ANATOMY

&
PHYSIOLOGY

ORAL RECITATION

OCTOBER 4-9
12:30-3:30
Describe the structure involve in the Integumentary System.
The integumentary system is the largest organ in the body that forms a physical barrier between the
external and internal environment that is serves to protect and maintain. The integumentary system
includes the epidermis, dermis, hypodermis, associated glands, hair and nails. The skin is composed
of 2 layers- the superficial epidermis and deeper dermis.
The epidermis is the tough outer layer that acts as the first line of defense against the external
environment. It is composed of stratified squamous epithelial cells that further break down into 4 to 5
layers. The layers involve stratum corneum, stratum granulosum, stratum spinosum and stratum
basale. In our palms and soles where the skin is thicker, there is additional layer of the skin between
the stratum corneum and stratum granulosum called stratum lucidum.
The dermis is the underlying connective tissue framework that supports the epidermis. The dermis as a
whole contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, sweat glands, hair follicles, and various other
structures embedded within the connective tissue.
The hypodermis lies between the dermis and underlying organs. It is commonly referred to as
subcutaneous tissue and is composed of loose areolar tissue and adipose tissue.
Hair is derived from the epidermis but grows its roots deep into the dermis. Its structure divides into
the externally visible hair shaft and the hair follicle within the skin.
The nails form as a layer of keratin and appear at the dorsal tips of the fingers and toes. The nail
growth begins at the nail matrix that creates new cells and pushes old cells out distally. The function of
it is to protect the fingers and toes while increasing the precision of movements and enhancing
sensation.
Associated glands are consisted of 4 types of exocrine glands within our skin. The sudoriferous,
sebaceous, ceruminous and mammary gland.

DESCRIBE THE PHYSIOLOGIC FUNCTION OF INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM AND THE MAJOR GLANDS
The skin and accessory structures perform a variety of essential functions, such as protecting
the body from invasion by microorganisms, chemicals, and other environmental factors; preventing
dehydration; acting as a sensory organ; modulating body temperature and electrolyte balance; and
synthesizing vitamin D. The underlying hypodermis has important roles in storing fats, forming a
“cushion” over underlying structures, and providing insulation from cold temperatures.
 Sebaceous Gland- it lubricates the skin and prevent the loss of moisture. In return, skin
remains moisturized and flexible
 Sweat Glands- the eccrine sweat glands, which is controlled by the sympathetic nervous
system, regulates body temperature. When the internal temperature rises, the eccrine
glands secrete water to the skin surface, where heat is removed by the evaporation.
 Ceruminous glands- in the skin of the human external auditory canal are modified apocrine
glands, which, together with sebaceous glands, produce the cerumen, the ear wax. Cerumen
plays an important role in the protection of the ear canal against physical damage and
microbial invasion.
 Mammary glands- produce milk after childbirth. During pregnancy, the hormones
progesterone and prolactin are released. The progesterone interferes with prolactin,
preventing the mammary glands from lactating.
 Describe the division of the axial skeleton and its parts.

The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body and includes all bones of the
head, neck, chest, and back. It serves to protect the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs.
 Cranial bones- are eight bones that form the top part of the skull, which encloses the brain.
 Facial bones- supports the soft tissue of the face.
 Auditory ossicles- are a chain of small bones in the middle ear that transmit sound from the
outer ear to the inner ear through mechanical vibration.
 Vertebral column- the series of vertebrae that extend from the cranium to the coccyx,
providing support and forming a flexible bony case for the spinal cord.
 Thoracic Cage- It consists of the 12 pairs of ribs with their costal cartilages and the sternum.
The ribs are anchored posteriorly to the 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1–T12). The thoracic cage
protects the heart and lungs.

Describe the division of the appendicular skeleton and its parts.

The appendicular skeleton forms during development from cartilage, by the process of
endochondral ossification. It is consisting of 126 bones and includes the free appendages and their
attachments to the axial skeleton. And the involve parts are:
 Pectoral girdle- also referred to as the shoulder girdle, connects your upper limbs to the
bones along the axis of your body. You have two pectoral girdles in your body.
 Upper extremity- is the region in a vertebrate animal extending from the deltoid region up
to and including the hand, including the arm, axilla and shoulder.
 Pelvic girdle- is a ring-like structure, located in the lower part of the trunk. It connects the
axial skeleton to the lower limbs. In this article, we shall look at the structures of the pelvis,
its functions, and the applied anatomy.
 Lower extremity- refers to the part of the body from the hip to the toes. The lower
extremity includes the hip, knee, and ankle joints, and the bones of the thigh, leg, and foot.

