![]() ![]() With every cycle, a woman’s body prepares for a potential pregnancy, whether or not that is the woman’s intention. Menstru means "monthly” – leading to the term menstrual cycle. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants to the uterine lining.įemales of reproductive age (beginning anywhere from 11 to 16 years of age) experience cycles of hormonal activity that repeat at about one-month intervals. Fertilization of an egg by a sperm normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as pathways for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus.Ovaries: The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the uterus.A canal through the cervix allows sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit. The corpus can easily expand to hold a developing baby. The uterus is divided into two parts: the cervix, which is the lower part that opens into the vagina, and the main body of the uterus, called the corpus. Uterus: The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is the home to a developing fetus.Vagina: The vagina is a canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the outside of the body.The internal reproductive organs include: Like the penis, the clitoris is very sensitive to stimulation and can become erect. The clitoris is covered by a fold of skin, called the prepuce, which is similar to the foreskin at the end of the penis. Clitoris: The two labia minora meet at the clitoris, a small, sensitive protrusion that is comparable to the penis in males.Bartholin’s glands: These glands are located next to the vaginal opening on each side and produce a fluid (mucus) secretion.This skin is very delicate and can become easily irritated and swollen. They lie just inside the labia majora, and surround the openings to the vagina (the canal that joins the lower part of the uterus to the outside of the body) and urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body). Labia minora: The labia minora (“small lips”) can have a variety of sizes and shapes.During puberty, hair growth occurs on the skin of the labia majora, which also contain sweat and oil-secreting glands. Labia majora: The labia majora (“large lips”) enclose and protect the other external reproductive organs.The main external structures of the female reproductive system include: The function of the external female reproductive structures (the genital) is twofold: To enable sperm to enter the body and to protect the internal genital organs from infectious organisms. The female reproductive anatomy includes both external and internal structures. One year after menstrual cycles stop, the woman is considered to be menopausal. At this point, menstrual cycles can become irregular and eventually stop. In addition, the female reproductive system produces female sex hormones that maintain the reproductive cycle.ĭuring menopause, the female reproductive system gradually stops making the female hormones necessary for the reproductive cycle to work. If implantation does not take place, the uterine lining is shed as menstrual flow. Once in the uterus, the fertilized egg can implant into thickened uterine lining and continue to develop. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where the uterine lining has thickened in response to the normal hormones of the reproductive cycle. The oocytes are then transported to the fallopian tube where fertilization by a sperm may occur. The ovaries produce the egg cells, called the ova or oocytes. The female reproductive system provides several functions. How does the female reproductive system work? ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |