelvis or pelvis minor
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29. Bones of the pelvis consists of :
 Pelvic or hip or innominate bones
 Ilium, ischium and pubis
 Sacrum
 Coccyx
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31. Pudendal nerve
innervates skin and
skeletal muscles of
the perineum,
including the external
anal and external
urethral sphincters
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32. The Female Reproductive Cycle
During their reproductive years
nonpregnant females normally exhibit
monthly cyclical changes in both ovaries
uterus
 Ovarian cycle for oogenesis
 Uterine (menstrual) cycle- preparation of the
uterus to receive a fertilized ovum
These cycles are hormonally regulated
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33. These cycles are hormonally regulated
 Hypothalamus secretes Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
(GnRH)
 GnRH stimulates the release of follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary
 FSH initiates follicular growth and the secretion of estrogens
 LH triggers ovulation and secretion of estrogens and
progesterone
 Estrogens promote the development of female reproductive
structures and secondary sex characteristics
 progesterone acts together with estrogens to prepare and then
maintain the endometrium for implantation of a fertilized ovum
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35. Ovarian cycle has 2 phases
 Follicular and Luteal phases
Uterine (menstrual) cycle has 3 phases
 Proliferative, Secretory and Menstrual phases
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36. Ovarian cycles
Follicular phase
 primordial follicles start to grow stimulated by follicle-
stimulating hormone (FSH)
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37. At midpoint of the ovarian cycle (just before day 14) there
is sudden release of a large quantity of luteinizing hormone
(LH) which leads to the process of ovulation, the ovarian
wall over the follicle bulges, thins, wall then ruptures and
the oocyte exits into the peritoneal cavity, and is swept into
a uterine tube.
Luteal Phase (Second Half of the Ovarian Cycle)
 After ovulation, the part of the follicle that stays in the ovary
collapses and forms the structure called the corpus luteum
which consists of the remaining granulosa and theca layers
 Corpus luteum secretes estrogens and progesterone,
necessary hormones for implantation of ovum and
maintenance of zygote until placenta can take over the
function
 If no fertilization, it will regress in about 14 days and forms
the structure called corpus albicans
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38. Uterine (endometrial) cycles
Proliferative phase
 The endometrium thickens with
 Increased vascularity,
 Endometrial glands: straight
 Water and protein content
Secretary phase
 Glands: tortuous and dilated
 Spiral arteries enlarge and coil
Menstrual phase (bleeding)
 Rupture of vessel wall
 Regression of endometrium
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39. Fertilization
Process when chromosomes from the male and female
gametes come together within the ovum at ampullary
region of fallopian tube
Then cleavage (cell division) starts and by fourth day after
fertilization, the embryo is in the multicellular blastocyst
stage and enters the uterus
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40. Implantation
blastocyst floats freely
in the uterine cavity for
about 2 days
6 days after fertilization,
the blastocyst begins
implantation,the act of
burrowing into the
endometrium
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41. END
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