29 Jul Female Pelvic Organs

•Female reproductive system: external sex organs (or genitalia) and internal reproductive organs
o Immature at birth
o Puberty: Reproductive system becomes mature.
•Vagina: Fibromuscular tube starts at the external genitalia and ends with the cervix.
o Referred to: the birth canal
o Secretes a variety of different vaginal secretions
o Help the sperm pass upwards to the cervix.
•Cervix: narrow canal
o Marks the lowermost segment of the uterus
o Referred to: the “neck” of the uterus
o Cylindrical in shape and smooth on the outermost part
o Small dimple: external cervical os
o Secretes mucus
o May be beneficial to sperm trying to travel up to the fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg.
•Uterus referred to the “womb
o Main female reproductive organ
o Receptacle: the embryo and fetus develop.
o Size of the size of the human fist
o Consists of muscle
o Lined with endometrial lining
 Primary purpose: ability to be implanted by the zygote
 Nourish the fetus as it grows
 If no egg is fertilized: endometrium sheds each month.
•Suspensory ligaments
o Help keep the uterus in place
o Uterosacral ligaments: Prevent anterior and inferior movement of the uterus
o Round ligaments prevent posterior movement of the uterus
o Cardinal ligaments prevent inferior movement of the uterus.
•Fallopian tubes: paired organs
o On either side of the female uterus
o Provide a connecting pathway from the ovaries to the uterus
o Fimbriae of the fallopian tube draw in the egg into the tube
o Cilia push the egg down the fallopian tube
o Most fertilization: in the fallopian tube
o Over several hours to several days: the fertilized egg travels to the uterus, where it implants
•Ovaries: Paired organs on either side of the uterus
o Egg-making structures inside the pelvic cavity
o Make the major female hormones
o Action of these hormones on the rest of the female reproductive tract causes the menstrual cycle to occur
o Egg: Released from mature follicle on one of the ovaries
o Forming corpus luteum: makes progesterone.
• Vulva: Sexual organso
Contribute to the female sexual response.
• Clitoris: Highly sensitive erectile mass of tissue just
o Anterior to the vaginal opening
o Main organ of sexual arousal in the female.
•Inner and outer labia: Lips on either side of the vaginal opening.
•Urethra.
•Bartholin glands: Sebaceous glands near the vagina.
•Mons pubis: Large, fatty, hair-covered mass of tissue anterior to other reproductive organs.