The female reproductive system contains two main parts:
- The uterus, which hosts the developing fetus, produces vaginal and uterine secretions, and passes the male's sperm through to the fallopian tubes; and
- The ovaries, which produce the female's egg cells.
The vagina meets the external organs at the vulva, which includes the labia, clitoris and urethrae. The vagina is attached to the uterus through the cervix, while the uterus is attached to the ovaries via the Fallopian tubes.
At certain intervals, the ovaries release an ovum, which passes through the Fallopian tube into the uterus. If, in this transit, it meets with sperm, the sperm penetrate and merge with the egg, fertilizing it. The fertilization usually occurs in the oviduct, but can happen in the uterus itself. The zygote then implants itself in the wall of the uterus, where it begins the processes of embryogenesis and morphogenesis. When developed enough to survive outside the uterus, the cervix dilates and contractions of the uterus propel the fetus through the birth canal, which is the vagina.
The ova are larger than sperm and are generally all created by birth. Approximately every month, a process of oogenesis matures one ovum to be sent down the Fallopian tube attached to its ovary in anticipation of fertilization. If not fertilized, this egg is flushed out of the system through menstruation.
THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITAL ORGAN
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITAL ORGAN
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VAGINA :
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female .
The vagina is the place where semen semen from the male is deposited into the female's body at the climax of sexual intercourse, commonly known as ejaculation. Around the vagina, pubic hair protects the vagina from infection and is a sign of puberty.
CERVIX :
The cervix (or neck of the uterus) is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall. Approximately half its length is visible with appropriate medical equipment; the remainder lies above the vagina beyond view. It is occasionally called "cervix uteri". Cervix means neck in Latin.
Anatomi cervix :
Ectocervix
The portion projecting into the vagina is referred to as the portio vaginalis or ectocervix. On average, the ectocervix is 3 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. It has a convex, elliptical surface and is divided into anterior and posterior lips.
The ectocervix's opening is called the external os. The size and shape of the external os and the ectocervix varies widely with age, hormonal state, and whether the woman has had a vaginal birth. In women who have not had a vaginal birth the external os appears as a small, circular opening. In women who have had a vaginal birth, the ectocervix appears bulkier and the external os appears wider, more slit-like and gaping.
The passageway between the external os and the uterine cavity is referred to as the endocervical canal. It varies widely in length and width, along with the cervix overall. Flattened anterior to posterior, the endocervical canal measures 7 to 8 mm at its widest in reproductive-aged women.
The endocervical canal terminates at the internal os which is the opening of the cervix inside the uterine cavity.
There are pockets in the lining of the cervix known as cervical crypts. They function to produce cervical fluid.
UTERUS :
The uterus (Latin word for womb) is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. The term uterus is used consistently within the medical and related professions; the Germanic term,womb is more common in everyday usage. The plural of uterus is uteruses or uteri.
One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina; the other is connected on both sides to the Fallopian tubes.
FALLOPIAN TUBE :
The Fallopian tubes, named after Gabriel Fallopius (Gabriele Fallopio), also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges (singular salpinx) are two very fine tubes lined with ciliated epithelia, leading from the ovaries of female mammals into theuterus.
There are two Fallopian tubes attached to either side of the cornual end of the uterus at the axilla of Welch. Each terminates at or near one ovary forming a structure called the fimbria.
The Fallopian tubes are not directly attached to the ovaries, but open into the peritoneal cavity (essentially the inside of the abdomen); they thus form a direct communication between the peritoneal cavity and the outside via the vagina. In human, the Fallopian tubes are about 7–14 cm long.
If a Fallopian Tube is missing from the pair, then the other fallopian tube that is functional could still be a way of carrying an egg down to the uterus.
There are four regions of the fallopian tube from the ovary to the uterus:[1]
- Infundibulum - contains fimbria
- Ampulla - usual site of fertilization
- Isthmus
- Intramural oviduct - inside wall of uterus
OVARIES
The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the female reproductive system. Ovaries in females are homologous to testes in males, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.
Ovaries are oval shaped and, in the human, measure approximately 3 cm x 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm (about the size of a Greek olive). The ovary (for a given side) is located in the lateral wall of the pelvis in a region called the ovarian fossa. The fossa usually lies beneath the external iliac artery and in front of the ureter and the internal iliac artery.
Each ovary is then attached to the fimbria of the fallopian Tube. Usually each ovary takes turns releasing eggs every month; however, if there was a case where one ovary was absent or dysfunctional then the other ovary would continue providing eggs to be released.
Ovaries secrete both Estrogen and Progesterone. Estrogen is responsible for the appearance of secondary sex characteristics of females at puberty and for the maturation and maintenance of the reproductive organs in their mature functional state. Progesteronefunctions with Estrogen by promoting cyclic changes in the endometrium (it prepares the endometrium for pregnancy), as well as by helping maintain the endometrium in a healthy state during pregnancy.
Reviewed by Bambang Widjanarko, Obstetrician & Gynecologist
Last Juni 2009
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