1 / 21

Chapter 4: Female Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology

Chapter 4: Female Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology. Anatomy: science of the structure of body parts Physiology: biological study of functions of body parts. The Vulva: External Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy. Vulva: external female genitalia

moana
Download Presentation

Chapter 4: Female Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 4: Female Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology Anatomy: science of the structure of body parts Physiology: biological study of functions of body parts

  2. The Vulva: External Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy • Vulva: external female genitalia • Mons Veneris (Mount of Venus): layer of fatty tissue at the top of the pubic bone • Becomes covered by pubic hair during puberty • May be sensitive to gentle stimulation

  3. The Vulva • Labia Majora (major lips)- thick, bulging around the outside of vaginal opening • Labia Minora (minor lips)- just inside of the labia majora and extends further outward (most pronounced feature) • Viewed as highly erotic in some cultures (Africa) • Lots of variation in appearance • Extremely sensitive to touch

  4. The Vulva • Clitoris (Greek= kleitoris, “hill”, “slope”)- formed from same tissue as glans, penis, in the male • Sole purpose is for pleasure with 6-8000 nerve endings • Extends about 1 inch inward • Becomes enlarged during arousal due to vasocongestion, then retracts under the hood where contact produces pleasurable sensations • Clitoral hood (Prepuce)- part of labia minora which covers the clitoris • Glans- visible part of the clitoris • Shaft- extends deeper into the pelvis toward vaginal wall

  5. The Vulva • Urethral- expels urine from the bladder • External urethral orifice- opening of the urethra

  6. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) • The practice of surgically altering female genitalia to decrease pleasurable sensations during intimacy • Illegal in the U.S., but once performed on Victorian era girls • Still performed in some parts of the world (Africa and the Middle East) • Three types (see book, pages 62-63, Figure 4.2) • Adverse effects- infections, diseases, immediate and long-term pain, negative impact on a woman’s basic functions, including intercourse and urination • Comprehensive web resource on FGM: www.fgmnetwork.org/index.php

  7. The Introitus and the Hymen • Introitus (“entrance”)- vaginal opening • Hymen (Greek God of Marriage)- fold of tissue across the vaginal opening, present at birth • Bartholin’s glands- located at the base of the labia minora • Secretes a few drops of fluid during arousal which protects the sperm • Perineum- area between vaginal and anal openings

  8. Pelvic Floor Muscles • Thick muscle tissue surrounds the vagina that controls the urine flow • Control vaginal contractions • Weak vaginal sensations and incontinence linked with weak pelvic muscles • Voluntary control may be regained by performing Kegel exercises

  9. The Internal Female Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy • Vagina (“sheath”)- positioned between bladder and rectum • 3”-5” at rest, butexpands to 6”-7” during arousal • Multi-layered tissue, outer layer similar to that of the mouth • Highly elastic after puberty and before menopause • Becomes lubricated during vasocongestion and due to blood engorgement • Allows for the passage of babies and menstrual flow • Self-cleansing; secretions should be white or yellowish • Has a musky odor when healthy; avoid sprays

  10. Grafenberg spot (G-spot) • Dime to quarter sized area of increased sensitivity roughly 2 inches inside the anterior vaginal wall • Discovered by Ernest Grafenberg in 1950 • Highly disputed • Stimulation may lead to female ejaculation • Some have suggested the actual tissue is the urethral sponge • Skene’s glands- located on either side of the urethral opening • Contributes fluid chemically similar to seminal fluid

  11. The Uterus (Womb) • Hollow, pear-shaped structure which holds a baby until birth; only 3” X 3” in childless women • Fundus- top of uterus • Cervix- lower end of uterus • Os- opening of cervix • 3 layers • Perimetruim- outermost layer • Myometrium- middle layer, contains muscle fibers that expand during pregnancy and expel baby during childbirth • Endometrium-innermost layer, where implantation takes place • Thickens until ovulation, then peels away and is discharged if implantation does not occur

  12. Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries • Fallopian Tubes (Oviducts)- extend 4” from uterus to the ovaries • Conception occurs here • Ovaries- almond shaped organs which contain ova and produce reproductive hormones (estrogen and progesterone) • Every ovary contains about 400,000 immature ova (oocytes)

  13. Female Sexual Maturation and Development • Puberty- transition from childhood to adulthood in which a person reaches sexual maturity • Menarche- initial menstrual cycle • Ovulation- expulsion of an ovum from an ovary • Menopause- cessation of menstrual cycles

  14. The Menstrual Cycle • Regulated by hypothalamus and pituitary gland • Typical cycle is 28 days in adult women (longer for adolescent women and shorter for older women) • Phases: Menstrual Phase, Proliferative Phase, Secretory Phase (see text)

  15. Difficulties and Changes in the Menstrual Cycle • Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)- a cluster of psychological and physical symptoms, including depression, irritability, fluid retention, and cramping leading up to menstruation • Dysmenorrhea- pain or discomfort during menstruation • Amenorrhea- absence of menstruation for 6 months or longer • Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)- caused by build-up of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and subsequent toxins produced • Mimics flu symptoms and may cause death • 85% of cases related to menstruation • Harmless in most areas of the body, but deadly when it infects the blood stream

  16. Breasts • Contain layers of fatty tissue and mammary glands • Categorized as secondary sex characteristics, which means they do not play a direct role in reproduction • Become enlarged in puberty as a result of estrogen • One is usually larger than the other (generally the left)

  17. Breasts Continued • Size is not linked to number of mammary glads or nerve endings • Due to large number of nerve endings in the breasts and nipples, they are considered to be erogenous zones (areas of heightened sexual sensitivity)

  18. Breast Health • Recommended that women regularly examine their breasts, starting in their early 20s • Mammogram- diagnostic technique using an x-ray • Breast Cancer- the most dangerous reproductive cancer in women • Killing around 40,000 women each year

  19. More on Breasts • Breast Augmentation- insertion of implants in the breast tissue • Breast Reconstruction- rebuilding of tissue following a mastectomy • Breast Reduction- removal of excess fatty tissue

  20. Sexual and Reproductive Health • Genital Self Exam- examination of the vulval area- including the mons, clitoris, labia, and vagina • Pelvic Exam- professional exam of the vagina • Pap Smear- direct examination of cells taken from the cervix

  21. Vaginitis- Vaginal Infections • Bacterial vaginosis (BV)- most common due to overabundance of naturally occurring bacteria • Yeast Infections- inflammation due to an overabundance of natural vaginal yeast • Trichomoniasis- parasitic infection often caused by sexual activity • Vulvitis- infections of the vulva • Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)- bacterial infections in the urinary tract

More Related