FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
Female Reproductive
Primary Sex Organs
• Gonads (Ovaries)
– Gametes
•Ovum or eggs
• Chromosomes
• 46 Chromosomes, 23 Pairs in somatic cells
– Diploid (2N)
• 23 chromosomes in gametes
• Haploid (1N)
Secondary/Accessory Organs
• Female
–
–
–
–
–
Uterine Tubes
Uterus
Vagina
External genitalia
Mammary glands
The Genitalia
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Uterine tube
Fimbriae
Ovary
Vesicouterine
pouch
Rectouterine
pouch
Posterior fornix
Cervix of uterus
Anterior fornix
Round ligament
Uterus
Peritoneum
Urinary bladder
Pubic symphysis
Mons pubis
Urethra
Clitoris
Prepuce
Labium minus
Labium majus
Rectum
Anus
Vaginal rugae
Vaginal orifice
• Internal genitalia
– Ovaries, uterine
tubes, uterus, and
vagina
• External genitalia
– Clitoris, labia minora,
and labia majora
• Primary sex organs
– Ovaries
• Secondary sex organs
Figure 28.1
– Other internal and
external genitalia
28-4
The Genitalia
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Uterine tube
Fimbriae
Ovary
Vesicouterine
pouch
Rectouterine
pouch
Posterior fornix
Cervix of uterus
Anterior fornix
Round ligament
Uterus
Peritoneum
Urinary bladder
Pubic symphysis
Mons pubis
Urethra
Clitoris
Prepuce
Labium minus
Labium majus
Rectum
Anus
Vaginal rugae
Vaginal orifice
• Internal genitalia
– Ovaries, uterine
tubes, uterus, and
vagina
• External genitalia
– Clitoris, labia minora,
and labia majora
• Primary sex organs
– Ovaries
• Secondary sex organs
Figure 28.1
– Other internal and
external genitalia
28-5
External Genitalia
• Collectively called the
vulva
• Labium majus
• Labium minus
• Clitoris
• Mons Pubis
Vagina
• Birth Canal
• Functions
– Discharge of menstrual fluid
– Receipt of penis and semen
– Birth of baby
• Hymen
• Vaginal rugae
Ovaries
Ovarian
ligament
Uterine
tube
Ovarian artery
Ovarian vein
Suspensory
ligament
Ovary
Mesometrium
Fimbriae
Myometrium
Endometrium
Cervix
Vagina
• On each side of uterus in pelvic cavity.
• Ovarian ligaments secure them to uterus.
• Mesometrium (parietal peritoneum) holds uterus, ovary, uterine
tubes in position in peritoneal cavity
• Suspensory ligaments contains ovarian artery, vein and nerves;
secure ovary to pelvic wall.
Inside the ovary:
• Ovarian follicles > each
contain an oocyte in
different states of
maturation.
Mature
Primordial PrimarySecondary
Oocyte Suspensory ligament
follicle
follicles follicles follicle
and blood vessels
Ovarian
ligament
• As they mature the follicles
Corpus
albicans
Corpus
are called:
luteum
– Primordial follicle >
Primary follicle >
Secondary follicle>
Mature (Graafian)follicle.
Fimbriae
of uterine
tube
•Follicles nourish the developing oocyte and secrete
mostly estrogen
Ovulated
oocyte
Primary
Follicle
contains
Secondary
contains
Follicle
Mature
Follicle
ovulation
Primary
oocyte
Secondary
oocyte
expelled
Ovarian Follicles
 Primordial follicle:
• a primary oocyte surrounded by a single
layer of follicular cells
 Primary follicle:
• a larger oocytes and still single layer of
follicular cells
 Secondary follicles
• still larger oocytes and follicular cells
now stratified (granulosa cells)
 Mature (graafian) follicles
• become fluid filled cavity
(antrum) with oocyte pushed to one
side
After the ovulation:
• After the ovulation, remnants of the
follicle is called Corpus luteum > a gland
like structure.
