Female External Genitalia||Female Internal Genitalia
Development of the Female Sexual & Reproductive Organs
Anatomy
Vagina - is a fibromascular tube which gives access to the cervical canal and uterus. During sexual intercourse it envelopes the penis and during delivery the vagina is the birth canal for the infant. During these functions the vaginal walls can constrict and dilate due to the presence of smooth muscles and fibroelastic tissue. The adult vagina extends some 7-10 cm upwards and leaning towards the back. The vaginal orifice is protected by a thin mucosal fold called the hymen, which is perforated at its center.
Vulva - the external portion of the female reproductive organs. It surrounds the vaginal orifice (opening) and consists of the vestibule, the hymen, the urethral opening and Skene¡¯s gland ducts, the openings of the greater vestibular glands (Bartholin¡¯s ducts), two sets of lips or labia - labia minora and majora, and the clitoris, the mons pubis and the perineum.
Mons Pubis - a prominent cushion of hair-bearing skin and subcutaneous fat overlying the pubic bone.
Labia Majora - prominent folds of skin overlaying the deposits of subcutaneous fat, and characterized by the presence of pigmented and hair bearing skin just adjacent to the thighs. The labia majora originates from the mons pubis anteriorly and merges with the perineal body posteriorly.
Labia Minora - thin folds of hairless skin located between the labia majora on either side of the vaginal and urethral openings. The skin of the labia minora is smooth and pigmented and is composed mainly of elastic fibers and blood vessels and possess a rich innervation. Anteriorly the skin folds split to enclose the clitoris, forming an anterior prepuce and a posterior frenulum, and the posterior ends are united in a sharp fold known as the fourchette.
Vestibule - the area between the labia minora and the vagina. It extends from the clitoris to the posterior fourchette. Localised within the vestibule are the openings of the vagina, the urethra, the ducts of the Brtholin¡¯s glands and the minor vestibular glands. The part of the vestibule between the vaginal orifice and the frenulum of the labia minora forms a shallow depression termed the vestibular fossa.
Hymen - a thin and incomplete membrane of connective tissue at the junction of the vestibule and the vagina. Regular use of tampons or regular sexual intercourse will reduce the hymen to a series of irregular deviations around the vaginal opening termed carunculae myrtiformes.
Bartholin¡¯s Glands - the greater vestibular glands situated deeply within the posterior parts of the labia majora. Each gland lies just inferior and lateral to the bulbocavernosus muscle. The main duct of each Bartholin¡¯s gland opens at the lateral margin of the vagina in the lower half of the vestibule. The glands produce a clear secretion which is most noticeable during sexual arousal. The glands may be the site of infection and cysts formation at any age.
Minor vestibular glands (not shown in the diagram) - tubular structures commonly occurring around the fourchette in numbers varying from 1 to more than 100, the average number being 2-10.
Clitoris - the erectile tissue that is the equivalent of the male penis. It is situated at the apex of the vestibule anteriorly. The glans of the clitoris is partly hidden by the prepuce.
Referrence:Female Genital System(Chinese Version)
The female genitourinary system consists of internal paired ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, external mons pubis, labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, urethra, and perineal body.
Although the female urinary structures are anatomically separate from the genital structures, their anatomic proximity provides a means for cross-contamination and shared symptomatology between the two systems
Uterus Ronald A. Bergman, PhD Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
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The chief anomalous conditions of the uterus are due to defective development or imperfect fusion of the m¨¹llerian ducts, which unite to form the usual organ. Arrested development of the lower part of these fetal canals accounts for the complete absence of the uterus and vagina. Depending on the extent to which failure of fusion occurs, all degrees of doubling are produced. In the most pronounced cases, in which the m¨¹llerian ducts remain separate throughout their entire length, two completely distinct uteri and vaginae may result, each set being capable of performing the functions of the normal organs. On the other hand, a slight indentation of the fundus may be the only evidence of imperfect union. Between these extremes all gradations occur: a) the body may be completely cleft (uterus bicornis), with or without divided cervix; b) the doubling may be partial and limited to branching of the fundus; or c) the faulty fusion may be manifested by only a partitution, more or less complete, that divides the uterine cavity into two compartments (uterus eptus), although the external form of the organ is almost or quite normal.
When, occuring with any of the variations listed above, one of the component m¨¹llerian ducts fail to keep pace in its growth, all degrees of symmetrical development may result, from complete suppression of one of the tubes in a bicornate uterus to unilateral diminution of the fundus. Subsequent arrest of what began as normal development may result in permanent retention of a fetal or infantile type of uterus.
