Female Reproductive System

Learning objectives

1. Describe the structure and function of the ovaries,

uterine tubes, uterus and vagina
2. Discuss the structural changes in ovarian and uterine
cycles
3. Describe the external genitalia
4. Describe anatomy of the female breast
General arrangement
Ovaries

• Almond shaped structures

• Two functions Produce ova

Produce hormones

Oestrogen

Progesterone
 Ovaries

Location – pelvic cavity closer to the lateral pelvic wall

on the broad ligament
 Ovaries – three ligaments attached to it
• Ovarian ligament ( from the uterus)
• Suspensory ligament ( pelvic wall )
• Mesovarium ( from the broad ligament )

Functions
• anchor the ovaries
• Blood vessels
travel through the
mesovarium
Ovaries – Covered with tunica albugenia
Outer to tunica is a germinal epithelium ( cuboidal
cells)
• continuous with peritoneum
• do not produce germ cells
Ovaries

• Outer cortex – developing ova are located here

• inner medulla – blood vessels ramify here
 Development of the ovarian follicles

• Primodial follicle
• Primary follicle
• Secondary follicle
• Vesicular follicle
(Graafian follicle)

Follicular cells –
one layer thick
Granulosa cells –
more than one layer
thick
Corpus luteum

• corpus luteum of
menstruation
• corpus luteum of
pregnancy

Corpus
albicans
Uterine tubes
• Extends laterally from the uterus
• Opens to the peritoneal cavity near the ovaries
• lie in the free edge of the broad ligament

Mesosalpinx is the part

of the broad ligament
covering the uterine
tubes
Uterine tube – four parts
1. Infundibulum – funnel shaped distal end which opens to the
peritoneum. Ends as finger like processes ( fimbriae)
2. Ampulla – widest and longest part. Fertilization take place
here
3. Isthmus – narrow part
near the uterus
4. Uterine part – Passes
through the uterine
wall
Uterine tubes
Wall consists of
• Circularly arranged smooth muscles
• Highly folded mucosa

Ciliated cells – help to move the oocyte

Nonciliated cells – Produce secretions
Uterine tubes

Functions
1. Capture the oocytes by its fimbriae
2. Transport the oocyte towards the uterus by the
contraction of smooth muscles and cilliary action of the
mucosal cells
3. Fertilization takes place in the uterine tubes
4. Transport the fertilized ovaum towards the uterus
 Uterus

• Located in the pelvis anterior to rectum & postero-superior to

urinary bladder.
• Thick walled, hollow, muscular structure(myometrium) lined
by a mucosa(endometrium)
 Uterus
• Body
• Fundus ( part above the openings of the uterine tubes)
• cervix ( narrow inferior 1/3 saperated from the body by the
isthmus
Cervix
• projects into the vagina
• narrow cervical canal

internal os external os

uterine body vagina

 Position of the uterus

Usually
Anteverted & Antiflexed

Angle Angle
between the between
vaginal axis the
& cervical cervical
axis axis and
axis of the
uterine
body

Position may be retoverted & retroflexed

Supports of the uterus

• Muscles of the pelvic diaphragm ( levator ani muscle )

• Muscles of the urogenital diaphragm
Supports of the uterus
• Ligaments attached to uterus and cervix

• Broad ligament
• Round ligaments
• Lateral cervical ligaments
( cardinal ligaments)
• Uterosacral ligaments
 Uterine wall – composed of three layers
1. Perimetrium ( viceral layer of perotoneum )

posteriorly Reflected anteriorly

rectum bladder

Rectouterine pouch Vesicouterine pouch

2. Myometrium

Bundles of smooth muscles arranged in all

directions
During pregnancy smooth muscles

increase the size increase in number

Hypertrophy Hyperplasia

Contractions expel the baby from the uterus

Endometrium – epithelium with simple tubular glands
Stratum functionalis
• contains coiled tubular glands
• undergo cyclic changes in response
to ovarian hormones
• shed during menstruation

Stratum basalis
• contains the tips of the tubular glands
• do not respond to ovarian hormones
• is not shed during menstruation
• forms the new functional layer after
menstruation
Endometrial blood supply

Stratum functionalis by
spiral arteries

Stratum basalis by
straight arteries

Spasm of the spiral

arteries causes
shedding of the
functional layer
(menstruation)
 Endometrial cycle

Menstrual phase Proliferative phase Secretory phase

Shedding of functional Ovarian oestrogen Ovarian progesterone

layer of mucosa
The epithelium starts The epithelium
to grow becomes secretory
Glands are formed Glands become
which are straight coiled
tubules
Pituitary gonadotrophin
cycle

Ovarian cycle

Uterine cycle
 Uterine cervix
Less smooth muscles
More dense
connective
tissue (85%)
Supra vaginal part
lined by columnar
epitheliums with
mucous glands
Mucus acts as a
barrier for bacteria and Vaginal part is lined by a stratified
lubricate the vagina squamous epithelium
Vagina
• Extends from the uterine cervix to the vestibule
• Directed upwards & backwards
• Bladder & urethra is anterior to it
• Rectum & anal canal posterior to it
 Vagina
Vaginal fornix – recess of the
upper end of the vagina
around the uterine cervix

• Two lateral fornices

• anterior fornix
• posterior fornix

• much deeper
• related to recto-uterine

pouch ( Douglas )
Vagina

The wall has three layers

1. Outer fibroelastic adventia – usually vagina is collapsed
But can expand enormously during child birth and
intercourse
2. Muscular layer – mainly longitudinal smooth muscles
3. Mucosa – Stratified squamous epithelium
no glands ( lubricated by cervical glands)

Glycogen is metabolized to lactic acid by normal vaginal bacteria

Vaginal acidity prevents infections
 External genitalia (vulva)
• Mons pubis – fatty rounded area
• labia majora – elongated fatty
skin folds
• labia minora – fat free folds of
skin. Contain some
erectile tissue
• Vestibule – area between the labia
minora. Urethra & vagina open here. Vaginal orifice
in virgins is covered with a incomplete membrane
(hymen)
• Clitoris – composed of erectile
tissue. Very sensitive
hooded by the prepuce
of the clitoris

Greater vestibular glands

situated at the vaginal orifice
in the superficial perineal space.
Ducts open to vestibule.
Secretions lubricate the vulva
 Mammary gland
• compound tubuloalveolar gland
• located in the superficial fascia
• over pectoral region
Areola – ring of
pigmented skin with
modified sebaceous
glands
Nipple – composed
of smooth muscles
 • Divided in to 15-20
lobes connective tissue
septa
• each lobe has lobules
containing secretory
alveoli
• glands open on the
summit of the nipple by
way of lactiferous ducts
Before puberty – few ducts
• during lactation
After puberty – more ducts & more fat
secretes milk
During pregnancy & lactation – more
secretory units
After menopause – atrophy of ducts & less fat