Describe the shapes of the bones and cite some examples.

The shape of the bones are long bone, short bone, flat bone, irregular bone and sesamoid bones.
The long bone is one that is cylindrical in shape, being longer than its wide. It can be found in arms
as humerus and ulna, in the legs like femur and tibia as well as fingers which is the metacarpals
and in toes it is metatarsals and phalanges.
Short bone is one that is cube like in shape, being approximately equal in length, width, and
thickness. The only short bones in the human skeleton are in the carpals of the wrists and tarsals
of the ankles.
Flat bones is a misnomer because it is thin and also often curved. Examples are cranial in the skull
bones, the scapulae in shoulder blades and sternum in breast.
Irregular bone is one that does not have any easily characterized shape and therefore does not fit
in any classification. Many facial bones, particularly the ones containing sinuses are classified as
irregular bone.
Sesamoid bone is a small, round bone that as the name suggest is shaped like a sesame seed. These
bones forms in the tendons particularly in feet, hands, and knees. The patellae are the only
sesamoid bones found in every person.

IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE THE STRUCTURES OF THE HEART

The heart is the large muscular pump and is divided into 2 halves- the right hand side and the left hand side
The right hand side of the heart is responsible for pumping deoxygenated blood of the lungs.
The left hand side pumps oxygenated blood to the lungs. Each side of the heart consists of an atrium and a
ventricle which are the connected chambers. The atrium is where the blood collects when it enters the
heart. The ventricles pump the blood out of the heart to the lungs or around the body.
The septum separates the right-hand and left-hand side of the heart. The tricuspid valve is located
between the right atrium and right ventricle and opens due to a build-up of pressure in the right atrium.
The bicuspid valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle and likewise opens due to a build-
up of pressure, this time in the left atrium. The semilunar valves stop the back flow of blood into the heart.
There is a semilunar valve where the aorta leaves the left ventricle and another where the pulmonary
artery leaves the right ventricle.

IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE THE LAYERS OF THE HEART

The heart wall is composed of connective tissue, endothelium, and cardiac muscle. It is the cardiac muscle
that enables the heart to contract and allows for the synchronization of the heartbeat. The heart wall is
divided into three layers: epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium.

 Epicardium: the outer protective layer of the heart.

 Myocardium: muscular middle layer wall of the heart.
 Endocardium: the inner layer of the heart.

Epicardium is the outer layer of the heart wall. It is also known as visceral pericardium as it forms the
inner layer of the pericardium. The epicardium is composed primarily of loose connective tissue, including
elastic fibers and adipose tissue. 
Myocardium is the middle layer of the heart wall. It is composed of cardiac muscle fibers, which enable
heart contractions. The myocardium is the thickest layer of the heart wall, with its thickness varying in
different parts of the heart. 
Endocardium is the thin inner layer of the heart wall. This layer lines the inner heart chambers,
covers heart valves, and is continuous with the endothelium of large blood vessels.

