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Female Reproductive Anatomy. The reproductive organs found outside the body are called genitals. These organs are collectively called the vulva: Mons pubis Labia majora (outer lips) Labia minora (inner lips) Clitoris Vaginal opening Urinary opening. Parts of the vulva.
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The reproductive organs found outside the body are called genitals. • These organs are collectively called the vulva: • Mons pubis • Labia majora (outer lips) • Labia minora (inner lips) • Clitoris • Vaginal opening • Urinary opening
Parts of the vulva • Mons pubis: Fatty tissue under the skin that covers the point where the pelvic bones come together. • Labia majora: 2 folds of skin that cushion and protect the vaginal and urinary openings. • Labia minora: 2 smaller, folds of skin lying within the labia majora • Clitoris: Located under the labia minora. Only known function is sexual pleasure.
Females have 3 openings in the genital area • Urinary opening: opening of the urethra, where urine leaves the body. • Vaginal opening: larger opening located between the urinary opening and the anus. Menstrual fluid and babies leave the body through this opening. Also where penis would enter during sexual intercourse. • Hymen: Thin tissue membrane that stretches across the vaginal opening. • Anus: where a bowel movement leaves the body.
Inside the body • Vagina: (birth canal) muscular tunnel about 3-4 inches long. It extends from the opening of the uterus to the external opening in the vulva. • Does 3 things: • Provides a way for menstrual fluid to leave a woman’s body. • Receives the man’s penis during sexual intercourse. • Provides a way for the baby to be born. • Uterus: (womb) One of the strongest muscles in the body. It provides a safe and nourishing place where a fertilized egg can grow and develop into a baby. • About the size of a fist, shaped like an upside down pear.
Inside the body • Cervix: bottom part of the uterus that dips into the vagina. • The cervix opening is about the diameter of a pencil lead, but can stretch during childbirth to approximately 8 inches. • Fallopian tubes: thread like tubes that come out of each side of the uterus. An egg travels from the ovary through a fallopian tube into the uterus. • If a sperm joins with an egg, it happens in one of the fallopian tubes, and then the fertilized egg continues on to the uterus.
Inside the body • Ovaries: produce female hormones called estrogen and progesterone and holds eggs. • Size and shape of an unshelled almond (1 ½ in long) • An egg is as small as the point of a needle • Ovum: the egg • Endometrium: lining of the uterus. Part of this lining is shed during menstruation if pregnancy does not occur.
Menstruation • Occurs during puberty, somewhere between ages 9 and 16 for most girls. • Menstrual cycle may vary from 22 to 40 days. • Woman menstruate typically until the age of 45-55, when she reaches menopause. • In every menstrual cycle, the lining of the uterus grows thicker to support the possible implantation and development of a fertilized egg. Most of the time, pregnancy doesn’t occur, so the lining is shed during the menstrual period.
Menstrual cycle’s 4 stages • Stage1: Menstruation, bleeding occurs. The lining of the uterus flows out of the body through the vagina. • Periods usually last about 3-7 days. • The amount of fluid is about a quarter cup. • 1st day of a woman’s period is day 1 of her menstrual cycle. • Stage 2: An egg ripens in an ovary. • Begins when a woman’s period stops. • The lining begins to thicken. • This takes 6-12 days or more.
Menstrual cycle’s 4 stages • Stage 3: Ovulation. The midpoint of the cycle. • A mature egg is released into the fallopian tube. • A woman is most likely to become pregnant. • Ovulation occurs 13 to 15 days before a woman’s next period. • The lining of the uterus is ready to support the implanting of a fertilized egg.
Menstrual cycle’s 4 stages • Stage 4: The egg travels to the uterus. • Lasts about 14 days. • The uterus is ready to receive a fertilized egg. It takes the egg 5-6 days to reach the uterus. • If the egg has been fertilized, it attaches to the thick, blood-filled lining of the uterus and begins to grow. (the start of pregnancy) • If pregnancy does not occur, the menstrual period will begin again.
Outside the body • The genitals are located outside the body. • Penis: used for urination and is inserted in the vagina during sexual intercourse. • Contains no bones or muscles. • Scrotum: bag of skin that holds the two testicles. • Layers of muscle fibers contract when temperature changes, which is important because sperm production happens best at a temperature a few degrees cooler than normal body temperature.
Inside the body • Testicles: produce male hormones (testosterone), which allows males to make sperm, and have interest in sex. It also causes the growth of facial hair and deepening of the voice. • It is normal for one testicle to hang lower than the other. • It’s also normal for one testicle to be slightly larger. • Epididymis: where sperm mature and develop the ability to swim.
Inside the body • Vas deferens: mature sperm move into the vas deferens to be stored until ejaculation. • Seminal vesicles: produces a sticky, yellow liquid called seminal fluid, which makes up about 70% of semen. • Gives the sperm energy and helps them move and survive in the female reproductive tract. • Prostate gland: secretes a thin, milky fluid that makes up about 30% of the semen. • Helps sperm swim and protects them in the acidic environment of the female vagina.
Inside the body • Urethra: carries both urine and semen out of the body, but never at the same time. • Runs the length of the penis. • During sexual arousal, a valve, or sphincter, closes off the bladder so urine cannot pass through the urethra.
Sperm facts • Sperm are produced at an average rate of 1,500 per second per testicle. • Because sperm are so tiny, they account for only 1/10 of the volume of semen. • The average ejaculation consists of about 1 teaspoon of semen, which contains 200 to 500 million sperm. • Sperm can live in a man’s body for up to 6 weeks. • Men cannot run out of sperm, as long as they have one normal testicle
Myths Debunked • Douching doesn’t prevent pregnancy • You can get pregnant without orgasm • Stand-ups don’t stop sperm • Pregnancy and periods can mix
Pulling out is no protection • The pre-ejaculatory fluid produced by the Cowper’s glands may pick up sperm left inside the urethra from previous ejaculations. • Might not be able to control or properly predict ejaculation