Cases of congenital absence of the os uteri, tripartite uteri, uterine diverticula, and uterus have been reported.
Vagina Ronald A. Bergman, PhD Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
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The most important variations are related to defective development and imperfect fusion of the component m¨¹llerian ducts, which are often associated with anomalies of the uterus. When these ducts fail to reach the urogenital sinus, the vagina (and often the uterus) may be absent.
Vaginal agenesis was first described by Realdus Columbus in 1572. Duplication, more or less complete, follows persistence of separate or imperfectly fused m¨¹llerian ducts. The doubling may not extend throughout the length of the vagina, but may be represented by an imperfect and partial septum, isolated bands, or a twin hymen.
Unequal development of the m¨¹llerian ducts accounts for the marked asymmetry occasionaly seen, notably in double vaginae, in which one canal may be very rudimentary, end blindly, or be essentially normal but doubled throughout.
A doubled vagina may be associated with a single uterus, although this condition is usually found in cases of doubled or bipartite uteri. In some instances, the cervices are doubled.
The vagina may be markedly foreshortened.
Reports of the vagina opening into the urethra, bladder, or rectum, or onto the abdominal wall in adults are very rare.
Pregnancy in a case of an anovaginal orifice (i.e., lack of a normal external vaginal opening) has been reported.
Mammary Gland Ronald A. Bergman, PhD Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
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The mammae frequently develop asymmetrically, the right often being larger and lower than the left. While absence of one or both mammae is very rare, with or without associated absence of the nipple, an increase in their number is relatively common occurrence. The supernumerary mammae vary in the extent to which they are developed, being represented sometimes by well-formed accessory glands (polymastia) that may become functioning organs, but more often, particularly in the male subject. Only by rudimentary nipples (polythelia) or even pigmented areas suggesting areolae. In women, polythelia may be associated with greater or less development of glandular tissue.
Doubled nipples have been reported frequently. Hyperthelia is much more common than hypermastia.
The recorded frequency of polythelia in men (14%) is very questionable. A better estimate in healthy individuals is about 4-5% with no sex differences reported. The occurrence of rudimentary supernumerary nipples is undoubtedly more common than usually recognized. Renal variations accompanied polythelia in nine of 37 (27%) subjects studied.
The usual position of the accessory mammae is below and somewhat medial to the usual glands and corresponds to the mammary line in other animals. In some cases, they may be found above and laterally, in the axillary region, especially in Japanese subjects.
The number of accessory or supernumerary glands varies: three pairs in one case, five milk-secreting organs in another, and eight glands in both sexes (1-2% of females and males) have been recorded. They are often asymmetrically placed and not uniformly developed. Comparative studies of the mammae in "lower animals" and the disposition of the supernumerary organs in the human subject suggest the probability that remote human ancestors normally possessed more than two glands; the occasional occurrence of the variant mammae in positions anticipated by the milk-ridges, rudimentary organs sometimes occupy very unusual locations, including the back, lateral thorax, neck, shoulder, inner aspect of the arm, axilla, buttocks, hip, thigh and labium majus.
Massive hypertrophy has been reported, with a combined weight of 124 lbs, with one gland weighing 63 lbs in a 13-year-old girl whose remaing weight was less than the combined weight of the two glands. Excessively large breasts may lead to hyperesthesia in the ulnar nerve distribution in hands (a variant of thoracic outlet syndrome). Micromastia has also been reported.
Hermaphroditism Ronald A. Bergman, PhD Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
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Cases of individuals with a functional ovary and uterus (with monthly bleeding) and with a penis., testicle (with spermiogenesis), epididymis, seminal vesicle, and prostate have been reported.
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Female Reproductive System http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/female_reproductive_system.html
All living things reproduce. Reproduction - the process by which organisms make more organisms like themselves - is one of the things that sets living things apart from nonliving matter. But even though the reproductive system is essential to keeping a species alive, unlike other body systems, it's not essential to keeping an individual alive.
In the human reproductive process, 2 kinds of sex cells, or gametes, are involved. The male gamete, or sperm, and the female gamete, the egg or ovum, meet in the female's reproductive system to create a new individual. Both the male and female reproductive systems are essential for reproduction. The female needs a male to fertilize her egg, even though it is she who carries offspring through pregnancy and childbirth.
