Female reproductive system
By Prof. Dr. R. R. Deshpande
• This PPT has following Imp Contents
• Description of Organs of Female Reproductive System –Vagina,Cervix ,Uterus ,Fallopian Tubes ,Ovary ,
• Menstruation –Slide 54 to 66
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Phone – 922 68 10 630
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Female reproductive system
• 1) Uterus –
• Holds the developing fetus, produces
vaginal & uterine secretions, & passes
the male's sperm through to the fallopian
tubes
• 2) Ovaries - produce the ovum.
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Female reproductive system
• Vagina meets the external organs at the vulva
----------
• which includes the labia, clitoris & urethra
• The vagina is attached to the uterus through
the cervix
6. Female reproductive system
• While the uterus is attached to the ovaries via
the Fallopian tubes
• At certain intervals, the ovaries release an
ovum, which passes through the Fallopian
tube into the uterus
• If, in this transit, it meets with sperm, the
sperm penetrate & merge with the ovum,
fertilizing it
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Female reproductive system
• The fertilization usually occurs in the
Fallopian tubes, but can happen in the
uterus itself
• The zygote then implants itself in the
wall of the uterus, where it begins the
processes of embryogenesis &
morphogenesis
8. Female reproductive system
• When developed enough to survive
outside the womb,
• The cervix dilates ---
• Contractions of the uterus propel
the fetus through the birth canal i.e
the vagina
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Female reproductive system
• Every month, a process of oogenesis
matures one ovum to be
• Sent down the Fallopian tube attached to
its ovary
• In expectation of fertilization
• If not fertilized, this egg is flushed out of
the system through menstruation
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Function of reproductive system
• 1. Secrete oestrogen & progesterone
• 2. Ooegnisis
• 3. To provide suitable environment for
fertilization of oocytes
• 4. Transport & implantation of blastocyst
• 5. Development of fetus during pregnancy.
• 6. Nutrition of new born (breast feeding)
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Embryonic development
• Chromosome characteristics
determine the genetic sex of a fetus
at conception
• This is specifically based on the 23rd
pair of chromosomes that is
inherited
12. Embryonic development
• Since the ovum contains an X
chromosome & the father's sperm
contains either an X or Y chromosome
• It is the male who determines the
fetus's sex
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Embryonic development
• If the fetus inherits the X
chromosome from the father, the
foetus will be a female
• In this case, testosterone is not made
& the Wolffian duct will degrade
thus, the Müllerian duct will develop
into female sex organs
14. Embryonic development
• The clitoris is the remnants of the
Wolffian duct
• The female internal reproductive
organs are the vagina, uterus,
fallopian tubes, cervix & ovary
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Vagina
• This is a fibro muscular tubular tract
leading from the uterus to the
exterior of the body
• In the vagina semen from the male
penis is deposited into the female's
body at the climax of sexual
intercourse,i.e ejaculation
16. Vagina
• The vagina is a canal that joins the
cervix (the lower part of uterus) to
the outside of the body
• It also is known as the birth canal
• The vagina has a thick layer outside
& it is the opening where the fetus
emerges during delivery
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Cervix
• This is the lower, narrow portion of the
uterus where it joins with the top end of
the vagina. (neck of the uterus )
• It is cylindrical or conical in shape &
protrudes through the upper anterior
vaginal wall
• Approximately half its length is visible, the
remainder lies above the vagina beyond view
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Uterus
• The uterus or womb is the major female
reproductive organ of humans
• The uterus provides mechanical
protection, nutritional support, & waste
removal -----
• For the developing embryo (weeks 1 to 8) &
fetus (from week 9 until the delivery)
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Uterus
• Contractions in the muscular wall of the
uterus are important in pushing out the
fetus at the time of birth
• The uterus contains 3 suspensory
ligaments that help stabilize the position
of the uterus & limits its range of
movement
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Uterus
• The Uterosacral ligaments, keep the
body from moving inferiorly &
anteriorly
• The Round ligaments, restrict posterior
movement of the uterus
• The Cardinal ligaments, also prevent the
inferior movement of the uterus
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Uterus
• Its major function is to accept a
fertilized ovum which becomes
implanted into the endometrium & -
--
• Derives nourishment from blood
vessels which develop exclusively for
this purpose
22. Uterus
• The fertilized ovum becomes an embryo,
develops into a fetus & gestates until
childbirth
• If the Embryo does not embed in the
wall of the uterus, a female begins
menstruation
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Uterus
• This is peared shaped organ with
thick wall. Body or corpus is the
major part.
• Rounded upper portion of the uterus
is called as Fundus.
• cervix is lower, narrow & terminal
portion of uterus, below the body.
