Female Reproductive System

1. Female Reproductive System

2. Terms and Notes • Vagina • Female organ for intercourse • Passageway for sperm to the uterus • Passageway for menstrual flow to the outside of the body • Serves as the birth canal • Cervix • Lowest/narrowest part of the uterus • Opens to the vagina • Uterus • Organ where the egg cells are supported • Hollow, pear-shaped and muscular

3. Terms and Notes • Clitoris • Small knob of erectile tissue • Located in the front of the vaginal opening • Induces sexual pleasure • Hymen • Fold of mucous membrane • Surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening

4. Terms and Notes • Ovaries • Small, oval-shaped glands • Produce eggs and hormones • Fallopian Tubes • Narrow tubes attached to the upper part of the uterus • Tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus • Fertilization normally occurs here • Fertilized egg moves to the uterus to implant

5. Terms and Notes • Labia majora • Heavy folds of skin that surround the opening of the vagina • Labia minora- two smaller folds of skin located within the labia majora

6. Menstrual Cycle • About 28 days in length • 3 Phases • Follicular Phase • Starts on first day of period • FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) are released from the brain and travels in the blood to the ovaries • Stimulates growth of 15 to 20 eggs • Each egg has a shell (follicle) • FSH and LH trigger production of estrogen • When estrogen rises, like a switch, turns off production of follicle-stimulating hormone • One follicle becomes dominant and continue to mature • That dominant follicle suppresses the other and the other follicles end up dying • Result- One follicle that continues to produce estrogen

7. Ovulatory Phase • Ovulatory Phase (14 days after the start of follicular phase) • Midpoint in the menstrual cycle • Rise in estrogen from the dominant follicle = surge in luteinizing hormone produced by the brain • Luteinizing hormone causes egg to release from the ovary • Ovulation • Egg is released and captured by finger like projections at the end of the fallopian tubes • The egg is swept into the tube • Increase in mucus by the cervix • Purpose of the mucus is to capture the man’s sperm, nourishes it and helps it move forward towards the egg

9. Luteal Phase • Luteal Phase- Begins right after ovulation • Now that the follicle released it’s egg, the empty follicle develops into the corpus luteam • Corpus luteum • Secretes the hormone progesterone • Progesterone • Prepares uterus for a fertilized egg to implant • If intercourse has taken place • Egg is fertilized by the sperm and the fertilized egg will travel through the fallopian tube to implant in the uterus • If intercourse has not happened or egg is not fertilized • Egg passes through the uterus, the lining of the uterus breaks down and sheds

11. Head Spinning Yet?

13. How many eggs does a woman have? • Vast majority of eggs with the ovaries steadily die • Depleted at menopause • At birth = 1 million eggs • At Puberty= 300,000 eggs • 300 to 400 are ovulated

16. PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) • Hormone changes • Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands and ovaries work together to produce and egg • Triggers a lot of hormone and brain chemicals • Can affect • Mood, energy, ability to think clearly, body fluid, weight, and pain perception