DISCUSS THE CARDIO-PULMONARY CIRCULATION OR THE ROUTE FLOW OF THE BLOOD THROUGH THE
HEART
The pulmonary circulation is where the fresh oxygen we breathe in enters the blood. At the same time,
carbon dioxide is released from the blood. Blood circulation starts when the heart relaxes between two
heartbeats: The blood flows from both atria (the upper two chambers of the heart) into the ventricles (the
lower two chambers), which then expand.
The following phase is called the ejection period, which is when both ventricles pump the blood into the
large arteries. This is where pulmonary circulation begins: The right ventricle pumps low-oxygen blood into
the pulmonary artery, which branches off into smaller and smaller arteries and capillaries. The capillaries
form a fine network around the pulmonary vesicles (grape-like air sacs at the end of the airways).
This is where carbon dioxide is released from the blood into the air inside the pulmonary vesicles, and
fresh oxygen enters the bloodstream. When we breathe out, carbon dioxide leaves our body. Oxygen-rich
blood travels through the pulmonary veins and the left atrium into the left ventricle. The next heartbeat
starts a new cycle of systemic circulation.
DISCUSS CONDUCTION SYSTEM OF THE HEART
The conduction system of the heart controls its pumping action, which results in the delivery of blood to
the different organs and tissues of the body. This conduction system is composed of a group of special
cells found in the walls of the heart muscle, which send the electrical impulses and cause the heart muscle
to contract. The parts of the heart conduction system can be divided into those that generate action
potentials (nodal tissue) and those that conduct them (conducting fibers). Although all parts have the ability
to generate action potentials and thus heart contractions, the sinuatrial (SA) node is the primary impulse
initiator and regulator in a healthy heart.

NAME AND DESCRIBE THE 12 CRANIAL NERVES

Cranial nerves are pairs of nerves that connect brain to different parts of head, neck, and trunk. There are
12 of them, each named for their function or structure. Each nerve also has a corresponding Roman
numeral between I and XII. This is based off their location from front to back. 
The olfactory nerve transmits sensory information to your brain regarding smells that you encounter
which is located below the frontal lobe of your brain
The optic nerve is the sensory nerve that involves vision.

 The oculomotor nerve has two different motor functions: muscle function and pupil response.
Muscle function help your eyes move and focus on objects and Pupil response also helps to control
the size of your pupil as it responds to light.
The trochlear nerve controls your superior oblique muscle. This is the muscle that’s responsible for
downward, outward, and inward eye movements.

The trigeminal nerve is the largest of your cranial nerves and has both sensory and motor functions.

The trigeminal nerve has three divisions, which are:

 Ophthalmic. The ophthalmic division sends sensory information from the upper part of your face,
including your forehead, scalp, and upper eyelids.
 Maxillary. This division communicates sensory information from the middle part of your face,
including your cheeks, upper lip, and nasal cavity.
 Mandibular. The mandibular division has both a sensory and a motor function. It sends sensory
information from your ears, lower lip, and chin. It also controls the movement of muscles within
your jaw and ear.

The abducens nerve controls another muscle that’s associated with eye movement, called the lateral
rectus muscle. This muscle is involved in outward eye movement. For example, you would use it to look to
the side.

The facial nerve provides both sensory and motor functions, including:

 moving muscles used for facial expressions as well as some muscles in your jaw
 providing a sense of taste for most of your tongue
 supplying glands in your head or neck area, such as salivary glands and tear-producing glands
 communicating sensations from the outer parts of your ear
Your vestibulocochlear nerve has sensory functions involving hearing and balance. It consists of two parts,
the cochlear portion and vestibular portion:
Cochlear portion. Specialized cells within your ear detect vibrations from sound based off of the sound’s
loudness and pitch.
Vestibular portion. Another set of special cells in this portion can track both linear and rotational
movements of your head.

The glossopharyngeal nerve has both motor and sensory functions, including:

 sending sensory information from your sinuses, the back of your throat, parts of your inner ear, and
the back part of your tongue
 providing a sense of taste for the back part of your tongue
 stimulating voluntary movement of a muscle in the back of your throat called the stylopharyngeus

The vagus nerve is a very diverse nerve. It has both sensory and motor functions, including:

 communicating sensation information from your ear canal and parts of your throat
 sending sensory information from organs in your chest and trunk, such as your heart and intestines
 allowing motor control of muscles in your throat
 stimulating the muscles of organs in your chest and trunk, including those that move food through
your digestive tract (peristalsis)
 providing a sense of taste near the root of your tongue

Your accessory nerve is a motor nerve that controls the muscles in your neck. These muscles allow you to
rotate, flex, and extend your neck and shoulders.

 It’s divided into two parts: spinal and cranial. The spinal portion originates in the upper part of your
spinal cord. The cranial part starts in your medulla oblongata.
Your hypoglossal nerve is the 12th cranial nerve which is responsible for the movement of most of
the muscles in your tongue. 