Humans, like other organisms, pass certain characteristics of themselves to the next generation through their genes, the special carriers of human traits. The genes that parents pass along to their children are what make children similar to others in their family, but they are also what make each child unique. These genes come from the male's sperm and the female's egg, which are produced by the male and female reproductive systems.
What Is the Female Reproductive System? Most species have 2 sexes: male and female. Each sex has its own unique reproductive system. They are different in shape and structure, but both are specifically designed to produce, nourish, and transport either the egg or sperm.
Unlike the male, the human female has a reproductive system located entirely in the pelvis. The external part of the female reproductive organs is called the vulva, which means covering. Located between the legs, the vulva covers the opening to the vagina and other reproductive organs located inside the body.
The fleshy area located just above the top of the vaginal opening is called the mons pubis. Two pairs of skin flaps called the labia (which means lips) surround the vaginal opening. The clitoris, a small sensory organ, is located toward the front of the vulva where the folds of the labia join. Between the labia are openings to the urethra (the canal that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) and vagina. Once girls become sexually mature, the outer labia and the mons pubis are covered by pubic hair.
A female's internal reproductive organs are the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
The vagina is a muscular, hollow tube that extends from the vaginal opening to the uterus. The vagina is about 3 to 5 inches (8 to 12 centimeters) long in a grown woman. Because it has muscular walls, it can expand and contract. This ability to become wider or narrower allows the vagina to accommodate something as slim as a tampon and as wide as a baby. The vagina's muscular walls are lined with mucous membranes, which keep it protected and moist. The vagina serves 2 purposes: It's where the penis is inserted during sexual intercourse, and it's also the pathway that a baby takes out of a woman's body during childbirth, called the birth canal.
A thin sheet of tissue with 1 or more holes in it called the hymen partially covers the opening of the vagina. Hymens are often different from person to person. Most women find their hymens have stretched or torn after their first sexual experience, and the hymen may bleed a little (this usually causes little, if any, pain). Some women who have had sex don't have much of a change in their hymens, though.
The vagina connects with the uterus, or womb, at the cervix (which means neck). The cervix has strong, thick walls. The opening of the cervix is very small (no wider than a straw), which is why a tampon can never get lost inside a girl's body. During childbirth, the cervix can expand to allow a baby to pass.
The uterus is shaped like an upside-down pear, with a thick lining and muscular walls - in fact, the uterus contains some of the strongest muscles in the female body. These muscles are able to expand and contract to accommodate a growing fetus and then help push the baby out during labor. When a woman isn't pregnant, the uterus is only about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) long and 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide.
At the upper corners of the uterus, the fallopian tubes connect the uterus to the ovaries. The ovaries are 2 oval-shaped organs that lie to the upper right and left of the uterus. They produce, store, and release eggs into the fallopian tubes in the process called ovulation. Each ovary measures about 1 1/2 to 2 inches (4 to 5 centimeters) in a grown woman.
There are 2 fallopian tubes, each attached to a side of the uterus. The fallopian tubes are about 4 inches (10 centimeters) long and about as wide as a piece of spaghetti. Within each tube is a tiny passageway no wider than a sewing needle. At the other end of each fallopian tube is a fringed area that looks like a funnel. This fringed area wraps around the ovary but doesn't completely attach to it. When an egg pops out of an ovary, it enters the fallopian tube. Once the egg is in the fallopian tube, tiny hairs in the tube's lining help push it down the narrow passageway toward the uterus.
The ovaries are also part of the endocrine system because they produce female sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.
What Does the Female Reproductive System Do? The female reproductive system enables a woman to:
produce eggs (ova) have sexual intercourse protect and nourish the fertilized egg until it is fully developed give birth Sexual reproduction couldn't happen without the sexual organs called the gonads. Although most people think of the gonads as the male testicles, both sexes actually have gonads: In females the gonads are the ovaries. The female gonads produce female gametes (eggs); the male gonads produce male gametes (sperm). After an egg is fertilized by the sperm, the fertilized egg is called the zygote.
When a baby girl is born, her ovaries contain hundreds of thousands of eggs, which remain inactive until puberty begins. At puberty, the pituitary gland, located in the central part of the brain, starts making hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce female sex hormones, including estrogen. The secretion of these hormones causes a girl to develop into a sexually mature woman.
