The Female Reproductive System

1. 16 The Female Reproductive System

2. Learning Objectives After completing this chapter, you will be able to: • Define and spell the word parts used to create terms for the female reproductive system • Identify the major organs of the female reproductive system and describe their structure and function

3. Learning Objectives (cont.) After completing this chapter, you will be able to: • Break down and define common medical terms used for symptoms, diseases, disorders, procedures, treatments, and devices associated with the female reproductive system • Build medical terms from the word parts associated with the female reproductive system

4. Learning Objectives (cont.) After completing this chapter, you will be able to: • Pronounce and spell common medical terms associated with the female reproductive system

5. The Female Reproductive System Produces the female sex cells, or female gametes; the female gametes are the egg cells, called the ova or oocytes Also provides support for the developing embryo and fetus once fertilization has occurred and makes the process of internal fertilization possible

6. Prefixes a- = without, absence of dys = bad, abnormal, difficult, painful endo- = within intra- = within peri- = to be around, about pre- = before syn- = together, joined

7. Combining Forms aden/o = gland cervic/o = cervix, neck colp/o = vagina culd/o = cul-de-sac cyst/o = sac, bladder

8. Combining Forms (cont.) episi/o = vulva gynec/o, gyn/o = woman hydr/o = water hyster/o = uterus leuk/o = white

9. Combining Forms (cont.) mamm/o, mast/o = breast men/o, menstru/o = month, menstruation metr/o, metr/i = uterus my/o = muscle

10. Combining Forms (cont.) oophor/o, ovari/o = ovary ov/o = egg perine/o = perineum pelv/i, pelv/o = pelvis, washbasin py/o = pus rect/o = straight, erect, rectum

11. Combining Forms (cont.) salping/o = tube son/o -= sound thel/i = nipple trachel/o = cervix, neck uter/o = womb, uterus vagin/o = sheath, vagina vulv/o = vulva

12. Suffixes -al, -ary = pertaining to -an = pertaining to -atresia = closure; absence of a normal body opening -centesis = surgical puncture to aspirate fluids -graphy = process of recording

13. Suffixes -ial = pertaining to -rrhaphy = suturing -pexy = surgical fixation, suspension -salpinx = trumpet, fallopian tube -stomy = surgical creation of an opening

14. Anatomy and Physiology The primary organs of the female reproductive system are the ovaries Other organs support embryonic and fetal development and the internal process of fertilization. They are the fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, external genitalia, and mammary glands

15. Figure 16.1: Female reproductive organs

16. The Ovaries Are the female gonads. They produce the female gametes (ova) and the female sex hormones, estrogens, and progesterone They are paired, almond-shaped organs located opposite one another against the walls of the pelvic cavity

17. The Ovaries (cont.) Each ovary is covered by a layer of cells and is internally divided into a cortex and medulla The cortex contains numerous sac-like ovarian follicles that are in various stages of development

18. The Ovaries (cont.) Each ovarian follicle contains a single ovum The total number of ova that are present in a female’s lifetime are present in the ovaries at birth, in an immature state Ova mature and are released on a monthly cycle called the ovarian cycle; the release is called ovulation

19. The Ovaries (cont.) During this event, the ovum bursts out of a mature ovarian follicle, or graafian follicle, through the ovarian wall and into the peritoneal cavity From there, the ovum is usually drawn into a fallopian tube The ovarian cycle begins at the onset of puberty and ends about 40 years later at menopause

20. Figure 16.2: Ovary

21. The Fallopian Tubes Are a pair of narrow tubes located along each side of the pelvic cavity wall; they are also called uterine tubes or oviducts Each tube extends about 10cm between an ovary and the uterus and is lined with a ciliated mucous membrane

22. The Fallopian Tubes (cont.) The beating of the cilia create a current of mucus that draws an ovulated ovum inside the tube If fertilization occurs, it usually happens within the upper one-third of a fallopian tube

23. The Uterus Is a pear-shaped organ about the size of a woman’s clenched fist It is suspended above the floor of the pelvic cavity by ligaments, located between the urinary bladder and rectum It is separated from the rectum by a space called the rectouterine pouch

24. The Uterus (cont.) The uterus consists of an upper, dome- shaped fundus; a central body that receives the two fallopian tubes; and a lower, narrow cervix Internally, the space within the body is the uterine cavity and that within in the cervix is the cervical canal The cervical canal opens into the vagina via the external os

