Structure and function

1. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
By
Rani I. Gurudasani
M.pharm

2. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
The functions of the female reproductive system are:
 Formation of ova
 Reception of spermatozoa
 Produces female sex hormones that maintain the reproductive cycle.
 Provision of suitable environments for fertilisation and fetal development
 Parturition (childbirth)
 Lactation, the production of breast milk, which provides complete
nourishment for the baby in its early life.

3. The female reproductive system consists of:
1. A pair of ovaries
2. A pair of Fallopian tubes
(uterine tubes)
3. Uterus
4. Vagina
5. The external genitalia.
6. Pair of the mammary glands

4. 1. OVARIES
Structure:
• Oval-shaped glands that are located on either side of the
uterus.
• They are 2.5–3.5 cm long, 2 cm wide and 1 cm thick.
• Ovaries are connected to the pelvic wall and uterus by
ligaments.

5. 1. OVARIES
Histology:
1. The ovaries have two layers of tissue. Medulla and
Cortex
2. Medulla: This lies in the centre and consists of
fibrous tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
3. Cortex: This surrounds the medulla. It has a
framework of connective tissue, or stroma, covered
by germinal epithelium. It contains ovarian
follicles in various stages of maturity.
4. Each ovary has a hilus(opening) for blood vessels
and nerves enter.
Fig.: Histology Ovary

6. OVARIES
5. Primordial follicle: primary oocyte is surrounded by follicular cells
and is called as Primordial follicle.
6. Primary follicle: At puberty primordial follicle converted into
primary follicle
7. Secondary follicle: When antrum is developed in follicle, the follicle
is termed as secondary follicle.
8. Corpus luteum: When egg is released from follicle, the ruptured
follicle is called as corpus luteum which secrets estrogen and
Progesteron.
9. Corpus Albicans: when egg not get fertilized then corpus luteum
converted into corpus albicans.

7. OVARIES
Functions:
• Ovaries produce the female gamete (ovum).
• Ovaries produce hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

8. 2. FALLOPIAN TUBES:
Structure:
• The uterine (Fallopian) tubes are about 10 cm long and extend
from the sides of the uterus between the body and the fundus.
• The uterine tubes are covered with peritoneum (broad
ligament), have a middle layer of smooth muscle and are lined
with ciliated epithelium.
• The end of each tube has finger like projections called
fimbriae.

9. 2. FALLOPIAN TUBES:
Functions:
• Fallopian tubes carry egg from ovaries to uterus.
• Fertilization of an egg by a sperm, normally occurs in the
fallopian tubes.
• The fertilized egg then moves to the uterus, where it
implants into the lining of the uterine wall.

10. 3. UTERUS:
• Structure:
1.The uterus is a hollow muscular pear-shaped organ.
2.It lies in the pelvic cavity between the urinary bladder and the
rectum.
3.It is about 7.5 cm long, 5 cm wide and its walls are about 2.5 cm
thick.
4.It weighs between 30 and 40 grams.
5.The parts of the uterus are the fundus, body and cervix.
6.Fundus. This is the dome-shaped part of the uterus above the
openings of the uterine tubes.

11. 3. UTERUS:
7.Body. This is the main part. It is narrowest inferiorly at
the internal os where it is continuous with the cervix.
8.Cervix (‘neck’ of the uterus). This protrudes through the
anterior wall of the vagina, opening into it at the
external os.
9.The walls of the uterus are composed of three layers of
tissue: perimetrium, myometrium and endometrium.
I. Perimetrium: This is outer layer of uterus. This is peritoneum, which is
distributed differently on the various surfaces of the uterus.
II. Myometrium: This is the thickest layer of tissue in the uterine wall. It is a
mass of smooth muscle fibres interlaced with areolar tissue, blood vessels
and nerves.

12. 3. UTERUS:
III. Endometrium: This consists of columnar epithelium covering
a layer of connective tissue containing a large number of
mucus-secreting tubular glands. It is divided functionally into
two layers:
a) The functional layer is the upper layer and it thickens and
becomes rich in blood vessels in the first half of the menstrual
cycle. If the ovum is not fertilised and does not implant, this
layer is shed during menstruation.
b) The basal layer lies next to the myometrium, and is not lost
during menstruation. It is the layer from which the fresh
functional layer is regenerated during each cycle.

13. 3. UTERUS:
Functions:
• Functions in menstruation, implantation of
zygote, development of the fetus, and labor.
• Also part of the pathway for sperm to reach
ovum.

14. 4. VAGINA:
Structure:
1. Canal that joins the cervix (the lower part of uterus) to the
outside of the body
2. Also is known as the birth canal
3. The vaginal wall has three layers: an outer covering of areolar
tissue, a middle layer of smooth muscle and an inner lining of
stratified squamous epithelium that forms ridges or rugae.
4. Capable of considerable distention (stretching)
5. It has no secretory glands but the surface is kept moist by
cervical secretions.

15. 4. VAGINA:
Functions:
• Passageway for sperm and menstrual flow.
• Vagina provides an elastic passageway through which the
baby passes during childbirth.

16. 5. THE EXTERNAL GENITALIA:
• The external genitals are collectively known as the vulva.
• It consists of the labia majora and labia minora, the clitoris,
the vaginal orifice, the vestibule, the hymen and the
vestibular glands
1. Labia majora: These are the two large folds forming the
boundary of the vulva. They are composed of skin, fibrous
tissue and fat and contain large numbers of sebaceous and
eccrine sweat glands.

17. 5. THE EXTERNAL GENITALIA:
2. Labia minora: These are two smaller folds of skin between
the labia majora, containing numerous sebaceous and eccrine
sweat glands. The labia minora serve to protect the female
urethra and the entrance to the female reproductive tract.
3. Vestibule: The cleft between the labia minora is the
vestibule.nThe vagina, urethra and ducts of the greater
vestibular glands open into the vestibule.
4. Clitoris: The clitoris corresponds to the penis in the male and
contains sensory nerve endings and erectile tissue.

18. 5. THE EXTERNAL GENITALIA:
5. Hymen: The hymen is a thin membrane that sometimes
partially covers the entrance to the vagina.
6. Vestibular glands: The vestibular glands (Bartholin’s
glands) are situated one on each side near the vaginal opening.
They are about the size of a small pea and their ducts open into
the vestibule immediately lateral to the attachment of the
hymen. They secrete mucus that keeps the vulva moist.

19. 6. MAMMARY GLANDS:
• The breasts or mammary glands are accessory glands of
the female reproductive system.
• Mammary glands called as Modified sweat glands
• The mammary glands or breasts consist of varying
amounts of glandular tissue, responsible for milk
production.
• Each breast contains about 20 lobes, each of which
contains a number of glandular structures called lobules
and these lobules produce milk.

20. 6. MAMMARY GLANDS:
Fig. Mammary gland

21. 6. MAMMARY GLANDS:
• Lobules open into tiny lactiferous ducts, which drain milk
towards the nipple.
• Breasts grow and develop under the influence of oestrogen
and progesterone.
• Function of mammary gland is to synthesize, secrete and
eject milk.