• Corpus luteum secretes estrogen &
progesterone until it degenerates into
corpus albicans.
Uterine (Fallopian) tubes
Infundibulum Ampulla Isthmus Fundus Body
Fimbriae
Uterine
tube
Ovary
Myometrium
Endometrium
Internal os
Cervical canal
Lateral fornix
Cervix
External os
Vagina
• 2 muscular tubes - extend from ovary to uterus.
– Distal ends expand to form infundibulum.
– ampulla – middle and longest part
– isthmus – narrower end toward uterus
• Fingerlike projections called fimbriae.
Uterine (Fallopian) tubes
• Walls:
– Innermost mucous - lined with ciliated cells
– middle layer - smooth muscle
• Peristalsis & ciliary action transport oocyte or fertilized
ovum to uterus
– Outer layer – serous membrane
• Site of fertilization.
• Fimbriae sweep the egg towards uterine
tube.
Uterus
Thick-walled, pear-shaped muscular
chamber opening into vagina
Three anatomical segments:
1. Fundus: dome shaped superior part.
2. Body: central part.
3. Cervix: narrow inferior portion joining vagina.
– Openings of cervical canal
• Internal os : opening into uterus
• external os: opening into vagina
The Uterus
fundus
Body
Uterine cavity
Internal os
Cervix
External os
vagina
Uterine wall:
1. Perimetrium- outer serosal
layer.
2. Myometrium- middle
muscular layer.
 Labor contractions to
expel the fetus
• Endometrium- innermosthighly vascular epi cells –
mucosal layer
Divided into two layers:
1) Stratum functionalis :
closer to the cavity > shed during menstruation
& rebuilt again if no implantation occurs.
2) Stratum basalis:permanent layer> build the
functional layer after each menstruation.
Vagina (birth canal)
• Extends from the cervix to the exterior.
• Common pathway for menstrual flow & the birth
of a baby and receives semen
• Very distensible.
• Outer adventitia, middle muscularis & inner
mucosa
• Acidic pH, but it is neutralized by slightly
alkaline semen.
Mammary glands
• Nonlactating breast
consists mostly of
adipose and collagenous
tissue
• Modified sweat glands.
Adipose tissue • Lies over pectoral
Nipple
muscle, surrounded by
Lactiferous sinus
adipose tissue.
Lactiferous duct
• Each breast> pigmented
projection > nipple.
• Contain milk producing
glands & ducts for
delivery.
Rib
Intercostal muscles
Pectoralis minor
Pectoralis major
Fascia
Suspensory
ligament
Lobules
Lobe
Lactating breast
• 15 to 20 lobes around
the nipple
Adipose tissue
• Lactiferous duct drains
Suspensory
ligaments
each lobe
Lobe
• Path of milk flow:
Lobules
glands > lactiferous
Areolar glands
Areola
ducts > lactiferous
Nipple
sinus > nipple >
exterior.
Lactiferous sinus
Lactiferous ducts • Hormones of pregnancy
stimulate milk
production.
• Lactation: production &
ejection of milk.
Milk & Colostrum
• Colostrum:
– thin secretion before milk is produced.
– similar to breast milk but contains 1/3 less
fat,
– nutrition for first 1 to 3 days after birth
• Milk: water, proteins, fat, sugar, salts,
lysozyme, and antibody.
• Milk production- stimulated by prolactin.
• Milk ejection is controlled by oxytocin
Oogenesis
• Formation & maturation of ovum in ovary.
• Starts in fetus, but not completed until
after puberty.
• Meiosis I starts before birth.
• One secondary oocyte completes
maturation every month.
• After ovulation > S. oocyte enters uterine
tube.
• If sperms are present, fertilization may
take place.
• Ovulation: discharge of S. oocyte from
ovary into pelvic cavity – every month.
