FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

Reproduction is a process of giving rise to offspring.

External Organs:

These are collectively known as vulva. It includes-

1. The labia majora
2. The labia minora
3. The clitoris
4. The vestibule
5. The hymen
6. Vestibular glands

Internal Organs:

1. Uterus
2. Ovaries(Two)
3. Fallopian tubes
4. Vagina

UTERUS

It is a muscular, pear shaped and hollow structure. It is partially covered by

peritoneum and the cavity is lined by mucous membrane called
endometrium. It is joined from sides to the fallopian tube and at the bottom it
opens in vagina.

Endometrium undergoes changes during menstrual cycle

FUNCTION-
z The fertilized ovum divides at the blastocyst stage and get implanted
on the wall of uterus where it develops into growing fetus during
pregnancy

CERVIX
Functions
z Allow entry of spermatozoa
z Prevent entry of infectious organisms
 z Passage of fetus during birth

OVARY
It is a primary female sex organ. Each ovary has many large or small
spherical or oval sac like masses of cells called as ovarian follicles or
Graffian follicles. Each ovarian follicle has a large centrally placed ovum
surrounded by many layers of granular cells. In a maturing follicle these
cells secrete oestrogen in blood. Ovary also contains large mass of big,
conical yellow cells called as corpus luteum which is formed form ruptured
Graffian follicle whose ovum has been released. Cells of the corpus luteum
secrete progesterone in the blood.
Functions
z Secrete female sex hormones
1. ESTROGEN – Helps in development of female secondary sex
organs and external sex characters.
2. PROGESTERONE - controls pregnancy changes in female sex
organs.
z Produce ova

OVARIAN HORMONES

OESTROGENS
FORMATION

Theca cells of graafian follicle

Granulosa cells of the graafian follicle
Placenta

TRANSPORT
95% bound to plasma proteins in blood

MECHANISM OF ACTION
TARGET ORGANS
z Uterus
z Vagina
z Anterior hypothalamus
z Anterior pituitary
ACTIONS

• Growth of genitalia
• Growth of ovaries, uterus, vagina
• Completion of ovarian cycle
• Stimulates growth of glandular epithelium
• Cervical mucus secretion becomes copious and watery

• Increase vaginal secretions and makes it acidic .this prevents

vagina from bacterial infections

• Promotes growth of external genitalia

• Promotes development of secondary sexual characters in females

• Feed back mechanism on gonadotrophins

Artificial oestrogen
Diethylstilbestrol and ethinyloestradiaol

Uses
Used after menopause to control menopausal symptoms
used as contraceptive pills

PROGESTERONE

Source
Corpus luteum
Placenta

Action – not bound to specific substance but has action on tissues

primed by oestrogen

Actions
1 Produces secretory changes in endometrium
2. Prepare endometrium for implantation of fertilized ovum
 3. Increase basal body temperature
4. Decrease number of estrogen receptors
5. Inhibits ovulation by negative feed back on LHRH release from the
hypothalamus

Synthetic progesterone are used as contraceptive pills

MENOPAUSE

When menstruation ceases?

Normally at 45-50 years of age
Symptoms
1. Amenorrhoea
2. Hot flushes i.e. Flushing of skin of the face, neck and chest.
3. Sweating, palpitations.
4. Depression, headache
5. Osteoporosis.

Small ovaries
Cessation of formation of ova, corpus luteum.

Cause
Senile changes in ovary its function declines

Ovarian cycle
1. Cyclic ovulation- release of ovum at periodic intervals
2. Approximately 10-20 follicles enlarge to become secondary
follicle during each cycle under influence of FSH
3. Only one proceeds to stage of ovulation
4. At time f ovulation follicle collapses
5. After ovulation, capillaries from theca interna invade granulosa
layer and is replaced by corpus luteum
6. Corpus luteum regresses if fertilization has not occurred
corpus luteum grows for months if pregnancy occurs

NOTE – TIMING OF OVULATION IS IMPORTANT

It occurs 14 days before first day of next cycle
Coitus should take place within two- three days preceding ovulation .
MENSTRUAL CYCLE

The periodic discharge of bloody fluid from the uterus at regular intervals
throughout life in female from puberty to menopause.

NORMAL CYCLES 28- 35 DAYS

Four phases
1. Menstrual phase
2. Proliferative phase
3. Ovulation phase
4. Secretory phase

1. Menstrual phase
During menstrual phase, endometrium sheds and blood, mucus etc
pass outs. It lasts for 3- 5 days. After this time it may be considered
abnormal.
If fertilization of ovum has not occurred then menstruation occurs.
i.e bleeding from female genital tract
Shedding of superficial part of endometrium due to spasm of spiral
arteries, mainly arterial

2. Proliferative phase
Day 5 – 14
In this phase proliferation of endometrium takes place. Uterine
epithelium is restored to normal, endometrium becomes thicker and more
vascular.
Ovarian follicle is matured and secretes estrogen
Cervical secretion increases and become more watery

3. Ovulatory phase
14th day
Before 14 days of the start of the menstruation there is a sudden rise in
FSH and LH and Graffian follicle of one ovary ruptures to liberate an
ovum called as ovulation
Volume of cervical mucus increases and becomes more watery

4. Secretory phase
Day 15 -28
Preparation of uterus for implantation of the fertilized ovum
Endometrium increases in thickness and produce abundant secretion
 During this phase corpus luteum , in an ovary developed and secrete
progesterone
Endometrial changes - glands becomes more tortuous
Spiral arteries more coiled and filled with blood.
Cervical secretion becomes thick, tenacious, barrier for infectious
FEED BACK MECHANSIM

HYPOTHALAMUS
↓
GnRH

ANTERIOR PITUITARY
↓
LH
↓
FSH

OVARY
↓

FOLLICULAR PAHSE LUTEAL PHASE

↓ ↓

OESTROGEN PROGESTROGEN
↓ ↓

PROLIFERATIVE PHASE SECRETORY PHASE

1. GnRH released from hypothalamus. GnRH release is cyclic

2. GnRH acts on anterior pituitary that releases FSH and LH
3. FSH promotes development of follicles
4. Increase secretion of estrogen form theca internal cells that leads to
proliferative changes in endometrium.
5. OESTROGEN SURGE - - - rise in FSH concentration just before
ovulation, at 12-13 - days with resultant peak in estrogen level
6. Oestrogen surge has positive feedback mechanism on on GnRH ,
resulting in more release of GNRH
 7. GNRH induces rapid rise of LH secretion( at mid cycle)
8. Ovulation occurs 10 hours after LH peak.
9. Stimulus to ovulation depends upon FSH and LH
10. After ovulation LH and FSH concentration Falls
11. After formation of corpus luteum , concentration of progesterone
increase and also level of oestrogen rises
12. Elevated oestrogen and progesterone has inhibitory effect on FSH and
LH
13. Progesterone causes secretory phase of endometrium
14. If fertilization takes place implantation of fertilized of fertilized ovum.
And corpus luteum grows.
15. If fertilization does not occur then corpus luteum regresses.

OOGENESIS

It is the production of secondary oocytes with in ovaries. Ovaries contain

oogonia, which are diploid cells. Oogonia divide and develop into larger
diploid cells called primary oocytes.
Primary oocyte undergoes first meiotic division to form one polar body and
one secondary oocyte.
The primary oocyte contains 44 chromosomes while polar body and
secondary oocyte contains 22 chromosomes .
Secondary oocyte then undergoes second meiotic division to form a mature
oocyte. And one second polar body.
The first polar body undergoes meiotic division to form two more polar
bodies.