Female Reproductive System

• Produce and release gametes
• Provide nutrition and safety for fetus
• Allow for giving birth

• Female reproductive tract develops from paramesonephric ducts due to no anti-mullerian hormone which causes fallopian tube, uterus, and vagina development
• No testosterone causes mesonephric duct degeneration, clitoris and labia development

Ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina

• Vulva
• Clitoris, labia minora, labia majora

• Female gonads that produce ova (egg cells) and sex hormones
• Surrounded by tunica albuginea capsule
• Cortex: site of ova development
• Medulla: site of major arteries and veins

• Ovarian ligament: attaches ovaries to uterus
• Suspensory ligament: attaches ovaries to pelvic wall. It contains ovarian artery, ovarian vein, and nerves
• Anchored to broad ligament by mesovarium

Flared distal end of fallopian tube

Projections off of infundibulum

Middle and longest part of fallopian tube

Narrow end toward uterus of Fallopian tube

• Mucosa layer consists of epithelial cells and connective tissue
• Muscularis layer provides muscle contractions necessary to propel the ovum

• Beating cilia help move ovum towards uterus
• Secretory cells secrete a fluid that provides nutrients for ova, sperm, and zygotes

Muscular chamber that harbors the fetus, provides nutrition, and expels fetus

Superior curve of uterus (base of upside down pear)

Middle

Inferior end

Superior opening of cervix into uterine body

Inferior opening of cervix into vagina

Secrete mucus that prevents spread of bacteria from vagina to uterus

• Common among women 30-50
• Almost always caused by human papillomavirus
• Usually begins in epithelial cells in lower cervix
• PAP smears removes cells from external os to analyze for signs of cervical cancer

External layer of uterine wall

• Middle layer of smooth muscle of uterine wall
• Spirals around fundus and body
• Produces labor contractions

• Inner mucosa layer of uterine walls
• Site of attachment of embryo and forms maternal part of placenta
• Functional layer: superficial half that sheds during menstrual period
• Basal layer: deep layer that stays behind and generates a new functional layer

Supported by muscles of pelvic floor, broad ligament (mesosalpinx and mesometrium), cardinal ligaments, uterosacral ligaments, and round ligaments

• Distensible muscular tube
• Allows menstrual fluid to exit body, receives penis and semen during intercourse, and allows for birth of baby
• Walls consist of outer adventitia, muscularis, and inner mucosa
• Has rugae at lower end
• Mucosa forms folds that cover vaginal opening (Hympen)

Lubrication of the vagina by mucus from cervical gland

• Normally vagina has lots of good bacteria
• Without proper good bacteria, fungus takes over and results in candidiasis (yeast infection: itching, burning, discharge)
• Low pH of vagina prevents growth of "bad" bacteria
• Buildup of harmful bacteria results in bacterial vaginosis (abnormal vaginal discharge)

• Ovarian Artery and ovarian branch of uterine artery
• Uterine artery from internal iliac
• Vaginal artery

• Uterine artery branches enter myometrium to form arcuate arteries that circle uterus
• Spiral arteries branch off and enter endometrium

Term for all of the female external genitalia

Mound of fat covered in pubic hair that lies over pubic symphysis

Outer folds of hairy skin that runs down both sides of the vulva, lots of sensory neurons

• Thin hairless folds medial to labia majora, lots of sensory neurons
• Forms prepuce (hood) over clitoris
• Vestibule between labia minor contains clitoris, urethral and vaginal openings

Erectile organ with lots of sensory innervation

Provides lubrication

• Consists of glans, shaft, and 2 crura
• Crura wrap around vaginal walls
• Most of clitoris is not externally visible
• Shaft and crura contain corpora cavernosa to allow for clitoral erection
• Glans contains corpus spongiosum

• 80-120 million women have had some sort of female circumcision
• Sunnah: prepuce removed
• Clitoridectomy: entire clitoral glans and shaft are removed
• Infibulation: clitoridectomy plus removal of entire labia minora; labia majora stitched together to leave only a small opening

• Secrete small amounts of mucus to moisten vaginal opening
• Analogous to bulbourethral gland

• Highly variable among women, on anterior vaginal wall, and open into urethra
• Likely the site of production of female ejaculate

• Does the G spot exist?
• On posterior vaginal wall
• Orgasm from supposed G-spot stimulation is more likely to result in female ejaculation

• Mound of adipose and connective tissue, and sometimes mammary glands, over pectoralis major
• Estrogen at puberty causes an enlargement of female breasts
• Mammary glands develop within breasts during pregnancy, and atrophy when nursing stops

Allows milk delivery to young

Circular colored region around nipple

Main part of breast that contains areola and nipple

• Extension of breast towards armpit
• Common site of breast cancer development

• Capillaries and nerves closer to surface of skin
• Darker color and very sensitive
• Activation of sensory neurons trigger milk letdown reflex during nursing
• Areolar glands secrete mucus to protect nipple from cracking
• Muscle fibers contract in response to cold, touch, and sexual arousal to wrinkle skin and erect nipple

• Consists of 15-20 lobes around nipple
• Lactiferous duct drains each lobe
• Lactiferous sinus from each duct opens into nipple

• Triggered by rising levels of GnRH
• Begins at 8-10 for most girls in US
• FSH stimulates developing ovarian follicles and they secrete estrogens, progesterone, inhibin

• Onset of breast development
• Earliest sign of puberty
• Due to estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, glucocorticoids, and growth hormone

• Appearance of pubic and axillary hair, sebaceous glands
• Stimulated by androgens from ovaries and adrenal cortex

• First menstrual period
• Requires at least 17-22% body fat
• Leptin stimulates GnRH
• first few cycles are anovulatory (no ovulation)

• Stimulates growth of ovaries and secondary sex organs
• Stimulates growth hormone secretion for increase in height and widening of pelvis
• Stimulates fat accumulation

Midlife change in hormone secretion

• Cessation of menstruation
• Follicles become less responsive to LH and FSH, thus less estradiol and progesterone secreted
• Uterus, vagina, and breast atrophy
• Vagina becomes thinner and drier
• Intercourse can be uncomfortable
• Cholesterol levels rise
• Bone mass decline
• Hot flashes

• Sometimes used in perimenopausal women to reduce side effects
• Consists of low doses of estrogens, progestin, and androgen
• Very Controversial