NAME THE PARTS OF THE NEURONS, ITS CLASSIFICATIONS AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL FUNCTION
Neurons, also known as nerve cells, send and receive signals from your brain. While neurons have a lot in
common with other types of cells, they’re structurally and functionally unique. Neurons vary in size, shape,
and structure depending on their role and location. However, nearly all neurons have three essential parts:
a cell body, an axon, and dendrites.
Cell body

Also known as a soma, the cell body is the neuron’s core. The cell body carries genetic information,
maintains the neuron’s structure, and provides energy to drive activities.
An axon is a long, tail-like structure which joins the cell body at a specialized junction called the axon
hillock. Many axons are insulated with a fatty substance called myelin. Myelin helps axons to conduct an
electrical signal. Neurons generally have one main axon.
Dendrites are fibrous roots that branch out from the cell body. Like antennae, dendrites receive and
process signals from the axons of other neurons. Neurons can have more than one set of dendrites, known
as dendritic trees. 
Function of neurons Neurons send signals using action potentials. An action potential is a shift in the
neuron’s electric potential caused by the flow of ions in and out of the neural membrane.

NAME AND DESCRIBE THE 4 MAJOR PARTS OF THE BRAIN

The brain is divided into four main parts which are further divided into smaller sections, each
performing specific brain functions. These four main structures are the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the
diencephalon, and the brainstem.

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain in humans and the most recent in terms of our evolution.
Higher cognitive functions such as judgment, imagination, perception, thought and decision-making
occur here. The cerebrum also contains the cerebral cortex, a densely layered collection of neural
pathways that give the brain’s exterior its wrinkled appearance. 

The cerebellum is responsible for our voluntary motor movements, balance, equilibrium and muscle
tone. This part of the brain is located above the brain stem at the back of the brain. Because of its
location the cerebellum is well protected from trauma relative to the temporal and frontal lobes.

The diencephalon contains the thalamus and the hypothalamus. The area functions as a kind of relay
point between subcortical areas of the brain and the cerebral cortex. The thalamus and hypothalamus
relay information about the auditory, visceral, visual, somatic and gustatory systems, also known as the
five senses.

The brainstem is the main junction between the brain and the rest of the body. Here the brain joins
with the spinal chord to send and receive information from every inch of our bodies. Many important
brain functions essential to our survival also occur here, including breathing, heart rate, digestion, and
our body’s natural rhythms.

DISCUSS THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CSF AND DESCRIBE THE CIRCULATION OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. There is about 150
milliliters of CSF within the cerebral cavity that encloses the brain and spinal cord which allows the brain
to “float” in the fluid. The main function of the cerebrospinal fluid is to act as a shock absorber thereby
cushioning the brain. There is a very slight difference in the specific gravity of the brain and CSF which
allows the brain to be “suspended” in the CSF. Cerebrospinal fluid circulates through a system of cavities
found within the brain and spinal cord; ventricles, subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal cord and
the central canal of the spinal cord. Most CSF is secreted by the specialized tissue called the choroid
plexus, which is located within the lateral, third and fourth ventricles.

DISCUSS THE FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

The autonomic nervous system regulates a variety of body process that takes place without conscious
effort. The autonomic system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for
regulating involuntary body functions, such as heartbeat, blood flow, breathing, and digestion. The
autonomic system controls a variety of internal processes including: 1Digestion, Blood pressure, Heart rate,
Urination and defecation, Pupillary response, Breathing (respiratory) rate, Sexual response. Body
temperature. Metabolism. Electrolyte balance. Production of body fluids including sweat and saliva. AND
Emotional responses3.

DISCUSS THE PRIMARY LYMPHATIC ORGANS AND THEIR FUNCTION

The primary lymphoid organs, also referred to as central lymphoid/lymphatic organs, are the tissues
responsible for the production of lymphoid cells from progenitor cells, incuding the bone marrow and the
thymus. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue found in the medullary canals of long bones and cavities of the
cancellous bones. Primary site of blood cell formation. Breakdown of old RBCs via macrophages and reuse
of iron. Storage of fat through adipocytes. The thymus gland is the main organ of the lymphatic system.
Located in the upper chest, this gland's primary function is to promote the development of cells of the
immune system called T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes, or T-cells, are white blood cells that protect
against foreign organisms (bacteria and viruses) that manage to infect body cells.

