4. What is REPRODUCTION?
Reproduction is a biological process by which new individual organism or new
offsprings are produced from their parents.
The process of reproduction is followed by male & female reproductive both.
FEMALEREPRODUCTIVESYSTEM
The human female reproductive system are located in the pelvis that is the lowest part of the abdomen.
Without the female reproductive system, lthere would be no perpetuation of life. The female
reproductive system plays many vital functions that ensures the continuation of life. This system
includes the external & internal genital organs.
EXTERNAL GENITAL ORGANS
The external genital organs of female are collectively called as the Vulva which includes the following
organs:
MONS PUBIS: It is the rounded mass of fatty tissues lying
over the joint of the pubis bones. In female, the mons pubis
forms the anterior portion of the vulva. It divides into the
labia minora, clitoris, urethra, vaginal opening & other
structure of the vulva vestibule.
LABIA MAJORA: The labia majora run posteriorly from
the pons pubis. They are the two elongated folds of skin that
extends from the vaginal opening to the back of it. The outer
surface of the folds have darker coloured skin with strong
hairs while the inner folds are smoother. The labia majora
joins to form the cleft shape of the female genitals & also
protects ather external organs.
LABIA MINORA: The labia minora are 2 smaller folds that enclosed by the labia majora. They can be
very small or upto 2 inches wide. They protects the opening of the vagina & urethra.
5. BARTHOLINS’S GLANDS: Also known as vulvovaginal or vestibular glands. They are the two
pea sized glands lie on either side of the vaginal opening. They secrete a mucoid substance that
lubricates the vagina for intercourse.
CLITORIS: The two labia minora meet at the clitoris, a small, sensitive, erectile part of female genital
which is present at the anterior end of the vulva. It is covered by a fold of skin caleed the prepuce. Its
function is sexual excitation.
PERINEUM: It is the area between the anus & the vaginal opening. It aids in constricting the urinary,
vaginal & the anal opening. It also helps to support the pelvic
contents.
INTERNAL GENITAL ORGANS
The internal organs are located in the pelvic cavity & are supported by the pelvic floor. It includes the
following organs:
VAGINA: The vagina is a thin walled muscular tube about 6 inches long that joins the cervix (lower
part of the uterus) to the outside of the body. It is located between the bladder & the rectum. The vagina
provides the passage way for the child birth hence also called as birth canal. It receives the penis &
semen during sexual intercourse.
FALLOPIAN TUBES: It is a 4inches long narrow tubes that extends medially from each ovaries to
empty into the superior region of the uterys. They transport the ovum from the ovaries to the uterus.
OVARIES: The ovaries are the ovum producing organs often found in pairs. They are small, oval
shaped glands that are located on either side of the uterus.
The appearance of the external genitals varies greatly from woman
race & the number of children a woman has borne determine
6. UTERUS: The uterus is a hollow, pear shaped & sized organ
that is home for developing fetus. Its two main important
function are: It is the organ of menstruation & during the
pregnancy it receives the fertilized ovum, retain & nourishes it
until it expels the fetus during labor.
DIVISION OF THE UTERUS: The uterus is divided
into two parts: the cervix which is the lower parts that opens
into the vagina. A channel through the cervix allows the sperm
to enter & the menstrual blood to exit. The other division is the
corpus which is the main body of the uterus. The corpus can easiky expand to hold the developing
baby. Other parts includes the fundus which is the superior rounded region above the entrance of the
fallopian tubes. The Ishtmus, a slightly constricted portion that joins the corpus to the cervix.
WALLS OF THE UTERUS: The walls are thick & are composed of three layers. The endometrium
which is the inner layer or mucosa. The myometrium which is the smooth muscle component of the
wall. Whereas the perimetrium is a strong, serous membrane that coats the entire uterine corpus.
OOGENESIS: (Process of egg production) It is the production or the development of the
ovum or ova (eggs) from the germ cells present in the female gonads. In this process, the diploid germ
cells that have the potential to develop into ova are celled oogonia. The oogonia by the process of
meiosis I becomes the primary oocyte. It undergoes the first meiotic division (prophase I) after they’ve
replicated their genomes & forms two unequal, a larger secondary oocyte & a smaller polar body.
Although the polar body is not a functional oocyte instead it generates & dies. The formation of a polar
body allow the primary oocyte to reduce its
genome by half & conserve most of its
cytoplasm in the secondary oocytes. If the
secondary oocyte is going to become a fully
functional ovum, it must undergo the second
meiotic division. The whole process is known
as oogenesis & completes in about a month.
MENSTRUAL CYCLE: It is
a cycle of hormonal change that repeats at
about one month intervals. This cycle provides
important body chemical called the hormones
to keep your body healthy. It also prepaers
7. your body for pregnancy each month. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long. It occurs in four
distinct phases. These are:
MENSTRAUTION or M PHASE (day 1 to 5): It is the onset of bleeding that is the discharge
of blood & discarded tissue of the uterus through vagina.
