Female Reproductive System - Anatomy

Female Reproductive System

Components & Functions

• Ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, and vulva are the main components.
• Mammary glands are also part of the female reproductive system.

Production of Gametes

• Ovaries produce oocytes (female gametes).
• Each oocyte is contained within an ovarian follicle that protects and nourishes it.
• Ovulation is the process of oocyte release from a mature follicle.

Production of Sex Hormones

• Ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone.
• These hormones affect the development, maturation, and activity of female reproductive organs.

Facilitation of Fertilization

• Uterine tubes transport the ovulated oocyte towards the uterus.
• Fertilization typically occurs in the uterine tubes.
• If fertilization occurs, the uterine tubes transport the fertilized oocyte to the uterus for implantation and growth into a fetus.
• The vagina serves as the copulatory organ.

Support of Fetal Growth, Development, & Delivery

• The uterus is a muscular organ that supports, protects, and nourishes the embryo and fetus.
• The vagina forms part of the birth canal for delivery.

Embryological Development of Ovaries

• Occurs around the 5th week of development.
• Paired structures called genital ridges or gonadal ridges form from the mesoderm.
• These ridges form the gonads in the abdominal cavity around the 10th thoracic vertebrae (T10) level.
• During development, ovaries descend to their final position in the pelvic cavity.
• Each gonad is guided by a thin band of connective tissue called the gubernaculum.
• In females, the gubernaculum forms two ligamentous structures: the ovarian ligament and the round ligament of the uterus.

Ovaries

• Paired, oval-shaped organs about the size of an almond.
• Located in the pelvic cavity, lateral to the uterus, supported by the ovarian and suspensory ligaments.
• Function: Produce female gametes and sex hormones.
• Externally covered by two layers of tissue: the germinal epithelium and the tunica albuginea.
• Internally, they have a cortex and a medulla.

Suspensory Ligament

• Cord-like structure that anchors the ovary to the lateral pelvic wall.
• Contains blood vessels and nerves.

Ovarian Ligament

• Embryological remnant of the gubernaculum that guided the ovary to its final position.
• Tethers the ovaries to the lateral aspects of the uterus.

Tunica Albuginea

• Fibrous capsule of the ovary.
• Deep to the germinal epithelium and composed of dense irregular connective tissue.

Medulla

• Inner region of the ovary.
• Contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels.

Germinal Epithelium

• Layer of simple cuboidal epithelium surrounding the ovaries.
• Closely associated with the peritoneum, reflecting the descent of the ovaries from the abdominal cavity.

Uterine Tubes

• Also known as fallopian tubes or oviducts.
• Extend laterally from either side of the uterus and transport the ovulated oocyte to the uterus.
• Divided into four main parts (lateral to medial): infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus, and uterine part

Infundibulum

• Most lateral part of the uterine tube, closest to the ovary.
• Funnel-shaped with finger-like projections called fimbriae that sweep the ovulated oocyte into the uterine tube.
• Fimbriae are not directly attached to the ovary but surround it to guide the oocyte.

Ampulla

• Dilated part of the uterine tube, medial to the infundibulum.
• The site where fertilization of an ovulated oocyte takes place.

Isthmus

• Narrow part of the uterine tube, medial to the ampulla.
• Forms 1/3 of the uterine tube's length.

Uterine Part

• Most medial part, continuous with the wall of the uterus and opens into the lumen of the uterus.
• Also known as the intramural part of the uterine tube.

Uterus

• If the oocyte is not fertilized, it is shed along with the inner lining of the uterus during menstruation.
• The uterus is a pear-shaped organ located in the pelvic cavity, ascending into the abdominal cavity during pregnancy.
• Communicates with the uterine tubes superolaterally and the vagina inferiorly.
• Normally situated posterosuperior to the urinary bladder and anterior to the rectum.
• The cervix sits between the urinary bladder and rectum, and its body lies across the superior surface of the urinary bladder.

Fundus

• The most superior part of the uterus.
• Projects above the level at which the uterine tubes connect to the uterus.

Body of Uterus

• The main part of the uterus.

Isthmus

• Narrow part of the uterus between the body and the cervix.

Cervix

• The neck of the uterus.
• The most inferior part that projects into the vagina.
• Contains a narrow channel called the cervical canal with two openings: the internal os and the external os (os = mouth).
• The internal os opens into the lumen of the main part of the uterus, and the external os opens into the vagina.

Broad Ligament

• A fold of the peritoneum that drapes over the uterus.
• Divided into three regions based on associated structures: the uterus itself, the uterine tubes, and the ovaries.

Round Ligament

• Embryological remnant of the gubernaculum that guided each ovary to its final position in the pelvic cavity during development.
• Arises from the uterine horns (points where the uterine tubes connect to the uterus) and travels through the inguinal canal to reach the external genitalia.

Vagina

• A fibromuscular canal connecting the uterus to the external environment.
• Forms the birth canal and provides a passageway for menstrual fluid.
• Located posterior to the urinary bladder and urethra, and anterior to the rectum.
• The external opening of the vagina is called the vaginal orifice, partially guarded by a vascularized, membranous structure called the hymen.

Vulva

Mons Pubis

• A pad of skin and connective tissue located immediately anterior to the pubic symphysis.
• Covered with pubic hair after the onset of puberty.

Vestibule

• The space between the labia minora.
• Contains the external urethral orifice anteriorly and the vaginal orifice posteriorly.
• On either side of the vaginal orifice, there are bodies of erectile tissue forming the bulb of the vestibule.
• Within the posterolateral walls of the vestibule, paired greater vestibular glands secrete mucus to lubricate the vagina.

Labia Minora

• Smaller, paired folds of skin and connective tissue located immediately internal to the labia majora.
• Contain sebaceous glands and lack pubic hair.

Labia Majora

• Paired, thickened folds of skin and connective tissue.
• Contain sweat and sebaceous glands, and their outer surfaces are covered by pubic hair after the onset of puberty.

Clitoris

• A small mass of erectile tissue located at the anterior margins of the labia minora.
• Has a root that anchors it to the pelvis inferiorly, and a free body.
• The root is composed of elongated masses of erectile tissue called crura, and the body is composed of cylindrical extensions of the crura called corpora cavernosa.
• The end of the body of the clitoris is capped by the glans.
• The clitoris is covered by the prepuce (foreskin), formed by the folds of the labia minora.