Toward the end of puberty, girls begin to release eggs as part of a monthly period called the menstrual cycle. Approximately once a month, during ovulation, an ovary sends a tiny egg into 1 of the fallopian tubes. Unless the egg is fertilized by a sperm while in the fallopian tube, the egg dries up and leaves the body about 2 weeks later through the uterus. This process is called menstruation. Blood and tissues from the inner lining of the uterus combine to form the menstrual flow, which in most girls lasts from 3 to 5 days. A girl's first period is called menarche.
It's common for women and girls to experience some discomfort in the days leading to their periods. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) includes both physical and emotional symptoms that many girls and women get right before their periods, such as acne, bloating, fatigue, backaches, sore breasts, headaches, constipation, diarrhea, food cravings, depression, irritability, or difficulty concentrating or handling stress. PMS is usually at its worst during the 7 days before a girl's period starts and disappears once it begins.
Many girls also experience abdominal cramps during the first few days of their periods. They are caused by prostaglandin, a chemical in the body that makes the smooth muscle in the uterus contract. These involuntary contractions can be either dull or sharp and intense.
It can take up to 2 years from menarche for a girl's body to develop a regular menstrual cycle. During that time, her body is adjusting to the hormones puberty brings. On average, the monthly cycle for an adult woman is 28 days, but the range is from 23 to 35 days.
If a female and male have sex within several days of the female's ovulation, fertilization can occur. When the male ejaculates (which is when semen leaves a male's penis), between 0.05 and 0.2 fluid ounces (1.5 to 6.0 milliliters) of semen is deposited into the vagina. Between 75 and 900 million sperm are in this small amount of semen, and they "swim" up from the vagina through the cervix and uterus to meet the egg in the fallopian tube. It takes only 1 sperm to fertilize the egg.
About a week after the sperm fertilizes the egg, the fertilized egg (zygote) has become a multicelled blastocyst. A blastocyst is about the size of a pinhead, and it's a hollow ball of cells with fluid inside. The blastocyst burrows itself into the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium. The hormone estrogen causes the endometrium to become thick and rich with blood. Progesterone, another hormone released by the ovaries, keeps the endometrium thick with blood so that the blastocyst can attach to the uterus and absorb nutrients from it. This process is called implantation.
As cells from the blastocyst take in nourishment, another stage of development, the embryonic stage, begins. The inner cells form a flattened circular shape called the embryonic disk, which will develop into a baby. The outer cells become thin membranes that form around the baby. The cells multiply thousands of times and move to new positions to eventually become the embryo. After approximately 8 weeks, the embryo is about the size of an adult's thumb, but almost all of its parts - the brain and nerves, the heart and blood, the stomach and intestines, and the muscles and skin - have formed.
During the fetal stage, which lasts from 9 weeks after fertilization to birth, development continues as cells multiply, move, and change. The fetus floats in amniotic fluid inside the amniotic sac. The fetus receives oxygen and nourishment from the mother's blood via the placenta, a disk-like structure that sticks to the inner lining of the uterus and connects to the fetus via the umbilical cord. The amniotic fluid and membrane cushion the fetus against bumps and jolts to the mother's body.
Pregnancy lasts an average of 280 days - about 9 months. When the baby is ready for birth, its head presses on the cervix, which begins to relax and widen to get ready for the baby to pass into and through the vagina. The mucus that has formed a plug in the cervix loosens, and with amniotic fluid, comes out through the vagina when the mother's water breaks.
When the contractions of labor begin, the walls of the uterus contract as they are stimulated by the pituitary hormone oxytocin. The contractions cause the cervix to widen and begin to open. After several hours of this widening, the cervix is dilated (opened) enough for the baby to come through. The baby is pushed out of the uterus, through the cervix, and along the birth canal. The baby's head usually comes first; the umbilical cord comes out with the baby and is cut after the baby is delivered. The last stage of the birth process involves the delivery of the placenta, which is now called the afterbirth. After it has separated from the inner lining of the uterus, contractions of the uterus push it out, along with its membranes and fluids.
Things That Can Go Wrong With the Female Reproductive System Your child may sometimes experience reproductive system problems. Below are some examples of disorders that affect the female reproductive system.
