The female reproductive system is functionally more complex than the male reproductive system. In the male the reproductive system produces gametes and delivers them to the female reproductive system. The female reproductive system not only produces gametes and receives the gametes from the male but also under hormonal influence of HCG forms the early cell mass and later the placenta provides space and maternal nutrients for the developing conceptus. Finally the female reproductive system delivers the child into the outer environment.

The ovaries (female gonads) are the primary reproductive organs of the female. Like the testes of the male, the ovaries produce both an exocrine product (eggs, or ova) and endocrine products (estrogens and progesterone). The other accessory structures of the female reproductive system transport, house, nurture, or otherwise serve the needs of the reproductive cells and/or the developing fetus.

Ovary, Urethral orifice, Uterine Tube, Hymen, Uterus, Cervix, Vaginal Canal, Fimbriae, Clitoris, Labia minora, Labia majora

You can use the table from this link to perform the above assignment
TABLE OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN FUNCTION

Ovary, Urethral orifice, Uterine Tube, Hymen, Uterus, Cervix, Vaginal Canal, Fimbriae, Clitoris, Labia minora, Labia majora

Figure 10.11	Figure 10.12	Figure 10.13	Figure 10.14

The external genitalia consist of the labia majora and minora, the clitoris, the urethral and vaginal orifices, and the hymen. Locate two elongated, pigmented, hair-covered skin folds, the labia majora. These enclose two smaller hair-free folds, the labia minora. The labia minora, in turn, enclose a region called the vestibule, which contains many structures---the clitoris, most anteriorly, followed by the urethral orifice and the vaginal orifice.

The clitoris is a small protruding structure, composed of highly sensitive, erectile tissue. The urethral orifice, which lies posterior to the clitoris, is the outlet for the urinary system and has no reproductive function in the female. The vaginal opening is partially closed by a thin fold of mucous membrane called the hymen. The vaginal orifice is partially enclosed by a mucous membrane structure known as the hymen. The hymen variable anatomically and has historically (and sometimes incorrectly) been used as an indicator of virginity.

The internal female organs include the vagina, uterus, uterine tubes, ovaries, and the ligaments and supporting structures that suspend these organs in the pelvic cavity. The vagina extends for approximately 10 cm (4 inches) from the vestibule to the uterus superiorly. It serves as a copulatory organ and birth canal, and permits passage of the menstrual flow. The pear-shaped uterus, situated between the bladder and the rectum, is a muscular organ with its narrow end, the cervix, directed inferiorly. A fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus, which houses the embryo or fetus during its development. The uterus is a pear shaped organ with a domed fundus, a body and a circular inferior end called the cervix. The uterine tubes enter the uterus at about the junction of the fundus with the uterine body. The uterine wall is composed of three layers. The outer surface of the uterus is called the perimetrium. The majority of the uterine wall consists of the myometrium, a thick layer of smooth muscle and the innermost layer of the uterus is the endometrium.

In some cases, the fertilized egg may implant in a uterine tube or even on the abdominal viscera, creating an ectopic pregnancy. Such implantations are usually unsuccessful and may even endanger the mother’s life because the uterine tubes cannot accommodate the increasing size of the fetus.

Figure 10.15	Figure 10.16

The apical region of the endometrium, the thick mucosal lining of the uterus, sloughs off periodically (about every 28 days) in response to cyclic changes in the levels of ovarian hormones in the woman’s blood. This sloughing-off process, which is accompanied by bleeding, is referred to as menstruation, or menses. The endometrium undergoes dynamic changes during the menstrual cycle. The effects of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), from the anterior pituitary and subsequently estrogen and progesterone from the ovary, have a significant effect on the endometrium. FSH stimulates the ovarian follicles to secrete estrogens and some progesterone. Elevated levels of these hormones promote the thickening of the endometrium. After ovulation, progesterone levels increase and the endometrium cells remain intact. Toward the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone levels drop and this cause’s the functional layer of the endometrium to slough off. The loss of the endometrial layer is the beginning of a woman’s period or menstruation.

The uterine, or fallopian, tubes enter the superior region of the uterus and extend laterally for about 10 cm (4 inches) toward the ovaries in the peritoneal cavity. The distal ends of the tubes are funnel-shaped and have fingerlike projections called fimbriae. Unlike the male duct system, there is no actual contact between the female gonad and the initial part of the female duct system---the uterine tube. Each ovary is approximately 3 to 4 cm long and oblong in form. The ovaries produce oocytes, which are shed from the outer surface of the ovary during ovulation. From here the oocytes move into the uterine tube. The ovaries are not directly attached to the uterine tube, and the oocytes must move from the surface of the ovary into the distal region known as the fimbriae. These are small fingerlike projections attached to an expanded region known as the infundibulum. The waving fimbriae of the uterine tubes create fluid currents that, if successful, draw the egg into the lumen of the uterine tube, where it begins its passage to the uterus, propelled by the cilia of the tubule walls. The uterine tube also has an enlarged region known as the ampulla and a narrower portion towards the uterus. The uterus and ovaries are suspended in the pelvic cavity by a number of connective tissue sheaths called ligaments. The broad ligament anchors the uterus to the anterior body wall. The round ligament attaches the uterus to the anterior body wall at about the region of the inguinal canal. The ovarian ligament directly attaches the ovary to the uterus, and the suspensory ligaments attach the ovaries to the lumbar region.

Within the ovaries, the female gametes (eggs) begin their development in saclike structures called follicles. The growing follicles also produce estrogens. When a developing egg has reached the appropriate stage of maturity, it is ejected from the ovary in an event called ovulation. The ruptured follicle is then converted to a second type of endocrine gland, called a corpus luteum, which secretes progesterone ( and some estrogens).

The usual and most desirable site of fertilization is the uterine tube, because the journey to the uterus takes about 3 to 4 days and an egg is viable for up to 24 hours after it is expelled from the ovary. Thus, sperm must swim upward through the vagina and uterus and into the uterine tubes to reach the egg. This must be an arduous journey, because they must swim against the downward current created by ciliary action---rather like swimming against the tide!

Mucosa, Lumen, Smooth muscle, Serosa

Obtain a prepared slide of a cross-sectional view of a uterine tube for examination (Figure 10.15). Notice the highly folded mucosa. Switch to high power to examine the ciliated secretory epithelium.

C) Microscopic Uterine Wall XS

Endometrium, Myometrium, Perimetrium (serosa), Functional layer (stratum functionalis), Basal layer (stratum basalis)