Female Reproducve Anatomy • Ovaries are the primary female reproducve organs

• Make female gametes (ova) • Secrete female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) • Accessory ducts include • uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina • Internal genitalia • Ovaries and the internal ducts • External genitalia • External sex organs

Female Reproducve Anatomy

Figure 27.11

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 1 Ovaries

• Blood supply • Ovarian arteries and the ovarian branch of the uterine artery • Consist of • Germinal epithelium • Layer of simple cuboidal epithelium • Covers outside of ovaries • Connuous with peritoneum

Ovaries

• Tunica albuginea • Capsule of fibrous connecve ssue, deep to germinal • Stroma • Connecve ssue deep to tunica albuginea • Cortex • Outer dense layer of stroma containing ovarian follicles • Medulla • Inner loose CT layer of stroma

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 2 Ovaries • Each follicle • Consists of an immature egg called an oocyte • In adult woman • One folicle matures each month (typically) • Ruptures, releasing the oocyte • Ovulaon • In various stages of development include • Primary follicles, Graafian follicles, corpus luteum • Cells around the oocyte are called: • Follicle cells (one cell layer thick) • Granulosa cells (when more than one layer is present)

Ovaries • Primordial follicle • One layer of squamouslike follicle cells surrounds the oocyte • Primary follicle

• Two or more layers of cuboidal granulosa cells enclose the oocyte • Secondary follicle

• Has a fluid‐filled space between granulosa cells that coalesces to form a central antrum

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 3 Ovaries • Graafian follicle • Secondary follicle at its most mature stage • Bulges from the surface of the ovary • Ovulaon • Ejecon of the oocyte from the ripening follicle • Corpus luteum • Ruptured follicle aer ovulaon • Initally briefly a corpus hemorrhagicum • Fills with fat cells • Produces progesterone and estrogen • ~10 days • If no pregnancy occurs ‐ degenerates to corpus albicans

Ovaries

Figure 27.12

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 4 Ovarian Posion • Paired organs • On each side of the uterus • Held in place by several ligaments • Ovarian ligament • Anchors the ovary medially to the uterus

Ovarian Posion • Suspensory ligament • Anchors the ovary laterally to the pelvic wall • Ovarian arteries and nerves from PNS/ANS travel in suspensory ligament • Broad ligament • Part of parietal peritoneum • Mesosalpinx, mesovarium, mesometrium • Also suspends uterus, uterine tubes, vagina

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 5 The Ovaries

Figure 27.14a

Uterine Tubes (Fallopian Tubes or Oviducts)

• ~4 inches long • Extend superior‐laterally from uterus in between folds of broad ligament • Mesosalpinx • Isthmus • Short, narrow, thick walled poron at aachment to uterus • Ampulla • Distal end • Widest and longest poron • Curves around ovary

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 6 Uterine Tubes (Fallopian Tubes or Oviducts)

• Infundibulum • Funnel‐shaped • Osum ‐ opening • Fimbrae ‐ fingerlike projecons around osum • Collect ovum from ovary • Does not touch ovary

Uterine Tube Histology • Three layers • Inner layer ‐ mucosa • Beang cilia on the fimbriae • Create currents to carry the oocyte into the uterine tube • Carried toward the uterus by peristalsis and ciliary acon • Nonciliated cells • Keep the oocyte and the sperm nourished and moist

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 7 Uterine Tube Histology

• Three layers • Middle layer • Thick circular, thin longitudinal smooth muscle • Peristalc contracon • Outer layer • Serosa

Uterus

• Site of • Menstruaon, implantaon, development, labor, delivery • Hollow, thick‐walled organ • Located in the pelvis • Anterior to the rectum and posterosuperior to the bladder • Subdivisions • Fundus – rounded region superior to the entrance of the uterine tubes • Body – major, tapering poron of uterus • Isthmus – narrowed region between the body and cervix

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 8 Uterus

• Cervix • Narrow neck which projects into the vagina inferiorly • Cervical canal – cavity of the cervix that communicates with: • The vagina via the external os • The uterine body via the internal os • Anteversion • Fundus and body of uterus flexed anteriorly relave to cervix • Retroversion ‐ opposite

Uterine Wall • Composed of three layers • Perimetrium • Outermost serous layer • Visceral peritoneum • Laterally becomes broad ligament • Myometrium • Middle layer • Interlacing layers of smooth muscle • Thickest in fundus • Thinnest in cervix

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 9 Uterine Wall

• Endometrium • Mucosal lining of the uterine cavity • Two principal layers • Stratum funconalis (funconal layer) • Undergoes developmental changes during menstrual cycle • Each month thickens and becomes engorged with blood in prep for implantaon • Stratum basale (basal layer) • Permenant layer • Responsible for ongoing producon of funconal layer following menstruaon • Thick lamina propria

Uterine Wall

(endometrial)

(functional layer)

(basal layer)

Figure 27.15b

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 10 Supports of the Uterus • Lateral cervical (or cardinal) ligaments • Extend from the cervix and superior part of the vagina to the lateral walls of the pelvis • Uterosacral ligaments • Paired ligaments that secure the uterus to the sacrum • Round ligaments • Between layers of broad ligament • Bind the anterior wall to the subcutaneous labia majora through the inguinal canal

Vagina

• Canal • Internally between bladder and rectum • Extends from cervix to exterior of body • 3 layers • Inner (mucosa) ‐ strafied squamous epithelium • With transverse rugae • Middle ‐ longitudinal smooth muscle • Outer ‐ Fibroelasc advena

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 11 Vagina

• Vaginal fornix – upper end of the vagina surrounding the cervix • 3 parts ‐ anterior, lateral, posterior • Introitus ‐ vaginal orifice • Mucosa near the vaginal orifice forms an incomplete paron • Hymen • No mucous glands • Mucous from cervix • Secretes glycogen • Metabolizes into lacc acid • Low pH checks microbial growth

Vagina

Figure 27.16

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 12 External Genitalia: Vulva (Pudendum) • Female external genitalia and includes • Mons pubis, labia, clitoris, and vesbular structures • Mons pubis • Round, fay area overlying the pubic symphysis • Labia majora • Elongated, hair‐covered (outer surface), fay skin folds • Homologous to the male scrotum • Large amount of sebaceous glands • Labia minora • Hair‐free skin folds lying within the labia majora • Homologous to the ventral penis • Highly vascular

Chapter 27: Reproductive System 13