Sex can Wait- Lesson 10 – Female Reproductive System

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Cervix The narrow, lower end of the uterus that opens into the vagina Sometimes called the “neck” of the womb because of its pear shape

Cilia Tiny hair-like projections on the inside of the fallopian tubes The sweeping motion of the cilia move the egg through the fallopian tube to the uterus

Conception The beginning of new life, marked by fertilization of an ovum by a sperm

Fallopian tubes These narrow tubes are the passageways from the ovaries to the uterus and the place where the male’s sperm can fertilize the female’s ovum The fertilized egg or ovum will implant itself in the lining of the uterus and develop into a fetus

Fertilization The moment an egg (ovum) and a sperm unite Generally fertilization takes place in the fallopian tubes

Fetus The term used to refer to the unborn child from the ninth week of pregnancy

Follicle A capsule in which an ovum or egg cell develops within the ovary When the ovum is mature, it bursts through the follicle and starts its trip down the fallopian tube to the uterus

Hymen The thin connective membrane covering all or part of the opening of the vagina

Labia Soft, liplike folds of tissue that surroungd the other sex organs Labia majora- outer folds, protect the more sensitive parts of the vulva; Labia minora – inner folds surround the vaginal opening

Menarche The first menstrual period of a female; begins during puperty

Menstruation The phase of the menstrual cycle in which the thick inner lining of the uterus sloughs off andis discharged, along with the unfertilized egg, through the vagina This process occurs at about monthly interals if an egg is not fertilized by a sperm Also called “period”

Mons Pubis The soft, fatty tissue over the pubic bone that becomes covered with hair at puberty

Ovaries The glands which produce the females eggs and sex hormone (estrogen) Female born with about 400,000 eggs After puberty, one egg each month develops in a capsule called a follicle inside the ovary When egg is mature, it is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube This is called ovulation

Ovum The egg cell produced in the ovary of a female It is about the size of a grain of sand

Ovulation The release of a mature egg from the follicle of an ovary This happens about once month from the onset of puberty

Uterus The pear shaped, hollow organ in which the baby develops The uterus is muscular and can stretch as the fetus grows bigger and needs more room The uterus is also called the womb

Vagina The tunnel-like structure through which menstrual blood and babies leave the female body

Vulva The name for the external female sex organs

Menstrual cycle Shedding of the uterine lining through the vagina, lasting anywhere from 3 to 7 days The first day of menstrual flow is considered the beginning of the menstrual cycle 28 day cycle is average, a 21 to 30 day cycle may occur

Menstrual cycle PMS – Premenstrual syndrome – produced by hormone changes in the body – can occur 10 days before mensruation Fatigue, anxiety, irritability, a feeling of puffiness, headache, depression, craving sweets Exercise, eliminating caffeine, recommended

Menstrual cycle Follicle stimulating hormone helps mature ovum(egg) and releases estrogen which causes thickening of endometrium if egg is fertilized it will implant in endometruim if egg not fertilized, then egg and endometrium will slough off and pass during menstrual cycle