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Three layers covering the uterus
• Perimetrium or Serosa, Myometrium,
Endometrium
• Endometrial or innermost layer has 2
parts - stratum functionalis & stratum
basalis
• In non preganant female, superficial
functionalis layer is sloughed off every
month during menstruation.
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Three layers covering the uterus
• Intact deeper basalis layer is source of
cell for regeneration of new
functionalist layer
• Arterial supply to endometrium has
important role during menstrual cycle
26. Three layers covering the uterus
• Straight arteries are short & supply
basalis layer of endometrium
• Spiral arteries are long,coiled & pass to
functionalis layer of endometrium
• This arteries are sensitive to altered
layers of oestrogen & progesterone
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Function of uterus
• 1. During preganancy uterus provide
---
• Site for implantation of blastocyst
• Formation of placenta
• Provide sutiable environment for
development of foetus
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Function of uterus
• 2. Endometrium show cyclical
changes in structure & function ---
• According to changes are essential
for implantation & nourishment of
embryo & foetus
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Function of uterus –If No Implant
• If implantation does not take place --
• Blood vessels of the endometruim
deteriorate & rupture
• Hence portion of endometrium
shade away during menstruation.
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Fallopian Tubes or Oviducts
• 2 tubes leading from the ovaries into the
uterus.
• On maturity of an ovum, the follicle & the
ovary's wall rupture, allowing the ovum to
escape & enter the Fallopian tube
• Then ovum travels toward the uterus,
pushed along by movements of cilia on the
inner lining of the tubes
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Fallopian Tubes or Oviducts
• This trip takes hours or days
• If the ovum is fertilized while in the
Fallopian tube, then it normally
implants in the endometrium , when
it reaches the uterus, which indicates
the beginning of pregnancy
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Fallopian Tubes or Oviducts
• Each tubes has the length of 12 cm one
end opens into uterus & other end into
peritoneal cavity.
• It has 4 Parts -
• 1. Infundibulum, is the funnel shaped
part near to ovary fimbriae are finger like
processes extending from infundibulum
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Fallopian Tubes or Oviducts
• 2. Ampulla is the widest part, nest to
infundibulum
• 3. Isthmus, -- is short & narrow part
which join fallopian tubes to uterus
• 4. Intranular region passes through thick
uterine wall to open into uterine cavity
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Functions of fallopian tube
• 1 ) After ovulation fimbria of infundibulum,
capture & transport oocytes towards, uterus
(this by ciliated epithelium of tubes)
• 2 ) Non ciliated cell in the tubes are secretory
& provide nutritive material for initial
development of embryo
• 3 ) This tubes are also sites of fertilization of
ovum.
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Functions of fallopian tube
• 4) Epithelium of tubes shows cyclical
changes which are associated with
menstrual cycle in follicular phase,
when oestrogen level is high, height
of epithelium in the tube is
maximum
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Ovaries
• They are small, paired organs that
are located near the lateral walls of
the pelvic cavity
• These organs are responsible for the
production of the ova & the
secretion of hormones
37. Ovaries
• The process by which the ovum is
released is called ovulation
• The speed of ovulation is periodic &
impacts directly to the length of a
menstrual cycle
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After ovulation --
• After ovulation ----
• Ovum is captured by the fallopian
tubes & carry it, in to the Uterus
• The Fallopian tubes have small hairs
(cilia) to help the ovum to travel
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Reproductive Tract
• Reproductive tract or genital tract is the
lumen that starts as a single pathway
through the vagina
• Splitting up into 2 lumens in the uterus,
both of which continue through the
Fallopian tubes
• Ending at the distal ostia that open into the
abdominal cavity.
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If no Fertilization --
• In the absence of fertilization --
• The ovum will eventually traverse
the entire reproductive tract from
the fallopian tube until exiting the
vagina through menstruation
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External Genital organs
• The reproductive tract can be used for
various transluminal procedures such as
fertiloscopy, intrauterine insemination
& transluminal sterilization
• External Genital organs are Mons pubis,
Pudendal cleft, Labia majora, Labia
minora, Bartholin's glands & clitoris
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Ovary Anatomy
• Adult ovary, one on each side is a solid
flat ovoid body usually measuring about
3.5 cm. in width & 1.5 cm in thickness,
weights 4 to 8 gm
• It is situated close to the lateral wall of
the true pelvis
• This is an Intra peritoneal organ but
remains uncovered by peritoneum
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Ovary Anatomy
• Before puberty ovaries are small
elongated
• After menopause these become
atrophic & shrivelled up
• Fallopian tubes & ovary are
described as adnexum & appendage
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Structure of Ovary
• It consists of cortex (outer zone) &
medulla (inner zone)
• It is covered on its surface by a
cubical epithelial lining called
Germinal epithelium
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Structure of Ovary
• Cortex is the functional part of the ovary
• A part of the cortex on adult ovary during
the reproductive period is composed of
numerous primordial follicles with
hormone
• Ovum producing functional units of the
ovary called Graafian follicles.
