• 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