The female reproductive system is responsible for producing gametes called ovum or egg (1). Various organ systems in the human body carry different functions. The reproductive system consists of organs responsible for reproduction, which is a physiological process of producing offspring. Human reproduction is sexual reproduction, meaning male and female gametes are required to produce offspring. Read on to learn more about the anatomy, functions, and interesting facts about the female reproductive system.
Parts Of The Female Reproductive System
The female reproductive system or sexual organs can be divided into external parts (parts outside the body) and internal parts (parts inside the body) (2). Below are the external parts of the female reproductive system and their functions (3). Vulva is the term for the collective external parts of the female reproductive system. The parts found in the vulva include the mons pubis, the labia, clitoris, and glands, such as Bartholin’s glands and Skene’s glands, which help in lubrication. These parts perform a variety of functions, such as protecting the internal sexual organs, keeping the area moist, and facilitating intercourse. The following are the various parts of the vulva.
- Mons pubis: It is a fleshy area located over the pubic bone and above the vagina. Mons pubis is prominent in females and usually covered with pubic hairs after puberty. Function: Cushioning the pubic bones
- Labia: These are often referred to as the lips of the vagina and consist of two parts, labia majora and labia minora.
Labia majora: These are the larger outer prominent pair of lips that cover the labia minora. It is a cutaneous skin fold.
Function: Protection of delicate inner components
Labia minora: These are a pair of inner smaller lips below the labia majora. It encircles the clitoris and the vulval vestibule.
Function: Protection of clitoris, urethra, and the vaginal opening 3. Clitoris: It is a sensory sexual organ similar to the penis in males. Clitoris is made up of erectile tissues, which cause it to become erect and swollen during sexual arousal. Vestibular bulbs are two band-like tissues related to the clitoris and present on either side of it. Function: Acts as a pleasure center 4. Vulval vestibule: The openings to the urethra and the vagina are contained in the vulval vestibule, which is outlined by the labia minora. The edge of the vulval vestibule is also referred to as the Hart’s line. Function: Protects the urethral and vaginal openings 5. Bartholin’s glands: These are also known as the greater vestibular glands and are located posterior to the vaginal opening, one each on either side of the vagina. The pair of glands produce a secretion, which lubricates the vagina during sexual arousal. The secretion also moisturizes the vulva (4). The glands are homologous to bulbourethral glands found in males. Function: Secretion of a lubricating fluid 6. Skene’s glands: These are also known as the lesser vestibular glands and are located on either side of the urethra. These glands secrete fluid to lubricate the urethra opening and the vulva during sexual arousal. Function: Secretion of a lubricating fluid Below are the internal parts of the female reproductive system and their functions.
- Vagina: It is a muscular canal, anteriorly connected to the vulva, and posteriorly connected to the cervix. The vaginal opening is surrounded by a membrane called the hymen. Function: It functions as the recipient of the male penis and the sperms (male gametes) during sexual intercourse. The vagina acts as a discharge tract for menstrual flow and also functions as the birth canal for the newborn during vaginal birth.
- Uterus: It is a pear-shaped organ, also known as the womb, and is located in the pelvis between the bladder anteriorly and the rectum posteriorly. Once an egg or ovum is fertilized, it implants into the inner lining of the uterus. The fertilized egg forms an embryo and then a fetus. Function: The uterus protects and nourishes the fetus through a specialized tissue called the placenta. The fetus stays in the uterus throughout the pregnancy (gestation), approximately nine months, until it is ready to be delivered. The uterus consists of the following parts (5).
Cervix: It is also known as the neck of the uterus and is part of the uterus that lies between the vagina and the corpus (body) of the uterus.
Cervical canal: It is a canal that runs through the cervix.
Corpus: This is the central body of the uterus. It is located behind the cervix and below the fallopian tube openings. Corpus is the part of the uterus where a fertilized egg implants to form an embryo and later develop into a fetus.
Fundus: This is the uppermost rounded portion of the uterus and lies opposite the cervix.
- Fallopian tubes: These are also known as the uterine tubes and are long slender tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus. Function: The ovum (egg) passes from the ovaries to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. Fertilization of the egg usually takes place in these fallopian tubes.
- Ovaries: These are the primary reproductive organs in the female body. There are two ovaries, one on either side of the uterus (6). Ovaries have an ovoid shape. Functions: Ovaries are responsible for the productions of the ovum, which is the female gamete. It contains several structures called follicles, which produce an egg that matures during each menstrual cycle. The ovaries also secrete essential hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone.
- Fimbriae: These are finger-like structures that catch or collect the ovum when released by the ovaries and transfer it to the fallopian tube with a pushing motion. Function: Unlike sperms (male gametes), the ovum is non-motile, and the fimbriae help provide the necessary motility to the ovum by pushing it towards the uterus.
What Is The Menstrual Cycle?
The menstrual cycle, also called periods, is a 28-day cycle of hormonal changes, uterine tissue growth, tissue breakdown, and tissue removal that occurs in a woman’s body. The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of a period to the first day of the next period (7). The following are some salient events of the menstrual cycle.
The secretion of estrogen and progesterone prepares the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized egg. The endometrium layer, a layer of cells inside the corpus of the uterus, begins to thicken and develop a rich supply of blood vessels.
If implantation of the fertilized egg does not occur, the levels of estrogen and progesterone start falling. It indicates to the body that pregnancy has not happened.
The decline in the levels of hormone signals the uterus to discard the upper layer of the endometrium, along with the mucosal tissue. The discarded tissue flows through the cervix and then through the vagina as red blood cell-rich fluid known as menses.
A menstrual cycle is typically 28 days long. However, every woman’s body is different, and so is their menstrual cycle. It is considered a normal menstrual cycle if the periods come every 24 to 38 days. Below are the key events and their day of occurrence in a typical 28-day menstrual cycle.
Day 1: First day of the period.
Day 1 to 7: Follicles develop in the ovary and prepare for the secretion of an ovum.
Day 8: Menstruation stops. The estrogen and progesterone levels rise to prepare a new lining inside the uterus.
Day 14: The uterus lining is ready for implantation. Ovaries release the mature egg, and ovulation occurs.
Day 15 to 24: The egg travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus. The sperm meets the egg in the fallopian tube and embryo is created. Simulataneously, the uterine lining thickens further.
Day 24 to 28: If fertilization does not occur the unfertilized egg reaches the uterus, and it disintegrates. Therefore, the estrogen and progesterone levels decline, and the excess blood-rich uterine lining sheds and flows out of the vagina as menses or periods.
The cycle is marked by the fluctuation of various hormones, which may affect mood and temperament. The menstrual cycle begins at puberty and ends at menopause. Menopause usually occurs around the age of 50 years and is a natural process that marks a decline in the ovarian reserve due to depletion of eggs and hence the reproductive hormones.
Functions Of The Female Reproductive System
The following are the key functions of the female reproductive system (8).
20 Facts About The Female Reproductive System
Here are some interesting facts about the female reproductive system (9) (10).
