ANATOMY AND

PHYSIOLOGY OF THE
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 External Genitals
Mons pubis
- Skin-covered pad of fat over the symphisis pubis.
- hair appears on this structure at puberty and
throughout life.

Labia majora
- composed mainly of fat and numerous glands.
- covered with pigmented skin & hair on the outer
surface & are smooth and free from hair on the
surface.
Labia minora
- Located within labia majora.

Clitoris
- composed of erectile tissue.
- located just behind the anterior junction of
labia minora.
Hymen

- thin membrane protecting the entrance of the

vagina.
Vestibules
- narrow space seen when labia minora are
separated.
Urethral Meatus
- external opening of the urethra.
Perineum
-area from lower border of vaginal orifice to the
anus.
- contains muscle w/c supports pelvic organs.
Vagina
- muscular, ridged sheath connecting the
external genitals to the uterus.
- avenue of birth through which the new baby
enters the world.

Cervix
- Necklike opening to the uterus.
Uterus

- a small organ — just like the size of a pear but

it is extremely strong.
- almost all muscle or myometrium, with only a
small cavity inside.
- functions in 3 processes — menstruation,
pregnancy, and labor.
- Each month it goes through a cyclical change.
Building up its endometrium to receive a fertilized
egg, then, if conception does not occur, shedding
the unused tissue through the vagina in the
monthly process called menstruation.
Fallopian( uterine) Tubes
- ducts of the ovaries.
- each tube is about 10 cm (4 in.) in length.
- fertilization occur in outer 1/3 of the the
uterine tube.
- it has a fimbriae, a feathery projections
that each month urge an egg to exit the
ovary and begin its trip towards the uterus.

Bartholin’s Gland
- secretes the mucuslike lubricating fluid.
Ovaries
- storehouse of egg cells.
- each weighs about 3 grams.
- it is among the first organs to be formed as a female
baby develops in the uterus.
- A newborn infant has an ovarian follicles about1
million to 2 million egg cells.
- if the girl reaches its puberty stage, the number has
decreased to 400,000 and its now called the primary
follicles.
- only about 350-500 of the primary follicles fully
develop into mature follicles.
- secretes estrogen and progesterone
Production of estrogen and progesterone
Estrogen

- causes the development and maintenance of the female

2˚ characteristics.
- stimulates growth of the epithelial cells in the uterus.
- inhibits production of FSH.
Progesterone

- produced by the corpus luteum 11 days after ovulation.

- stimulates proliferation and vascularization of the
lining of the uterus.
- acts with the estrogen to initiate menstrual cycle in
girls entering the puberty.
- inhibits production of LH.