25. The Uterus (cont.) The wall of the uterus includes an inner layer rich in blood vessels called the endometrium The endometrium provides an implantation site for the embryo and thickens to form part of the placenta once implantation occurs

26. The Uterus (cont.) The endometrium changes on a monthly cycle by increasing and decreasing thickness This cycle is called the menstrual cycle and occurs approximately every 28 days Menses or menstruation begins when the outer layer of the endometrium breaks away, causing bleeding from the uterus

27. Figure 16.3: Ovary The uterus and nearby structures Source: Icon Learning Systems

28. The Vagina Is a thin-walled, tube-shaped organ about 8—10 cm long and functions as the passage between the cervix of the uterus and the outside of the body The uterus sheds blood during menstruation through the vagina and semen travels to the uterus from the vagina

29. The Vagina (cont.) Also known as the birth canal because a baby passes through the vagina during vaginal childbirth At the end that receives the cervix, its wall curves around to form a shallow pocket called the fornix

30. The Vagina (cont.) The vagina’s opening to the outside is known as the vaginal orifice In young females, the mucous membrane may extend across the opening, forming a thin barrier called the hymen The hymen contains blood vessels and tends to bleed when it is first penetrated or ruptured

31. Female External Genitalia Structures located outside the vagina They are collectively known as the vulva and include: Mons pubis Labia majora Labia minora

32. Female External Genitalia (cont.) They are collectively known as the vulva and include: Vestibule Clitoris Bartholin’s glands Perineum

33. Figure 16.4: The female external genitalia Source: Icon Learning Systems

34. The Mammary Glands Are the organs that produce milk for infant nourishment Located in the breasts, they consist of tissue that is modified from sweat glands The breasts of both males and females contain an external, heavily pigmented areola that surrounds a centrally located nipple

35. The Mammary Glands (cont.) An adult female mammary gland undergoes enlargement during puberty, directing fat tissue to accumulate between the skin and muscle layer

36. The Mammary Glands (cont.) Each adult gland consists of 15 to 20 lobes that radiate around the nipple Each lobe contains small chambers that house alveolar glands The alveolar glands produce milk when a woman is lactating, which is under hormone control

37. Figure 16.5: The mammary glands Source: Icon Learning Systems

38. Word Roots cervic = cervix, neck mamm = breast men = month, menstruation metr = uterus ov = egg

39. Word Roots (cont.) perine = perineum uter = womb, uterus vagin = sheath, vagina

40. Other Important Terms Alveolar glands Bartholin’s glands Clitoris Estrogens Fallopian tubes Fornix Follicles Hymen Infundibulum Labia majora Labia minora Mons pubis Rectouterine pouch Vestibule Vulva

41. Medical Terms Gynecology The study of diseases of the female reproductive system Gynecologist A physician who specializes in gynecology

42. Symptoms and Signs Amenorrhea Absence of menstrual discharge; also called menostasis Dysmenorrhea Pain during menstruation Hematosalpinx Blood in a fallopian tube

43. Symptoms and Signs (cont.) Hydrosalpinx Water accumulation in a fallopian tube Leukorrhea White or yellow discharge from the uterus Mastalgia Pain in the breast

44. Symptoms and Signs (cont.) Menometrorrhagia Irregular or excessive bleeding other than during menstruation Menorrhagia Excessive bleeding during menstruation Metrorrhagia Bleeding from the uterus at any time other than during normal menstruation

45. Symptoms and Signs (cont.) Metrorrhea Discharge of mucus or pus from the uterus Oligomenorrhea Abnormally reduced discharge during menstruation Pyosalpinx Pus within a fallopian tube

46. Diseases and Disorders Adenomyosis An abnormal condition of glandular tissue growth within muscle; in the female, it refers to growth of the endometrium into the muscular layer of the uterus Amastia Absence of a breast

47. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) Bartholin’s adenitis Inflammation of Bartholin’s gland; also known as bartholinitis Breast cancer A malignant tumor arising from breast tissue; the most common form is called an infiltrating ductal carcinoma

48. Figure 16.6: Breast cancer

49. Diseases and Disorders (cont.) Carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the cervix The precancerous form of cervical cancer Cervical cancer A malignant tumor arising from the cervix; the most common form is squamous cell carcinoma

50. Figure 16.7: Cervical cancer