DISCUSS THE SECONDARY LYMPHATIC ORGANS AND THEIR FUNCTION

The secondary lymphoid organs are the spleen and the lymph nodes. They act as sites for maintaining the
mature naive lymphocytes and are also the site where lymphocyte binding to antigen and hence their
activation occurs.
SPLEEN- major function is that this organ filters blood, removing foreign bodies, microbes, and faulty red
blood cells (RBCs) in its red pulp. This it does by filtering such bodies to specialized white blood cells called
lymphocytes located in the lymph nodules.
Lymph nodes play two major roles in the body: filtration of lymph and production of immune responses.
The sinuses of the lymph node perform the filtration function while the lymphatic tissues of the cortex and
medulla produce immune responses.

DISCUSS THE ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND AND NAME THE HORMONES SECRETED
The anterior pituitary gland or the adenohypophysis is one of the two lobes of the pituitary gland, which
regulates physiological functions such as growth, reproduction, lactation, and stress. The anterior
pituitary gland is a fleshy structure, composed of multiple structures: pars distalis, pars tuberalis, and pars
intermedia. The pars distalis is the distal part of the anterior pituitary, where most of the hormones are
been produced. The pars tuberalis is the tubular part of the anterior pituitary. THE HORMONES ARE
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), Beta-endorphin, Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), Follicle-
stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Growth hormone (GH), Prolactin.

DISCUSS THE POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND AND NAME THE HORMONES SECRETED
The posterior pituitary gland or the neurohypophysis is the other lobe of the pituitary gland which serves
as a part of the endocrine system. The posterior pituitary contains two parts; pars nervosa and
infundibular stalk. The neuronal lobe of the posterior pituitary is called the pars nervosa. The pars nervosa
stores hormones of the posterior pituitary gland. The infundibular stalk is also called the pituitary stalk
and it bridges the hypothalamic and hypophyseal systems. HORMONES SECRETED ARE Oxytocin AND
Vasopressin (Antidiuretic hormone, ADH).
DESCRIBE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE TYROID GLAND AND ITS HORMONE
The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system .The thyroid gland releases hormones into the
bloodstream to control your metabolism, which is the primary way your body uses energy. The 2 main
thyroid hormones are T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). T3 and T4 regulate your body’s
temperature, metabolism and heart rate. The amount of thyroid hormones secreted is controlled by
another hormone, called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is released from the pituitary gland in
your brain. TSH stimulates the thyroid to make T3 and T4.

DESCRIBE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE PANCREAS AND ITS HORMONE

The pancreas is an endocrine and exocrine gland. An exocrine gland is an organ that makes and releases
chemicals into ducts, rather than into the blood stream like endocrine glands. As an endocrine gland, the
main function of the pancreas is to make hormones that control blood sugar levels’. Keeping blood sugar
levels stable is important to provide a constant energy supply to the body. Low blood sugar levels can
cause sweating, shaking, mood changes, confusion and in severe cases seizures and loss of
consciousness. Persistently high blood sugar levels are a feature of diabetes mellitus. The remaining area
of the pancreas has exocrine functions, has enzymes that help digest food. These enzymes help break
down proteins, carbohydrates and fats in food. HORMONES ARE Insulin prevents blood sugar (glucose)
levels from getting too high. Glucagon prevents blood sugar (glucose) levels from dropping too low. AND
Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is released from many tissues, including the pancreas, brain, immune
cells and gut. 

DISCUSS THE STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE UPPER RESPIRATORY AND LOWER SYSTEM
Our upper respiratory system contains  the following structures: nose/nostrils, nasal cavity, mouth, throat
or pharynx, and larynx above the vocal folds. The main function of the upper respiratory system is to filter,
warm, and humidify the air. Other functions include providing a clear patent airway for air to enter and
exit the lungs through nose and mouth. Our lower respiratory system contains the following structures:
larynx below the vocal folds, trachea or windpipe, lungs, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and diaphragm.
The main function of the lower respiratory system is to provide gas exchange for oxygen and carbon
dioxide.

