Female reproductive system

For this biological process to be carried out, certain organs and structures are required in both the male and the female. The source of the ova (the female germ cells) is the female At copulation, or This articles describes the organs, both male and female, that are involved in human reproduction. The reproductive process itself is covered in other articles. For a detailed discussion of the series of changes that occur in a woman’s body as her fetus develops, see see see see

The female reproductive organs include several key structures, such as the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and vulva. These organs are involved in fertility, conception, pregnancy, and childbirth. The reproductive organs also have a significant influence on other aspects of health. For example, the ovaries create hormones that In this article, we will look at the anatomy of the female reproductive organs in detail, including what they do and how they work. Share on Pinterest Design by Diego Sabogal The female reproductive system is a group of organs that work together to enable reproduction, pregnancy, and childbirth. It also produces female sex hormones, including estrogen and The system consists of organs and tissues inside the body and some that are visible outside the body. The internal organs include: • ovaries • fallopian tubes • uterus • cervix • vagina Another organ, the clitoris, extends both inside and outside the body. The external area surrounding the vagina is the vulva. Not everyone who is assigned female at birth has all of these organs. Sometimes, people are born without some parts or with a mixture of female and male characteristics. This is known as Some people also undergo procedures to remove some parts of the reproductive system. Some of these procedures take place for medical reasons, while others are the result of harmful cultural practices, such as Most females have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. They are about the shape and size of an almond...

The What Parts Make up the Female Anatomy? The female reproductive anatomy includes parts inside and outside the body. The function of the external female reproductive structures (the genitals) is twofold: To enable sperm to enter the body and to protect the internal genital organs from infectious organisms. The main external structures of the female reproductive system include: • Labia majora: The labia majora enclose and protect the other external reproductive organs. Literally translated as "large lips," the labia majora are relatively large and fleshy, and are comparable to the scrotum in males. The labia majora contain sweat and oil-secreting glands. After puberty, the labia majora are covered with • Labia minora: Literally translated as "small lips," the labia minora can be very small or up to 2 inches wide. They lie just inside the labia majora, and surround the openings to the • Bartholin's glands: These glands are located beside the vaginal opening and produce a fluid (mucus) secretion. • Clitoris: The two labia minora meet at the clitoris, a small, sensitive protrusion that is comparable to the The internal reproductive organs in the female include: • Vagina : The vagina is a canal that joins the • Uterus (womb): The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is the home to a • Ovaries: The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and hormones. • Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are ...

• 1 Anatomical Position • 2 Anatomical Structure • 2.1 Histology of the Vagina • 3 Vascular Supply and Lymphatics • 4 Innervation • 5 Clinical Relevance: Vaginal (Obstetric) Fistulae The vagina is an organ of the female reproductive tract. It is a distensible muscular tube which extends posterosuperiorly from the external vaginal orifice to the cervix. It has several roles within the female reproductive system: • Sexual intercourse – receives the penis and ejaculate, assisting in its transport to the uterus. • Childbirth – expands to provide a channel for delivery of a newborn from the uterus. • Menstruation – serves as a canal for menstrual fluid and tissue to leave the body. In this article, we will look at the anatomy of the vagina – its structure, innervation, vascular and lymphatic supply. Anatomical Structure The vagina is a fibromuscular tube with anterior and posterior walls – these are normally collapsed and thus in contact with one another. The shape of the vagina is not a round tunnel. In the transverse plane it is more like an “H” lying on the side. At the upper ending, the vagina surrounds the cervix, creating two domes (fornices or vaults): an anterior and a (deeper) posterior one. The posterior fornix is important as it acts like a natural reservoir for semen after intravaginal ejaculation. The semen retained in the fornix liquefies in the next 20-30 mins, allowing for easier permeation through the cervical canal. Histology of the Vagina The vagina is compos...

Share on Pinterest The • releasing eggs, which can potentially be fertilized by sperm • producing female sex hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen • providing an environment for a fertilized egg to develop during pregnancy • facilitating labor and childbirth But what are the individual parts of the female reproductive system, and what do they do? Continue reading as we discuss these questions and more below. Let’s explore each part of the female reproductive system in a little more detail. Vulva The vulva is the name that’s given to the external parts of the female reproductive system. The vulva actually includes many different structures, such as the: • Mons pubis: The • Labia majora: The labia majora are folds of skin that are found below the mons pubis. They cover many other parts of the vulva. • Labia minora: These are smaller folds of skin covering the vestibule of the vulva. • Vestibule: This is the area that’s located between the labia minora. It contains the opening to the vagina and the urethra. • Clitoris: Located at the top of the labia minora, the • Bartholin’s glands: These are two small glands that are located on either side of the opening of the vagina. • Skene’s glands: These glands are located in the vagina near the urethra. They may be part of the G-spot, and play a role in sexual arousal. Vagina The opening of the The opening of the vagina may be partially covered by a thin piece of tissue called the Uterus The uterus is a muscular, pear-shaped org...

