Female Reproductive System

Adolescence  Puberty  Burst of hormones activate maturation of the ovaries  Begins: 8-13 yrs of age

Function of Female Reproductive System  Produce sex hormones  Produce functioning gametes [ova]  Support & protect developing embryo

General Physical Changes An increase in hormone production causes:  Pubic hair growth  Widening of hips, Development of breasts  Onset of first menstrual period

ovaries  Each ovary is the shape of an almond. In young women the ovaries are about 1½ - 2 inches long, 1 inch wide  they produce eggs and release one per every 28 day cycle.  they also produce hormones: Estrogen & Progesterone month in fertile women..

fallopian tubes [uterine tubes]  stretch from the uterus to the ovaries  About the diameter of a strand of thin spaghetti.  The ends of the fallopian tubes lying next to the ovaries feather into ends called fimbria  Millions of tiny hair-like cilia line the fimbria and interior of the fallopian tubes. The cilia beat in waves hundreds of times a second catching the egg at ovulation and moving it through the tube to the uterus.  Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tube

Ovulation

uterus  pear-shaped muscular organ in the upper female reproductive tract.  The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus; serves as a sphincter to keep the uterus closed during pregnancy until it is time to deliver a baby.  the uterus grows to from 10 to 20 times its normal size during pregnancy.

uterus  firm outer coat of muscle (myometrium) and an inner lining (endometrium).  The endometrium thickens during the menstrual cycle to allow implantation of a fertilized egg.  Pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants successfully into the endometrial lining. If fertilization does not occur, the endometrium sloughs off and is expelled as menstrual flow.

The Vagina  functions as a two-way street, accepting the penis and sperm during intercourse and roughly nine months later, serving as the avenue of birth through which the new baby enters the world

Mammary Glands [ breasts]  Present in both sexes - normally only functional in females  Slightly below center of each breast is a ring of pigmented skin, the areola - this surrounds the nipple  Each lobe is composed of smaller lobules- these contain alveoli that produce milk when a women is lactating  non-pregnant women – glands are undeveloped - hence breast size is largely due to the amount of fat deposits