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Structure of Ovary
• Primordial Follicles -- In their various
stages of maturation
•
• As well as yellow bodies called
corpus Luteum in their various
phages of development &
retrogression
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Graffian follicles
• The Graafian follicles (named after de
Graaff Dutch physician) are the
functional units of the ovary
• During reproductive period they are
thrown into stages of maturation by the
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) of the
anterior pituitary
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Time of ovulation
• This usually occurs from the 13th to 17th
day of a 28 th day menstrual cycle but
may occur earlier or later
• It is believed that ovulation occurs 14
days before the onset of next month,
irrespective of the length of menstrual
cycle
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Fate of ovum
• The discharged ovum surrounded by the
corona radiata following ovulation is
picked up by the tubal fimbria
• Slowly transmitted through the tube
towards the uterine cavity
• Unless fertilised, the ovum survives for only
12 to 24 hours & there after begins to
degenerate
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Fate of ovum
• Ovum gets disintegrated in the tube or
uterus or may be discharged form the
uterus in the next menstrual bleeding
• In case of fertilization the zygote gets
embedded in the uterine endometrium
taking about 4 days to reach it & thus
pregnancy begins
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Physiology of menstruation
• Derived from Greek word men =
month
• It is the monthly vaginal bleeding
coming at interval of about 28 days
from the oestrogen progesteron
primed, uterine endometrium
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Menstruation
• This occurs during the reproductive
period (from menarche till
menopause) of a woman except
during lactation
• The menstrual cycle starts on the
day of onset of menstruation & ends
at the start of the next mens
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Menstruation
• Similarly cyclical monthly bleeding may
occur from only oestrogenated
endometrium, which is termed as an -
ovular menstruation
• This tends to occur, for a few years after
the first onset of menstruation
(menarche) as well as before the final
cessation of menstruation (menopause)
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Menstrual cycle
• The first day of menstrual bleeding is the first
day of the cycle
• The cycle consists of the following phases—
• 1) Proliferative Phase
• 2) Secretory Phase
• 3) Stage of Regression
• 4) Menstrual or Bleeding Phase
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1) Proliferative phase
• It starts at about the 7 th day of the cycle
& ends at the 14th day
• During the proliferative phase, the
increasing concentration of oestrogens in
blood produces
• Progressive thickness of the resting
endometrium due to proliferative changes
in all its elements
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1) Proliferative phase
• The endometrium becomes vascular,
• The endometrial vessels begin to coil
• In some cases, the vascularity of the
endometrium becomes so intense at the
end of the proliferative phase that the
inter menstrual bleeding per vagina may
occur at the time of ovulation
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2) Secretory phase
• Premenstrual or progestational stage
• This begins at the ovulation on the 14th day &
ends before the onset of the menstrual
bleeding on the 28th day
• The essential changes in the oestrogen primed
proliferated endometrium during this phase
are secretory activity of the glands, oedema
& further thickening of the endometrium
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3) The stage of regression
• Occurs toward the later part of the secretory
phase about 2 days before the onset of
menstruation & is due to withdrawal of
oestrogen & progesterone
• The hormonal withdrawal causes shrinkage
up to the functional layer of the secretory
endometrium with the coiled spiral vessels
becoming buckled or over coiled
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4) Menstrual or bleeding phase
• Extends from the 1st to 4th / 5th day
of the cycle
• The regressed functional layer of
endometrium undergoes ischaemic
Necrosis due to vascular injury of the
coiled endometrial vessels
63. 4) Menstrual or bleeding phase
• The sum total is -----
• Shedding away of many such
necrosed bits of endometrium
• Followed by bleeding from the
injured vascular channels produces
the picture of menstrual bleeding
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Hormones During Menstruation
• Oestrogen secreted by ovaries influence
the proliferative phase of the cycle
• Simultaneously the development &
maturation of Graffian follicle goes on
• The rupture of the follicle setting free the
ovum is followed by formation of corpus
Luteum
66. Hormones During Menstruation
• The secretion of progesterone by
the corpus luteum, along with
oestrogen evokes ---
• The secretory activity of
endometrium
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Hormones During Menstruation
• Failure of fertilisation of ovum causes
regression of corpus luteum by 22nd day
of menstrual cycle & fall of
progesterone level
• This withdrawal of progesterone leads to
menstrual bleeding in 6 - 7 days
(withdrawal bleeding)