The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, vulva, mammary glands and breasts. These organs are involved in the production and transportation of gametes and the production of sex hormones. The female reproductive system also facilitates the fertilization of ova by sperm and supports the development of offspring during pregnancy and infancy. Female Reproductive System Anatomy Ovaries The Fallopian Tubes The Uterus The Vagina The Vulva The Breasts and Mammary Glands The Female Reproductive System Physiology The Reproductive Cycle The female reproductive cycle is the process of producing an ovum and readying the uterus to receive a fertilized ovum to begin Oogenesis and Ovulation Under the influence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), the ovaries produce a mature ovum in a process known as ovulation. By about 14 days into the reproductive cycle, an oocyte reaches maturity and is released as an ovum. Although the ovaries begin to mature many oocytes each month, usually only one ovum per cycle is released. Fertilization Once the mature ovum is released from the ovary, the fimbriae catch the egg and direct it down the fallopian tube to the uterus. It takes about a week for the ovum to travel to the uterus. If sperm are able to reach and penetrate the ovum, the ovum becomes a Menstruation While the ovum matures and travels through the fallopian tube, the endometrium grows and develops in preparation for th...

What Is Reproduction? Reproduction is the process by which organisms make more organisms like themselves. But even though the reproductive system is essential to keeping a species alive, unlike other body systems, it's not essential to keeping an individual alive. In the human reproductive process, two kinds of sex cells, or gametes (GAH-meetz), are involved. The male gamete, or sperm, and the female gamete, the egg or ovum, meet in the female's reproductive system. When sperm fertilizes (meets) an egg, this fertilized egg is called a zygote (pronounced: ZYE-goat). The zygote goes through a process of becoming an embryo and developing into a fetus. The Humans, like other organisms, pass some characteristics of themselves to the next generation. We do this through our What Is the Female Reproductive System? The external part of the female reproductive organs is called the vulva, which means covering. Located between the legs, the vulva covers the opening to the vagina and other reproductive organs inside the body. The fleshy area located just above the top of the vaginal opening is called the mons pubis. Two pairs of skin flaps called the labia (which means lips) surround the vaginal opening. The clitoris, a small sensory organ, is located toward the front of the vulva where the folds of the labia join. Between the labia are openings to the urethra (the canal that carries pee from the bladder to the outside of the body) and vagina. When girls become sexually mature, the out...

Overview Infertility is defined as trying to get pregnant with frequent, unprotected sex for at least a year with no success. Infertility results from female factors about one-third of the time and both female and male factors about one-third of the time. The cause is either unknown or a combination of male and female factors in the remaining cases. Symptoms The main symptom of infertility is the inability to get pregnant. A menstrual cycle that's too long (35 days or more), too short (less than 21 days), irregular or absent can mean that you're not ovulating. There might be no other signs or symptoms. When to see a doctor When to seek help can depend on your age: • Up to age 35, most doctors recommend trying to get pregnant for at least a year before testing or treatment. • If you're between 35 and 40, discuss your concerns with your doctor after six months of trying. • If you're older than 40, your doctor might suggest testing or treatment right away. Your doctor might also want to begin testing or treatment right away if you or your partner has known fertility problems, or if you have a history of irregular or painful periods, pelvic inflammatory disease, repeated miscarriages, cancer treatment, or endometriosis. Fertilization and implantation During fertilization, the sperm and egg unite in one of the fallopian tubes to form a zygote. Then the zygote travels down the fallopian tube, where it becomes a morula. Once it reaches the uterus, the morula becomes a blastocyst....

Painful sex. Lack of interest in sex. Unsatisfying sex. These are just some types of a condition called sexual dysfunction. It can be both a cause of infertility and a result of it. If it’s hard to conceive and you aren’t thrilled with your sex life, there’s a chance these things are related. Talk to a health care professional about your problems. It could make getting pregnant more likely -- and more fun. This happens when the same kind of tissue as the kind that lines the inside of your uterus starts growing in areas other than the uterine lining. The condition is often painful and can affect fertility. In fact, women who have trouble with conception are 6 to 8 times more likely to have endometriosis than fertile women. Surgery or in vitro fertilization can improve the odds of getting (and staying) pregnant. Cancer isn’t usually top of mind for young women, but this type -- caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) -- is a serious threat. Each year, more than 11,000 women get the disease. Many are of childbearing age. The upside: Thanks to Pap smears, doctors can find and treat it early. The downside: Many treatments cause infertility. If you get cervical cancer, ask for options that will let you get pregnant later. With today’s powerful medications, this disease can often be managed like a chronic condition. Some people live so well with the virus that they want to have a baby. However, HIV affects fertility in both men and women. Still, you can become a parent. And with...

Internal and external organs of the female reproductive system. What is the female reproductive system? The female reproductive system is the body parts that help women or people assigned female at birth (AFAB): • Have sexual intercourse. • Reproduce. • Menstruate. What are the parts of the female reproductive system? The female reproductive anatomy includes both external and internal parts. External parts The function of your external genitals are to protect the internal parts from infection and allow sperm to enter your vagina. Your vulva is the collective name for all your external genitals. A lot of people mistakenly use the term “vagina” to describe all female reproductive parts. However, your vagina is its own structure located inside your body. The main parts of your vulva or external genitals are: • Labia majora: Your labia majora (“large lips”) enclose and protect the other external reproductive organs. During puberty, hair growth occurs on the skin of the labia majora, which also contain sweat and oil-secreting glands. • Labia minora: Your labia minora (“small lips”) can have a variety of sizes and shapes. They lie just inside your labia majora, and surround the opening to your vagina (the canal that joins the lower part of your uterus to the outside of your body) and urethra (the tube that carries pee from your bladder to the outside of your body). This skin is very delicate and can become easily irritated and swollen. • Clitoris: Your two labia minora meet at y...