Female Reproductive System

The female reproductive organs include the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina and vulva. 

Ovary: The ovaries are a pair of small, oval organs in the lower part of the abdominal cavity. They produce ova. At the time of birth, a female already has thousands of immature ova in her ovaries. Many of these degenerate during childhood. The ova start maturing when the female reaches puberty. Every 28 days, one of the ovaries releases an ovum. When an ovum is released from the ovary, it is taken up by a thin Fallopian tube (also called oviduct) through its funnel-shaped opening. The ovum is passed down the duct and into the uterus, which passes it out of the body through the vagina. The ovum is very small and, therefore, hardly noticeable.

Fallopian tube ( Oviduct ): The Fallopian tubes, or oviducts, are a pair of thin tubes that lead from the ovaries to the uterus. Each Fallopian tube has a funnel-shaped opening near the ovary. It is lined by cilia. The movement of the cilia helps conduct the ovum down the Fallopian tube and into the uterus.

Uterus: The uterus (womb) is a hollow, pear-shaped, elastic muscular structure. Its upper portion, into which the fallopian tubes enter, is broader. The narrow lower portion, called cervix, consists of a ring of muscles. The uterus opens into the vagina through the cervix. A fertilized ovum (zygote) develops into a baby inside the uterus.

Vagina: The vagina is a tube leading to the outside of the body through an opening called vulva. The vagina is the organ where the penis is inserted during intercourse for the discharge of sperms. It is also the passage through which the fully developed baby is born. The opening of the vagina in young female is partially closed by a thin membrane called hymen. The hymen is frequently ruptured in childhood due to strenuous physical exercise or disease.

Vulva :  The external female genitalia is called as vulva.It contains independent opening of urethra and vagina. The sides of vulva has two small fleshy folds, the labia minora(lesser lips) which is hidden by larger hairy folds, labia majora(greater lips). These folds are equivalent of male scrotum. In the upper most angle of vulva in front of urethral opening is located,a small erectile clitoris which is highly sensitive and equivalent to male penis.

Ovaries: Ovaries are a pair of oval structures that are present one on either side. The ovaries produce eggs, one at a time, every alternate month, The eggs are produced by the germinal epithelial cells of the ovary.

Oviducts / Fallopian tubes

Oviducts / Fallopian tubes are a pair of tubes of about 12cm in length, They run from the ovaries of each side to the uterus. At the ovarian end the tube is funnel-shaped with the end of the tube thrown into number of folds. These folds are ciliated which help to sweep the egg produced by the ovary into the fallopian tube. The fallopian tubes are the sites for fertilisation of the egg by the sperms,

Uterus

Uterus is pear-shaped structure, broader on the upper end and narrower on the lower end. The upper end is called the body of the uterus and the lower end is called the cervix. At the upper end, it receives the oviducts of either side, whereas at the lower end the cervix opens into the vaginal canal that opens to the outside. The uterine wall has three layers. They are innermost endometrium made up of several glands and blood vessels, the middle myometrium made of smooth muscles and the outer perimetrium made of connective tissue. The inner surface of the uterus provides a site for the implanation of the embryo. The uterine wall plays an important role during childbirth. Cervix is made of sphincter muscle that controls the opening and closing of the uterus.

Vagina

Vagina is a 9cm long muscular tube that receives the penis during copulation. It is lined with epithelial cells. The secretions of the vaginal canal are acidic which is not conducive to the sperms as semen is alkaline. The vaginal opening in young females is partially covered with a thin mucous membrane called hymen. This is often broken early in females during play or strenuous work.

Vulva

Vulva is the external female genitalia. It comprises of the mons veneris, which is the raised pubis. The vaginal opening has two pair of folds on either side. The outer fold is thicker with hair, sweat glands and sebaceous glands and is called labia majora, The inner folds are thinner and devoid of hair. They are called labia minora. Covered by the upper part of the folds is the female equivalent of the penis called the clitoris. It is also an erectile and highly sensitive organ. In this region are two openings-the upper urethral meatus or opening and the lower vaginal orifice.