Anatomy & Physiology Of
Female Reproductive System

Learning Objectives
 Define the terms listed.
 Identify the female external
reproductive organs.
 Explain the structure of the bony
pelvis.
 Explain the functions and structures
of pelvic floor.

Introduction

External Female Structures
Collectively, the external
female reproductive
organs are called the
Vulva.

External Female Structures
 Mons Pubis.
 Labia Majora
 Labia Minora.
 Clitoris.
 Vestibule.
 Perineum

Mons Pubis
Is rounded, soft fullness of
subcutaneous fatty tissue, prominence
over the symphysis pubis that forms
the anterior border of the external
reproductive organs.
It is covered with varying amounts
of pubic hair.

Labia Majora & Minora
 The labia Majora are two rounded,
fleshy folds of tissue that extended
from the mons pubis to the perineum.
 It is protect the labia minora, urinary
meatus and vaginal introitus.

Labia Minora
 It is located between the labia majora,
are narrow.
 The lateral and anterior aspects are
usually pigmented.
 The inner surfaces are similar to
vaginal mucosa, pink and mois.
 Their rich vascularity.

Clitoris.
 The term clitoris comes from a
Greek word meaning key.
 Erectile organ.
 It’s rich vascular, highly sensitive
to temperature, touch, and
pressure sensation

Vestibule.
 Is oval-shaped area formed
between the labia minora, clitoris,
and fourchette.
 Vestibule contains the external
urethral meatus, vaginal introitus,
and Bartholins glands.

Perineum
 Is the most posterior part of the
external female reproductive organs.
 It extends from fourchette anteriorly
to the anus posteriorly.
 And is composed of fibrous and
muscular tissues that support pelvic
structures.

Internal Female Structures
Vagina
Uterus
Fallopian tubes
Ovaries

Fallopian tubes
 The two tubes extended from the
cornu of the uterus to the ovary.
 It runs in the upper free border of
the broad ligament.
 Length 8 to 14 cm average 10 cm
 Its divided into 4 parts.

1. Interstitial part
Which runs into uterine cavity,
passes through the myometrium
between the fundus and body of
the uterus. About 1-2cm in
length.

2. Isthmus
Which is the narrow part of
the tube adjacent to the
uterus.
Straight and cord like ,
about 2 – 3 cm in length.

3. Ampulla
Which is the wider part about
5 cm in length.
Fertilization occurs in the
ampulla.

4. Infundibulum
 It is funnel or trumpet shaped.
 Fimbriae are fingerlike processes, one
of these is longer than the other and
adherent to the ovary.
 The fimbriae become swollen almost
erectile at ovulation.

Functions
 Gamete transport (ovum pickup,
ovum transport, sperm transport).
 Final maturation of gamete post
ovulate oocyte maturation, sperm
capicitation.

 Fluid environment for early
embryonic development.
 Transport of fertilized and
unfertilized ovum to the uterus.

Ovaries
 Oval solid structure, 1.5 cm in thickness,
2.5 cm in width and 3.5 cm in length
respectively. Each weights about 4–8 gm.
 Ovary is located on each side of the
uterus, below and behind the uterine tubes

Structure of the ovaries
Cortex
Medulla
Hilum

Ovaries and Relationship
to Uterine Tube and Uterus
Figure 28–14

Function of the ovary
Secrete estrogen & progesterone.
Production of ova

Uterus
 The uterus is a hollow, pear shaped
muscular organ.
 The uterus measures about 7.5 X 5
X 2.5 cm and weight about 50 – 60
gm.

 Its normal position is anteverted
(rotated forward and slightly
antiflexed (flexed forward)
 The uterus divided into three
parts

1. Body of the uterus
 The upper part is the corpus, or body
of the uterus
 The fundus is the part of the body or
corpus above the area where the
fallopian tubes enter the uterus.
 Length about 5 cm.

