Female Sexual Anatomy

Includes: – Biological sex (male or female) – Sexual anatomy and physiology – Sexual functioning and practices – Social and sexual interactions with others – Sexual orientation – Complex, interacting group of inborn, biological characteristics & acquired behaviors people learn in the course of growing up in a particular family, community and society Sexuality

All of the women in the above photos have “normal” bodies. Individual differences in weight and size and shape of hips, breasts, and thighs, and even pubic hair are normal.

The External Sex Organs Vulva – external female sex organs Mons Veneris – protective, fatty cushion over the pubic bone; covered with pubic hair Labia Majora – outer lips; tissue folds from mons to perineum surrounding the rest of the female genitals; engorge with blood if excited – Outer: covered with pubic hair; pigmented – Inner: hairless; oil glands

The female vulva comes in various sizes and shapes, and the color and quantity of pubic hair vary as well.

External Sex Organs Labia Minora – inner lips; pink tissue folds between vestibule and labia majora; no hair; many oil glands; darkens if sexually aroused – In some cultures, the elongation of the labia minora is considered to be highly erotic & females are told to pull on it from early childhood. – Some have been known to protrude as much as 7 inches. Clitoris – small erectile tissue beneath the clitoral hood; rich in blood supply and nerve endings; solely to provide sexual pleasure, primarily via indirect stimulation – Circumcision

External Sex Organs Bartholin’s Glands – during prolonged stimulation, these glands contribute a few drops of alkaline fluid to the inner surfaces to counteract the normal acidity of the outer vagina because sperm cannot live in an acidic environment. Anus – external opening of the rectum Perineum – tissue between anus and vagina – Often tears during childbirth, so doctors often make an incision in it called an episiotomy before childbirth. – Husband’s Knot

Figure 5.1 The external genital structures of the mature female.

Smegma Thickened secretions that can accumulate beneath the clitoral hood and result in discomfort during sexual intercourse by causing the glans to stick to the clitoral hood. Remedy - bath

External Sex Organs Vaginal Opening – Vaginal and urethral openings are visible only if the labia minora are parted – Area between two labia minora is sometimes referred to as the vesibular area, which is latin for “entrance hall” and the vaginal opening as the introitus which is latin for “entrance” – Very sensitive to touch (not open orifice) – Surrounded by bulbocavernosus muscle which is a ring of sphincter muscles similar to anus – Sexually inexperienced women may have involuntary contractions the make penetration painful/difficult – Sexually experienced women can learn to voluntarily contract or relax these muscles to increase pleasure of their partners

Vestibular Bulbs – Located underneath the sphincter muscles on both sides of the vaginal opening, also help grip the penis by swelling with blood during sexual arousal. Hymen – Thin membrane that partially covers the opening to the vagina – Greek god of marriage – Only found in human females – Before birth, it separates the vagina from urinary system – Ruptures after birth, but remains partially

Breasts Not part of female reproductive system Highly erotic in this society Develop at puberty as a result of hormones – secondary sex characteristics Gynecomastia Adult females have mammary glands each breast Separate duct connects gland to nipple which is made of smooth muscle fibers with nerve fibers With arousal, smooth muscle fibers contract and nipples become erect

Breasts Areola – darkened area around nipple Small bumps on areola secrete oil to lubricate for breast- feeding Breast size varies

The female breast is mostly fatty tissue and can take various shapes and sizes.

Internal Female Anatomy Vagina – Located behind bladder and in front of rectum – Depository for sperm and as birth canal – Has 3 layers Inner layer – soft mucosal surface; before puberty, walls are thin and inelastic puberty and (hormones) cause it walls to thicken and become less elastic and vascularized Lubrication during arousal causes walls of opening to become engorged with blood with the resulting pressure causing fluid to be secreted from mucosal lining

Vagina Self-cleaning organ – Harmful bacteria from outside are destroyed by other bacteria that are naturally found in vagina – Walls of vagina continually secrete fluid to help maintain acidic environment – Musky odor Vaginal odors act as a sexual stimulant to most mammals – Inner two-thirds are relatively insensitive to touch – Inner walls are surrounded by a large muscle, pubococcygeus (PC) muscle which is full of nerves – Sensitivity comes from strength of muscle – Kegal Exercises – G spot (level with top of pubic bone about 1/3 or halfway in from opening)

Uterus – 1-inch thick walls, hollow, muscular organ between the bladder and rectum; monthly cycle of change; menstruation, protects fetus, contractions to expel menses and fetus; 3 inches long, 2 inches wide – Where a fertilized egg attaches itself and becomes an embryo and fetus – 3 uterine wall layers: Perimetrium – external cover Myometrium – strong middle layer of muscles Endometrium – where fertilized egg implants

Uterus Cervix – Narrow end of uterus, projects into back of vagina and can be felt by finger – Glands within cervix secrete mucus through the female’s menstrual cycle – Opening is no wider than matchstick, but it dilates up to 10 cm Fundus – Broad part of uterus

Uterus Endometrium thickens and becomes rich in blood vessels after ovulation, is sloughed off and discharged from body during menstruation if fertilization doesn’t occur

Fallopian Tubes Tubes or oviducts extend 4 inches laterally from sides of uterus No physical connection between fallopian tubes and ovaries, but fingerlike projections at end of tubes called fimbria brush against ovaries and move them toward tubes Sperm fertilizes egg within tube Fertilized egg continues its 3-4 day trip through the tube and implants in uterus

Ovaries Female gonads and develop from same embryonic tissue as male gonads Suspended on sides of uterus Functions: produce eggs or ova and produce female hormone estrogen and progesterone All eggs are present at birth Puberty causes follicles to mature on monthly basis Mature follicle is Graafian follicle Ends at menopause

Figure 5.3 The female internal reproductive system (side view).

THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE RELEASE OF A MATURE OVUM AT OVULATION. THE OVUM (RED) IS SURROUNDED BY REMNANTS OF CELLS AND LIQUID FROM THE RUPTURED OVARIAN FOLLICLE. MATURE OVA DEVELOP IN THE OVARIES FROM FOLLICLES THAT REMAINED DORMANT UNTIL SEXUAL MATURITY.

The female internal reproductive system (front view).