Things That Can Go Wrong With the Vulva and Vagina
Vulvovaginitis is an inflammation of the vulva and vagina. It may be caused by irritating substances (such as laundry soaps or bubble baths). Poor personal hygiene (such as wiping from back to front after a bowel movement) may also cause this problem. Symptoms include redness and itching in the vaginal and vulvar areas and sometimes vaginal discharge. Vulvovaginitis can also be caused by an overgrowth of Candida, a fungus normally present in the vagina. Nonmenstrual vaginal bleeding is most commonly due to the presence of a vaginal foreign body, often wadded-up toilet paper. It may also be due to urethral prolapse, a condition in which the mucous membranes of the urethra protrude into the vagina and form a tiny, doughnut-shaped mass of tissue that bleeds easily. It can also be due to a straddle injury (such as when falling onto a beam or bicycle frame) or vaginal trauma from sexual abuse. Labial adhesions, the sticking together or adherence of the labia in the midline, usually appear in infants and young girls. Although there are usually no symptoms associated with this condition, labial adhesions can lead to an increased risk of urinary tract infection. Sometimes topical estrogen cream is used to help separate the labia. Things That Can Go Wrong With the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes
Ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg, or zygote, doesn't travel into the uterus, but instead grows rapidly in the fallopian tube. If a female has this condition, she can develop severe abdominal pain and should see a doctor because surgery may be necessary. Endometriosis occurs when tissue normally found only in the uterus starts to grow outside the uterus - in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other parts of the pelvic cavity. It can cause abnormal bleeding, painful periods, and general pelvic pain. Ovarian tumors, although they're rare, can occur. Girls with ovarian tumors may have abdominal pain and masses that can be felt in the abdomen. Surgery may be needed to remove the tumor. Ovarian cysts are noncancerous sacs filled with fluid or semisolid material. Although they are common and generally harmless, they can become a problem if they grow very large. Large cysts may push on surrounding organs, causing abdominal pain. In most cases, cysts will disappear on their own and treatment is unnecessary. If the cysts are painful, a doctor may prescribe birth control pills to alter their growth, or they may be removed by a surgeon. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormone disorder in which too many male hormones (androgens) are produced by the ovaries. This condition causes the ovaries to become enlarged and develop many fluid-filled sacs, or cysts. It often first appears during the teen years. Depending on the type and severity of the condition, it may be treated with drugs to regulate hormone balance and menstruation. Ovarian torsion, or the twisting of the ovary, can occur when an ovary becomes twisted because of a disease or a developmental abnormality. The torsion blocks blood from flowing through the blood vessels that supply and nourish the ovaries. The most common symptom is lower abdominal pain. Surgery is usually necessary to correct the condition. Menstrual Problems
There are a variety of menstrual problems that can affect girls. Some of the more common conditions are:
Dysmenorrhea is when a girl has painful periods.
Menorrhagia is when a girl has a very heavy periods with excess bleeding.
Oligomenorrhea is when a girl misses or has infrequent periods, even though she's been menstruating for a while and isn't pregnant.
Amenorrhea is when a girl has not started her period by the time she is 16 years old or 3 years after starting puberty, has not developed signs of puberty by age 14, or has had normal periods but has stopped menstruating for some reason other than pregnancy.
Infections of the Female Reproductive System
Sexually transmitted diseases. These include infections and diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), human papillomavirus (HPV, or genital warts), syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and genital herpes. Most are spread from one person to another by sexual intercourse.
Toxic shock syndrome. This uncommon illness is caused by toxins released into the body during a type of bacterial infection that is more likely to develop if a tampon is left in too long. It can produce high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and shock.
If you think your child may have symptoms of a problem with her reproductive system or if you have questions about her growth and development, talk to your child's doctor - many problems with the female reproductive system can be treated.
The female sexual response includes arousal and orgasm, but there is no ejaculation. A woman may become pregnant without having an orgasm.
Follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone have major roles in regulating the functions of the female reproductive system.
At puberty, when the ovaries and uterus are mature enough to respond to hormonal stimulation, certain stimuli cause the hypothalamus to start secreting gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This
hormone enters the blood and goes to the anterior pituitary gland where it stimulates the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These hormones, in turn, affect the ovaries and uterus and the monthly cycles begin. A woman's reproductive cycles last from menarche to menopause. The monthly ovarian cycle begins with the follicle development during the follicular phase, continues with ovulation during the ovulatory phase, and concludes with the development and regression of the corpus luteum during the luteal phase.
The uterine cycle takes place simultaneously with the ovarian cycle. The uterine cycle begins with menstruation during the menstrual phase, continues with repair of the endometrium during the proliferative phase, and ends with the growth of glands and blood vessels during the secretory phase.
Menopause occurs when a woman's reproductive cycles stop. This period is marked by decreased levels of ovarian hormones and increased levels of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. The changing hormone levels are responsible for the symptoms associated with menopause.