2. Isthmus
 A narrower transition zone.
 Is between the corpus of the uterus
and cervix.
 During late pregnancy, the isthmus
elongates and is known as the lower
uterine segment.

3. Cervix
 The lowermost position of the
uterus “neck”.
 The length of the cervix is about
2.5 t0 3 cm.

 The os, is the opening in the cervix
that runs between the uterus and
vagina.
 The upper part of the cervix is marked
by internal os and the lower cervix is
marked by the external os.

Layers of the uterus
 Perimetrium.
 Myometrium.
 Endometrium.

1. Perimetrium
Is the outer peritoneal layer of
serous membrane that covers
most of the uterus.

Laterally, the perimetrium is
continuous with the broad
ligaments on either side of the
uterus.

2. Myometrium
 Is the middle layer of thick
muscle.
 Most of the muscle fibers are
concentrated in the upper uterus,
and their number diminishes
progressively toward the cervix.

The myometrium
contains three types of
smooth muscle fiber

Longitudinal fibers (outer layer)
Which are found mostly in the
fundus and are designed to
expel the fetus efficiently
toward the pelvic outlet during
birth.

Middle layer figure-8 fibers
These fiber contract after
birth to compress the blood
vessels that pass between
them to limit blood loss.

Inner layer circular fibers
 Which form constrictions where the
fallopian tubes enter the uterus and
surround the internal os
 Circular fibers prevent reflux of
menstrual blood and tissue into the
fallopian tubes.

 Promote normal implantation of
the fertilized ovum by controlling
its entry into the uterus.
 And retain the fetus until the
appropriate time of birth.

3. Endometrium
 Is the inner layer of the uterus.
 It is responsive to the cyclic
variations of estrogen and
progesterone during the female
reproductive cycle every month.

 The two or three layers of the
endometrium are:
*Compact layer
*The basal layer
*The functional or Sponge layer this
layer is shed during each menstrual period
and after child birth in the lochia

The Function of the uterus
 Menstruation ----the uterus
sloughs off the endometrium.
 Pregnancy ---the uterus support
fetus and allows the fetus to grow.

 Labor and birth---the uterine
muscles contract and the cervix
dilates during labor to expel the
fetus

Vagina
 It is an elastic fibro-muscular tube
and membranous tissue about 8 to
10 cm long.
 Lying between the bladder
anteriorly and the rectum
posteriorly.

 The vagina connects the uterus
above with the vestibule below.
 The upper end is blind and called
the vaginal vault.

 The vaginal lining has multiple
folds, or rugae and muscle layer.
These folds allow the vagina to
stretch considerably during
childbirth.

The reaction of the vagina
is acidic, the pH is 4.5 that
protects the vagina against
infection.

Functions of the vagina
 To allow discharge of the
menstrual flow.
 As the female organs of coitus.
 To allow passage of the fetus from
the uterus.

Support structures
The bony pelvis support
and protects the lower
abdominal and internal
reproductive organs.

Muscle, Joints and ligaments
provide added support for
internal organs of the pelvis
against the downward force of
gravity and the increases in
intra-abdominal pressure

Bony Pelvis
Bony Pelvis Is Composed of 4
bones:
1. Two hip bones.
2. Sacrum.
3. Coccyx.

1. Two hip bones.
Each or hip bone is composed
of three bones:
*Ilium
*Ischium
*Pubis

*Ilium
 It is the flared out part.
 The greater part of its inner
aspect is smooth and concave,
forming the iliac fossa.
 The upper border of the ilium is
called iliac crest

*Ischium
It is the thick lower part.
It has a large prominence
known as the ischial tuberosity
on which the body rests while
sitting.

Behind and little above the
tuberosity is an inward
projection the ischial spine.

2. Sacrum
 Is a wedge shaped bone consisting of
five vertebrae.
 The anterior surface of the sacrum is
concave
 The upper border of the first sacral
vertebra known as the sacral
promontory

3. Coccyx.
 Consists of four
vertebrae forming a
small triangular bone.