FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

- female reproductive has more functions: menstruation, ovulation and pregnancy

UTERUS
- hollow, muscular, pear shaped organ about the size of woman's clenched fist
- tipped forward in normal "anteflexion" position
- divided into body or corpus, and bottom cervix
- supported and held in position by number of ligament
- trauma, disease or multiple pregnancies can weaken these ligaments and result in
abnormal positioning
- 3-4 kg can bare in woman's uterus for 9 months
- GRAVID: pregnancy uterus

THREE LAYERS
- (outer layer) perimetrium
- (thick layer of muscle) myometrium
- (mucous lining) muendometrium
(neck of womb) cervix

THREE MAJOR FUNCTION

- the endometrium sheds the lining of the uterus every 21 to 40
- provides a place for the potection and developing fetus
- contracts during labor to expel fetus

FALLOPIAN TUBE (oviducts)

INFUDIBULUM
- to nourish and house the fertilized egg until the unborn child is ready to be
delivered.

OSTIUM
- human female abdominal cavity that transport male sperm cells to the egg

ISMUS
- the portion that connects to uterus

FIMBRA
- finger like projections around the opening that traps the egg as it leaves the
ovary

- it is 4-6 inches long

- the egg released from ovary and captured by the fimbra and brought into fallopian
tube
- the egg moved along inside the tube by muscular contractions and the waving
action of cilia
- it takes an egg about 3- days to travel the length of the tube

TUBAL LIGATION
- surgical procedure for female sterilization in which the fallopian tubes are
permanently blocked, clipped or removed. - this prevents the fertilization of eggs
by sperm and thus the implantation of a fertilized egg.

OVARIES
- attached to each sides of uterus by ligament
- oval shaped, about the size of large olive
- close to fimbra at the end of fallopian tubes
- once every 21 days, one follicles in one ovary ripens
- mature follicle is GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE
- the follicle ruptures in response to hormone from the pituaitary glands,
releasing the ovum process called OVULATION
- mass of yellow cells called CORPUS LUTEUM, this is temporary progesterone-
producing structure

VAGINA
- extends from the cervix to the outside of the body
- it is 3 1/2 inch long muscular tube that expands in length and width during
sexual arousal
- 10 cm width during crowning or childbirth

VULVA
- made of 5 organs

MONS PUBIS
- triangular shaped pad of fatty tissue over the pubis bone, covered with pubic
hair

LABIA MAJORA
- 2 large folds of adipose tissue on the sides of the vaginal opening

LABIA MINORA
- 2 smaller folds of adipose inside the labia majora

VESTIBULE
- area between labia with openings for the vagina, urethra and two excretory ducts
for bartholin's glands (provide lubricant)

CLITORIS
- sensitive fold of tissue partically covered by hood

PERINEUM
- the area located between the vaginal opening and the anus
- it is a muscular sheet that can be torn during childbirth
- some doctors avoid uncontrolled tearing of perineum by making a surgical incision
called EPISIOTOMY

BREASTS
- the breasts are the mammary glands, varying in size according to age, heredity
and amount of fatty tissue
- dark colored circle at the tip of the breast is called AREOLA, contains sebaceous
glands to keep the skin conditioned.
- COLOSTRUM: contains nutrients and mother's immunities that can protect the baby

MENSTRUAL CYCLE
- the onset of the mentrual cycle or MENARCHE, begins at the puberty and CEASES at
menopause

THREE PHASES

LITEAL PHASE
- characterized by the development of the corpus luteum, the secretion of
progesterone.
- the preparation of the endometrium form implantation of the fertilized egg and
the formation of a thick mucous to block the cervix once the egg passes out the
fallopian tube.

FOLLICULAR PHASE
- when the thickened lining of the endometrium is shed because no egg was
fertilized or implanted
- just prior to this phase is a prementrual period characterized by hormonal and
physical changes

OVULATORY PHASE
- go back to first phase which is ovulation
- the hormone produced by the ovaries

AMENORRHEA
- absence of menstruation, often defined as missing one or more menstrual periods.

PREGNANCY
- fertilized egg implants in the uterus
- at the moment of conception, single sperm (23 chromosomes) carrying genetic
information from father penetrates a single egg with 23 chromosomes carrying
genetic information from mother
- the embryo is suspended in an amniotic sac surrounded by fluid during 280 day
gestation period
- the umbilical cord attached at the navel connects it to placenta, where it gets
nutrients and oxygen
- during first trimester, all parts of the embryo are form
- the second trimester, all parts start to function
- last trimester, the embryo is now called fetus

LABOR
- characterized by muscle contractions, dilation (to 10 cm) and effacement
(thinning) of the cervix and expulsion of the mucous plug that formed in the
cervix, signals the onset of parturition, the childbirth process.

IDENTICAL TWIN
- Twins conceived from one egg and one sperm are called identical or 'monozygotic'
(one-cell) twins.

FRATERNAL TWIN
- Fraternal twins, or dizygotic twins, happen when two different eggs are
fertilized by two sperm

CONJOINED TWINS
- Conjoined twins are two babies who are born physically connected to each other.

CASEOSA (cheese coating) or LANUGO (downy hair)

- protected the skin before birth

COMPLICATIONS BY CERTAIN CONDITION

- placentsa previa is the development of the placentsa over opening of the cervix
- preclampsia is a pregnancy included hypertension (high blood pressure)
- spontaneous abortion or miscarriage is the loss of fetus during the first 20
weeks, often due to abnormalities, trauma or lifestyle choices