• Female gonads• 2 small almond-shaped glands, located in the

abdominal cavity, attached to the uterus by ligaments• Contains thousands of small sacs called follicles• Each follicle contains an immature egg or ovum• Produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone• Responsible for the secondary sex characteristics –

breasts, hips widen, body hair

• The maturing and release of an egg

• Occurs every 28 days

• If egg is not fertilized, the body sheds the lining of the uterus and menstruation occurs

• 2 of them• 5 inches in length• Attached to the upper

part of the uterus• Function

• Move the ovum from the ovary to the uterus

• Cilia and peristalsis keep the ovum moving

• Site of fertilization, the union of the egg and sperm

• Hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ

• 3 parts• Fundus – top• Body – middle• Cervix – narrow bottom

• Function• Organ of menstruation• Site where the blastocyst

implants• Allows for the development and

growth of the fetus• Contracts during birth to aid in

the expulsion of the fetus

• Muscular tube that connects the cervix to the outside of the body

• Function• Passageway for menstrual

flow• Receives sperm and semen

from the male• Female organ of copulation• Birth canal during delivery of

the infant

• 2 small glands on either side of the vaginal opening

• Secretes mucous for lubrication during intercourse                                                       <>

LE 46-9a

Bartholin’s gland

Vaginal opening

Vagina

Cervix

(Rectum)

Oviduct

Ovary

Uterus

(Urinary bladder)

(Pubic bone)

Urethra

Shaft

Glans

Prepuce

Labia majora

Clitoris

Labia minora

• Collective name for the external female genitalia• Includes

• Mons pubis - pad of fat• Labia majora – outer folds of tissue • Labia minora – inner folds of tissue• Perineum – area between the vagina and anus

• Mammary glands• Contain lobes that

surface at the nipples• Function

• Secrete milk – lactate after childbirth

Female Reproductive System

• American Cancer Society recommends Self-Breast Examination every month for adult females at the end of menstruation

• Most common malignancy of US women• 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer.• Arises from epithelial cells of the ducts, small

clusters of cancer cells grow into a lump in the breast from which cells eventually metastasize.

• Risk factors:1. early onset of menopause2. no pregnancies or first pregnancy late in life3. history of breast cancer4. silicone breast implants5. high estrogen concentrations6. cigarette smoking7. excessive alcohol intake8. hereditary defects• 70% of women who develop breast cancer have no

known risk factors for the disease.

• Changes in skin texture• Puckering• Leakage from nipple• Lumps in breast

• Monthly self breast exam• Mammogram

• x-ray that can detect cancer smaller than 1 cm, recommended every 2 years from women between 40-49 and then yearly from age 50.

• ACS recommends a baseline test between 35-40

• Radiation• Chemotherapy• Surgery followed by radiation or chemo

Lumpectomy- only cancerous lump removed. Simple masectomy- removal of breast tissue only. Radical mastectomy- removal of entire affected breast, muscles, fascia, and lymph nodes.

• Lumpectomy - only cancerous lump removed.

• Simple mastectomy -removal of breast tissue only.

• Radical mastectomy -removal of entire affected breast, muscles, fascia, and lymph nodes.

SurgeriesSurgeries

• Detected by a PAP smear

• Treatment• Hysterectomy -

removal of cervix and uterus

• Growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus

• Group of symptoms that appear 3-14 days before menstruation

• Related to hormonal changes or biochemical imbalance

Oogenesis

• Production of ova in females• Begins prior to birth

LE 46-11

Primary germ cellin embryo

Mitoticdivision

Primaryoocyte

Ovary

Oogonium

DifferentiationOogoniumin ovary

Primaryoocytewithinfollicle

Growingfollicle

Secondaryoocyte

Completion of meiosis Iand onset of meiosis II

Ovulation

First polar body

Mature follicleEntry of spermtriggerscompletionof meiosis IISecond polar body

Ovum

Rupturedfollicle

Ovulatedsecondary oocyte

Corpus luteum

Degen-erating corpus luteum

Oogenesis differs from Spermatogenesis

• Oogenesis • A start – stop process• Begins prior to birth, stops, and then is completed

at fertilization

• Spermatogenesis• Continuous• Begins during puberty