Female Reproductive System
The role of the female reproductive system is to… Produce eggs If egg is fertilized, nourish the developing baby until birth.
Female Reproductive System
Ovaries The ovaries are the female gonads. Their purpose is to produce female gametes (eggs) and female hormones (estrogen). There are two ovaries, one on each side of the lower abdomen.
Estrogen causes secondary female sex characteristics to develop (wide hips, body hair, enlarged breasts) Estrogen
Path of an Ova At birth, a female has about 2 million immature eggs (ovum) in her ovaries. Beginning at puberty, a single egg matures and is released from the ovary each month. Ovaries alternate releasing eggs each month. Approximately 400 eggs mature during a female’s lifetime. When released, the ova goes into the oviduct or fallopian tube.
Fallopian Tube The fallopian tubes extend from each side of the uterus. The fringed projections at the upper end of each fallopian tube surround each ovary. If the egg is fertilized by a sperm, this is where is happens.
The Egg then travels to the uterus or womb The uterus is a hollow, muscular organ about the size of a pear. If the egg has been fertilized, it remains in the uterus and becomes embedded in the lining of the uterus. If it isn’t fertilized, it breaks down and leaves the uterus through the opening of it’s base called the cervix.
The cervix is a muscular ring between the uterus and the vagina.
The vagina is a tube which leads from the uterus to the outside of the body.
The Menstrual Cycle It is a 28 day cycle. One egg matures and is released from the ovary and the uterus prepares to receive it. The entire cycle is controlled by hormones. Ovulation is the maturing and releasing of an egg from the ovary.
Days 1-4 Days 23-28 Days 5-13 Days 16-22 Days 14-15 Menstrual discharge of blood and tissue from uterus Hormone levels further decrease Days 23-28 Egg enters uterus Days 5-13 Developing egg; hormones thicken lining of uterus (estrogen + LH + FSH) Hormone levels decrease Days 16-22 Egg moves through fallopian tube; hormones are released to further thicken lining of uterus (estrogen + progesterone) Days 14-15 Ovulation! Pregnancy occurs now
The Menstrual Cycle 1. Menstruation 2. Egg matures (FSH, LH produced) and uterine lining thickens (estrogen produced) 3. Ovulation egg is released from ovary DANGER ZONE 4. Uterine lining continues to thicken (estrogen and progesterone produced) 5. Unfertilized egg/zygote enters uterus hormone levels drop 6. Hormone levels continue to drop until menstruation