Anatomy and Physiology The female reproductive system consists of a pair of ovaries, a pair of oviducts, uterus, vagina and

vulva. The main functions of the female reproductive system are to produce eggs, receive the sperms, provide the site for fertilization, implantation of the growing embryo and development of the fetus. It also produces hormones that control the various stages of ovulation and maintenance of pregnancy.

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 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 is a 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 the lower end the cervix opens into the vaginal canal that opens to the outside. The uterine wall has three layers. They are the 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 implantation 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 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 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.