DESCRIBE THE PROCESS OF GAS EXCHANGE

The Gas Exchange Process is, essentially, the inhalation of oxygen and exhalation of carbon dioxide,
along with the oxygenation of blood cells through the alveoli capillaries. Through the nasal or oral
cavities, humans inhale oxygen from the atmospheric air around them. The intake, of oxygen, moves
through the pharynx (throat) and larynx (voice box) in order to reach the trachea (wind pipe), which is
directly connected with the lungs. The two bronchi connect the lungs to the single trachea. Oxygen
flows into each bronchus, bronchiole, and alveolus. Each alveolus contains a membrane, which is
laced with capillaries. These capillaries carry non-oxygenated blood cells into the lung and oxygenated
blood cells out of the lung. As non-oxygenated blood cells (RBCs) pass through the alveoli membrane,
they release their carried carbon dioxide into the corresponding alveolus. This allows for oxygen to
pass from a reservoir, into the non-oxygenated blood cells; therefore, rendering them useful for
transport into the heart.

DISCUSS THE 5 SENSES OF THE BODY

Humans have five basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. Touch consists of several distinct
sensations communicated to the brain through specialized neurons in the skin. Pressure, temperature,
light touch, vibration, pain and other sensations are all part of the touch sense and are all attributed to
different receptors in the skin. Light, or perceiving things through the eyes, is a complex process. First,
light reflects off an object to the eye. The transparent outer layer of the eye called the cornea bends the
light that passes through the hole of the pupil. This sense works via the complex labyrinth that is
the human ear. Sound is funneled through the external ear and piped into the external auditory canal.
Then, sound waves reach the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. Humans may be able to smell over 1
trillion scents, according to researchers. They do this with the olfactory cleft, which is found on the roof of
the nasal cavity, next to the "smelling" part of the brain, the olfactory bulb and fossa. Nerve endings in the
olfactory cleft transmit smells to the brain. The gustatory sense is usually broken down into the perception
of four different tastes: salty, sweet, sour and bitter. There is also a fifth taste, defined as umami or
savory. There may be many other flavors that have not yet been discovered. Also, spicy is not a taste. It is
actually a pain signal.

DISCUSS THE STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN

Most of the male reproductive system is located outside of your abdominal cavity or pelvis. The external
parts of the male reproductive system include the penis, the scrotum and the testicles. Penis. The penis is
the male organ for sexual intercourse composed of root, shaft, and glands. The opening of the urethra —
the tube that transports both semen and urine out of the body —. Semen, which contains sperm, is
expelled through the end of the penis when a man reaches sexual climax. The scrotum holds the testicles
as well as many nerves and blood vessels. The testes are oval organs about the size of very large olives
that lie in the scrotum, secured at either end by a structure called the spermatic cord. The epididymis
carries and stores sperm cells that are created in the testes.  The internal parts of male reproductive
system are The vas deferens transports mature sperm to the urethra in preparation for ejaculation. The
ejaculatory ducts empty into the urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to
outside of your body. The seminal vesicles make a sugar-rich fluid (fructose) that provides sperm with a
source of energy and helps with the sperms’ ability to move (motility). The prostate gland contributes
additional fluid to the ejaculate.  The bulbourethral glands produce a clear, slippery fluid that empties
directly into the urethra.

DISCUSS THE STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN

The female reproductive anatomy includes both external and internal structures.

The function of the external female reproductive structures is twofold: To enable sperm to enter the body
and to protect the internal genital organs from infectious organisms. The main external structures of the
female reproductive system include The labia majora enclose and protect the other external reproductive
organs. The labia minora can have a variety of sizes and shapes. They lie just inside the labia majora, and
surround the openings to the vagina and urethra. Bartholin’s glands: These glands are located next to the
vaginal opening on each side and produce a fluid (mucus) secretion. The clitoris is covered by a fold of skin,
called the prepuce, which is similar to the foreskin at the end of the penis. The internal reproductive
organs include: Vagina: The vagina is a canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the outside
of the body. It also is known as the birth canal. The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is the home
to a developing fetus. The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the
uterus. The ovaries produce eggs and hormones. Fallopian tube Fertilization of an egg by a sperm normally
occurs in the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where it implants to the uterine
lining.