Female reproductive system

 Reproduction of man

Puberty (Adolescence)

Sexual maturity or attaining adolescence is referred to as puberty. Secondary sexual characteristcs which differentiate males and females begin to appear from the puberty

 

Secondary sexual characteristics

Features that appear in male and female from puberty are known as secondary sexual characteristics.

Secondary sexual characteristics of female

These changes start to appear between the age of 10-14 years. The action of Oestrogen and Progesterone are responsible for this.

• Pubertal hair grows on arm-pits and on genital areas.
• Pubic region widens.
• Mammary glands start to grow.
• Fat deposits in the hypodermis and body becomes fat.
• Bones and muscles grow fast and the growth of body is accelerated.
• Releasing of ova from ovaries (menstrual cycle) starts.

 Female reproductive system

Main parts of the female reproductive system

Ovary

There is a pair of ovaries close to the lateral walls of pelvic area in the abdominal cavity. In a cross section of an ovary, there are two zones known as cortex and medulla. Ova are produced in follicles. Each ovary contains primary follicles and various stages of production of ova such as graafian follicles, corpus luteum and corpus albicans. Production of ova starts at the birth of a female.

 Fallopian tube

Ovum that comes out of the ovary enters into long muscular tube called fallopian tube. The end of this tube, which is close to the ovary is funnel-like and has fingerlike projections called fimbria. These are important in transferring the ovum into fallopian tube. 

Uterus

This is a hollow structure positioned in pelvic area. There are three zones in uterus named as fundus, body and cervix. Two follopian tubes are connected to the zone called fundus. The other end of uterus is cervix.

 Vagina or Endocervical canal

Vagina starts from the cervix and opens to the exterior from the opening called vulva.

 Location of female reproductive system

 

Female reproductive system

 

Functions of female reproductive system

Production of ova in females initiate since foetal stage. At birth each ovary contains 200 000 - 400 000 primary follicles. Nearing puberty, one of the primary follicles develops to form a multicellular structure called graafian follicle. It reaches the peripheral area of the ovary

When matured, graafian follicle bursts to release the ovum which is directed towards the fallopian tube by fimbria. Then the ovum passes through the fallopian tube towards the uterus.

Activities of female reproductive system

•  Developing ova which are the female reproductive cells
• Facilitate the developing of foetus
• Production of hormones Oestrogen and Progesterone

Menstrual cycle

The cyclic process associated with the reproductive systems of sexually matured females as known as menstrual cycle. It takes appoximately 28 days for one menstrual cycle.

Here the pair of ovaries releases the egg cells or ova alternatively. The whole process of menstrual cycle takes place associated with two locations.

1. Changes that take place in the ovary
2. Changes that take place in the uterus

 Changes that take place in the ovary

Development and release of ova, which are the female reproductive cells, is the function of ovary. Changes that occur in the ovary can be divided into two stages.

1. Follicular phase
2. Luteal phase

Follicular Phase

This is the initial phase. Under the influence of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), secreted by pituitary, a primary follicle in the ovary develops to form a graafian follicle, which is ready to release an ovum. This takes about 14 days. During this phase, ovary secrets Oestrogen.

Luteal Phase

This is the final phase. When graafian follicle is matured, it bursts and the ovum inside it, is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube, under the influence of Lutenising Hormone (LH), secreted by pituitary gland. If fertilization does not occur, when the ovum is passing forward through fallopian tube, the remaining part of graafian folicle changes to form corpus luteum and finally to corpus albicans and fades off. This whole process occurs during luteal phase and it takes about 14 days, During this phase ovary secrets progesterone.

Changes that take place in uterus

If an ovum is fertilized, the embryo develops in the uterus. If an ovum is not fertilized, changes that occur in uterus are divided into three phases.

• Menstrual phase
• Proliferation phase
• Secretory phase

Menstrual phase

This is the initial phase. If fertilization does not take place, level of Progesterone decreases. This causes the degradation of the wall of uterus and it is expelled out from the body through vagina with blood. This is referred to as menstrual flow and occurs for about four days.

Proliferation phase

This is the second phase. Degraded wall of uterus starts to re-build because of the influence of Oestrogen. New cell layer and blood capillaries grow on the inner wall of the uterus. It takes about 10 days for this.

Secretory phase

This is the final phase. Uterine wall thicknes and blood supply also increase. Glands on the uterine wall are activated and it becomes secretory. This happens because of the influence of hormone Progesterone. It takes about 14 days for this. Body temperature also increases slightly during this period.