Primary oocyte (2n)
Meiosis
Secondary oocyte + polar body
(n)
(n)
OOGENESIS
If sperms are present in the
fallopian tube:
Sperm (n)
+
S. oocyte (n)
Fertilization
Zygote (2n)
Female reproductive cycles:
1. Ovarian cycle
2. Uterine/Menstrual cycle
3. Hormonal cycle
Ovarian cycle:
• Associated with maturation of egg every
month.
• Duration 28 days.
• Ovulation occurs 14th day in a 28 day
cycle.
• FSH and LH and estrogen regulates it.
• Three main events:
– Follicular phase, ovulation, luteal phase
Ovarian Cycle
Follicular Phase & Ovulation
• Follicular phase from the beginning of
menstruation until ovulation
– day 1 to day 14 of an average cycle
– FSH stimulates growth of follicles and to
secrete estrogen
– Menstruation - during first 3 to 5 days of cycle
• Ovulation – the rupture of the mature follicle and
the release of its egg - typically around day 14
• Estrogen stimulates a surge of LH by anterior
pituitary
– LH induces completion of meiosis I &
production of secondary oocyte and first polar
body
• Ovulation
Endoscopic View of Ovulation
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display.
Infundibulum of
Fimbriae
uterine tube
Cumulus
oophorus
Oocyte
Stigma
Ovary
0.1 mm
© Landrum B. Shettles, MD
Ovarian Cycle
Luteal (Postovulatory) Phase
• Luteal phase - days 15 to day 28
– ovulated follicle becomes the corpus luteum
– LH stimulates and maintains the corpus luteum
• If no pregnancy
– Corpus luteum eventually shrinks and becomes
corpus albicans
Menstrual cycle
• Shedding & rebuilding of endometrium
each month.
• Controlled by ovarian hormones.
• Closely coordinated with ovarian cycle.
• If no implantation, then 14 days after
ovulation functional layer of
endometrium disintegrates.
• Discharge 50-150 ml of blood, tissue
fluid, cells etc.
• Caused by a fall in estrogen &
progesterone
• Menstruation lasts about 5 days
Menstrual Cycle
Secretion
Endometrial
gland
Stratum
functionalis
Stratum
basalis
Myometrium
(a) Proliferative phase (b) Secretory phase (c) Menstrual phase
Menstrual Cycle
(b) Menstrual cycle
Progesterone
Estradiol
Menstrual
fluid
Thickness of endometrium
Ovarian hormone secretion
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Days
1
3
Menstrual phase
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
Proliferative phase
Figure 28.14b
28-32
19
21
Secretory phase
23
25
27
1
Premenstrual
phase
Hormonal cycle
• All cycles are regulated by hormones.
• Estrogen & progesterone, FSH and LH
• Released in a cyclic pattern.
• basic hierarchy of hormonal control
– hypothalamus pituitary  ovaries  uterus
• Starts at puberty.
Ovarian events
Gonadotropin secretion
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(a) Ovarian cycle
LH
FSH
Developing follicles
Secondary
Primary
Ovulation
Corpus luteum Involution
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
Follicular phase
Thickness of endometrium
Ovarian hormone secretion
Corpus
albicans
New primordial
follicles
Days 1
Fig.
28.14
Tertiary
19
21
23
25
27
1
Luteal phase
(b) Menstrual cycle
Progesterone
Estradiol
Menstrual
fluid
3
Days 1
5
Menstrual phase
7
9
11
Proliferative phase
13
15
17
19
21
23
Secretory phase
25
27
1
Premenstrual
phase
Fertilization & Implantation
Cleavage
Blastomeres
2-celled stage 4-celled stage 8-celled stage
(30 hours)
Second polar
body
Egg
pronucleus
Sperm
pronucleus
Zygote
Zona pellucida
Morula
(72 hours)
Blastocyst
Fertilization
(0 hours)
Ovary
Maturing
follicle
Corpus
luteum
Sperm
cell
Ovulation
First polar body
Secondary
oocyte
Implanted
blastocyst
(6 days)