Menstruation takes place when the body becomes aware chemically
that no fertilization or pregnancy has occurred following the last
ovulation. The progesterone secretion is stopped by corpus luteum &
as a result the soft spongy vascular internal lining of uterus called
endometrium breaks off & starts flowing along with blood out of the
vagina in the form of menstrual flow.
FOLLICLE or F PHASE (Day 6 to 12): This phase starts just after the menstruation & ends
with the release of the ovum. This phase stimulates the development of many follicles in the
ovary. During this phase the pituitary gland secretes a hormone, follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH) that stimulates the egg cell or ovum in the ovary to rwo & produce a hormone of its own,
called oestrogen. The oestrogen stimulates the uterus to develop a lining of blood vessels & soft
tissue, called the endometrium.
OVULATION or F PHASE: (Day 13 to 15) During this phase the graffian follicle of the
ovary ruptures & the mature ovum is released into the oviduct by the action of Leutinizing
hormone (LH) which is secreted out due to low level of FSH & high oestrogen level in the blood.
CORPUS LUTEUM or L PHASE (16 to 18): It is the largest phase of the menstrual cycle. It
begins on the 15th day & lasts till the end of the cycle. During this phase the ruptured body
change into a yellowish body, the corpus
luteum, which starts producing another
hormone, the progesterone. The progesterone
maintains & enhance the growth of the
mucous lining (endometrium). If the mature
ovum present in the ovary is not fertilized the
corpus leutum gradually disintegrates,
progesterone secretion stops & the
endometrium disintegrates, slought off with
blood, menstruation begins & the cycle starts.
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS
There are certain disorders or diseases that affect the female reproductive system. They include
abnormal hormonal production by the ovearies or by other endocrine glands such as pituitary,
thyroid or adrenal glands. Such diseases may also be caudes by genetic or congenital
abnormalities, infections, tumors or disorders of unknown cause.
o ENDOMETRIOSIS: It is a painful chronic condition during which the endometrial tissue
which lines the uterus is found outside the uterus usually in the abdomen on the ovaries,
8. fallopian tubes or the ligaments that support the uterus. It may also forms in the bladder,
vagina, cervix or vulva. During this condition the blood & the tissue shed from
endometrial growth has no way of leaving the body resulting in internal bleeding with
inflammation.
SYMPTOMS: Pain before and during periods, Pain with sex, urination during period,
Infertility, Painful cramps, Other gastrointestinal upsets such as Diarrhea, Constipation,
Nausea etc
o VULVOVAGINITIS: Vulvovaginitis is an inflammation or infection of the vulva and
vagina. The vulvovaginitis may cause due to environmental factors, sexually transmitted
infections, chemical irritants or some times by bacteria, yeast or viruses.
SYMPTOMS: Irritation of the genital areas, Genital itching, Inflammation around the labia,
foul orders, increased vaginal discharge or discomforting when urinationg with burning
sensation.
o BARTHOLINITIS: It is the inflammation in the
Bartholin’s glands found in both sides of the vagina.
Inflammation is produced when a small orifice that releases
fluid coming from the bartholinitis to lubricate the vagina
becomes obstructed. Once this exit route is obstructed, the
fluid continues to be produced but it cannot leave and
therefore accumulates, slowly causing a round
lump on the edge of the vagina.
o Some other female reproductive disorders
includes the ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary
syndrome, cancer (of ovary, of cervix, or of the
vagina), uterine polyps, fibroids, vaginal thrush.
Etc
WHAT IS MENOPAUSE? Menopause is a normal condition that all
women experience usually after the age of 50. The term "menopause" can describe any of the changes a
woman goes through after she stops menstruating, marking the end of her reproductive period. A
woman is birth with a finite number of eggs which are stored in the ovary. The ovaries make the
hormones estrogen & progesterone which controls menstruation & ovulation. Menopause happens
when the ovaries release no egg for a longer period & menstruation stops. Menstruation is considered
as a part of aging when it happens after the age of 45 to 50. But some women’s can go through
menopause early, either as a result of surgery which may damage the ovary. It it happens before the age
then it is called as premature menopause.
9. ADDITIONALINFORMATION
Ovaries are the first reproductive system organ to develop in a female body.
Female ovum or the egg is the largest human cell about 120µm in diameter.
During a women’s lifetime she will only ovulate 300 to 400 of the 1 ti 2 millio eggs
she was initially born with.
Ovaries are greyish pink in color & are about the shape & size of an almond.
The size of the ovary becomes larger duringher reproductive phase & shrinks after
menopause.
Ovaries take turns releasing egg each month alternately one then the other.
More hormones are released during pregnancy than any other time in women’s
life.
Ovaries can cease to work in women with low body weight or female athletes who
maintain a small percentage of body fat.
Ovaries cancer are hardest to detect.
The kangaroos have 3 vainas.
In a fetus fingerprints are acquired ate the time of 3 month.
During pregnancy, uterus will exoand upto 500 times of normal size.
In the womb, the baby’s body is covered by a thin layer of hair but as soon as the
baby is born, it disappears.
10. The female body is capable of giving birth to 35 children in one life time.
