NCM 107: Female Reproductive System

Vulva

The collective term of external female genitals

Mons Veneris

• Latin for "mound of Venus"

• Soft mound at the front of the vulva

• protects the pubic bone and vulva from the impact of sexual intercourse

• covered with pubic hair, usually is a triangular shape

Labia Majora

• The outer "lips" of the vulva

• Pads of loose connective and adipose tissue, and some smooth muscle from the mons pubis to the perineum

• Usually covered with pubic hair

• Contain numerous sweat and oil glands

• Scent from these oils are sexually arousing

Pudendal Cleft

• is the anatomical name for the fissure or opening between the labia majora.

• Longitudinal separation

Dartus Muliebris

Responsible for wrinkle-like appearance of the labia majora.

Labia Minora

• Inner lips of the vulva

• The "Nymphae"

• Thin stretches of tissue within the labia majora that fold and protect the vagina, urethra, and clitoris

• No pubic hair but with sebaceous glands

Prepuce

• a fold that covers part of the clitoris

• formed longitudinally by the two smaller lips of the labia minora

Fourchette

• Formed by the posterior joining of the labia minora and majora

• very sensitive to manipulation

• Often torn during delivery

• Common site for episiotomy

Clitoris

• Small body of spongy tissue

• Solely for sexual pleasure

• Only the tip or glans of the clitoris shows externally, but the organ itself is elongated and branched into two forks, THE CRURA (extend downward along the rim of the vaginal opening toward the perineum)

• It is about 4’’ long on average

✓ urinary meatus

✓ skene's glands

✓ Hymen

✓ vaginal orifice

✓ Bartholin's glands

VESTIBULE

• An almond-shaped area contains the:

Urethra

For the passage of urine

Connected to the bladder

1.5 inches

how long is the female’s urethra?

8 inches

how long is the male’s urethra?

Hymen

Thin fold of mucous membrane

Separates the lumen of the vagina from the urethral sinus

"intactness" = virginity

A normal _____ does not completely block the vaginal

opening

Never actually "intact" (there is always an opening)

Transection

• A tear to the hymen

• can be seen in a small percentage of women or girls after

  first penetration

• caused by penetrating trauma

Skene’s glands

• Secretes small amounts of mucus

• Functions as lubrication

• Most common site of external genital infection in females

Bartholin glands

Secretes alkaline substance neutralizing the acidity of vagina

Doderleine's bacillus

Maintains the acidic environment of the vagina

Vaginal Orifice

External opening of the vaginal

Perineum

• Short stretch of skin starting at the bottom of the vulva and extending to the anus

• Diamond shaped area between the symphysis pubis and the coccyx

• Forms the floor of the pelvis

• Contains the external sex organs and the anal opening

Vagina

• Muscular (expansion), hollow tube from the vaginal opening to the cervix (3-5" long)

• Situated between the urinary bladder and the rectum

• Receives sperm during sexual intercourse, passage of menstrual flow, and delivers fetus through birth canal

Inner mucosal layer

Middle muscularis layer

Outer fibrous layer

Three layers of vagina

Inner mucosal layer

Compose of vaginal rugae that stretch and allow penetration to occur

Help with stimulation of the penis

Middle muscularis layer

Contains glands that secrete an acidic mucus (pH of around 4.0) that keeps bacterial growth down

Outer fibrous layer

Important with delivery of a fetus and placenta

Uterus

• 1" thick x 2" wide x 3" long

• Shaped like an upside-down pear

• non-pregnant- pear shape or inverted avocado

• Pregnant - ovoid Anteflexed or anteverted (bent or tipped forward With a thick lining and muscular walls Mainly for menstruation, pregnancy and labor

50-60g

Uterus weight:

• non-pregnant

1000g

Uterus weight:

• pregnant/5-6 weeks PP

500g

Uterus weight:

• 2 weeks PP

300g

Uterus weight:

• 3 weeks PP

Endometrium

Myometrium

Perimetrium

Muscular layers of the uterus

Endometrium

• Lines the non-pregnant uterus

• Decidua is the pregnant uterus

• Sloughs off during menstruation

Myometrium

• Smooth muscles ("living ligature" of the body)

• The largest portion of the uterus and the power of labor

• Muscle layer for the delivery process

Perimetrium

Protects the entire uterus

Cervix

• cylindrical or conical-shaped lower, narrow portion of the uterus

• protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall

• During menstruation it stretches open slightly (cramping pain)

• During childbirth, will dilate up to 10 cm in diameter (contractions of the uterus)

• During orgasm, the _____ convulses and the external os dilates

Ectocervix

The portion projecting into the vagina

3cm long, 2.5cm wide

Ectocervix size

External os

• The ectocervix's opening

• No vaginal birth - small, circular opening

• had a vaginal birth - bulkier and wider, more slit-like andgaping

Endocervical Canal

• Passageway between the external os and the uterine cavity

• Flattened anterior to posterior

• measures 7-8 mm at its widest

• terminates at the internal os

Ovary

Produces eggs (ova)

Secretes sex hormones

Two uterine tubes or the oviducts

2-3’’ long

Isthmus

most dangerous site for ectopic pregnancy

Ampulla

Outer 3rd or 2nd half common site for fertilization and ectopic pregnancy

Infundibulum

distal part

funnel or trumpet-shaped

Fimbriae

Finger-like projections (catches the mature ovum)

Oogonia

• They are diploid cells that turn into primary oocytes in oogenesis

• There are 23 chromosome pairs = 46 chromosomes

• _______ are created in early embryonic life

• All have turned into ______at late fetal age

Primary Oocyte

• Process of ootidogenesis

• When meiosis I is completed, one secondary oocyte and one polar body is created

• ✓ The stage where immature ova spend most of their lifetime

dictyate

The halt is called

55 years

Thus, an immature ovum can spend up to _______as a primary oocyte (the last ovulation before menopause)

Secondary Oocyte

• cell that is formed by meiosis I in oogenesis

• continues the second stage of meiosis (meiosis II)

• the daughter cells are one ootid and one polar body

• immature ovum (shortly after ovulation) to fertilization (turns into an ootid)

• the time as a secondary oocyte is measured in days

• the largest cell in the body

Ootid

It is the haploid result of ootidogenesis the immature ovum from shortly after fertilization, but before complete maturation into an ovum the time spent as an ootid is measured in minutes

Ovum

The ootid matures into an _____

6-7 million

Fetus is 20 wks old

• Oogenesis reaches its peak; _______ oocytes

1-2 million

Fetus is born

• _______ oocytes remain

• No further development occurs until years later when the

• girl becomes sexually mature

• Only if fertilization occurs will meiosis II will ever be

• completed

• Completion of meiosis II converts secondary oocyte into a

• fertilized egg or zygote and also a second polar body