FEMALE REPRODUCTIBE SYSTEM PART 2 IN ENGLISH

                                              

                FEMALE REPRODUCTIBE SYSTEM PART 2 IN ENGLISH

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FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM PART 2

Ø  Reproduction-  Reproduction is the process of producing offspring. Human reproduction is a sexual reproduction. Reproductive system includes-

Ø  Male reproductive system 

Ø  Female reproductive system 

Ø  The organs of the female reproductive system are divided into two groups- 

Ø  Internal organs- ovary, fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina.

Ø  External organs- vulva (pudendum) and mammary glands.

CERVIX-

Ø  Cervix- The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus. It is part of uterus. It connects the vagina with the main body of the uterus and acts as a gateway between them. Anatomically and histologically, the cervix is distinct from the uterus, and hence we are discussing it separately.

Ø  The cervix is composed of two regions; the ectocervix and the endocervical canal.

Ø  The ectocervix is the portion of the cervix that projects into the vagina.  The opening in the ectocervix is known as the external os and marks the transition from the ectocervix to the endocervical canal.

Ø  The endocervical canal (or endocervix) is  inner part of the cervix. It is lined by a mucus-secreting simple columnar epithelium. The endocervical canal ends, and the uterine cavity begins, at a narrowing junction and is called the internal os. (orifice)

Ø  Cervical mucus- The secretory cells of the mucosa of the cervix produce a secretion called cervical mucus. It a mixture of water, glycoproteins, lipids, enzymes, and inorganic salts.  It is supportive to sperm at or near the time of ovulation because it is then less viscous and more alkaline (pH 8.5). At other times, a more viscous mucus forms a cervical plug that physically impedes sperm penetration.

VAGINA-

Ø  The vagina is a tubular fibromuscular canal and is lined with mucous membrane. It is approximately 10 inches long. It  extends from the exterior of the female body to the uterine cervix.

Ø  The vagina  is Situated between the urinary bladder and the rectum and acts as a –

Ø  Receptacle for the penis during sexual intercourse and sperms after ejaculation.

Ø  The outlet for menstrual flow during menstruation and

Ø  The passageway for baby during delivery.

Ø  the vagina is directed superiorly and posteriorly, where it attaches to the uterus at cervix. the fold is formed at junction point between vagina and cervix and it is called the fornix .

Ø  Mucosa of vagina consists of nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium and areolar connective tissue. It lies in a series of transverse folds called rugae. Vaginal mucus provides  acidic environment to vagina that retards microbial growth. The muscularis is composed of an outer circular layer and an inner longitudinal layer of smooth muscle.  

Ø  These muscles can stretch considerably due to presence of rugae in mucosal layer to accommodate the penis during sexual intercourse and a child during birth. The adventitia, the superficial layer of the vagina, consists of areolar connective tissue. It attaches the vagina to adjacent organs such as the urethra and urinary bladder anteriorly and the rectum and anal canal posteriorly.

Ø  There is a thin fold of vascularized mucous membrane covers the inferior end of vaginal opening. This is called the hymen. It ruptures, usually following the first sexual intercourse and only remnants of the hymen remain thereafter.

VULVA

Ø  The term vulva  or pudendum refers to the external genitals of the female. The following components comprise the vulva:

Ø  Mons pubis

Ø  Labia majora and minora

Ø  Clitoris

Ø  Vestibule

Ø  Mons pubis- It is an elevation of adipose tissue covered by skin and coarse pubic hair that cushions the pubic symphysis.

Ø  Labia majora- these are two folds of skin that extends from mons inferiorly and posteriorly. The labia majora are covered by pubic hair and contain an abundance of adipose tissue, sebaceous (oil) glands, and sweat glands.

Ø  Labia minora- The labia minora are narrow skin folds lying inside the labia majora. The labia minora merge anteriorly with the prepuce and frenulum of the clitoris and posteriorly with the labia majora. The labia minora contain sebaceous and sweat glands but no hair follicles, and there is no underlying adipose tissue.

Ø  Clitoris- The clitoris is located anterior to the labia minora. The clitoris  is a small cylindrical mass composed of two small erectile bodies, the corpora cavernosa, and numerous nerves and blood vessels. A layer of skin called the prepuce of the clitoris is formed at the point where the labia minora unite and covers the body of the clitoris.

Ø    The exposed terminal portion of the clitoris is the glans clitoris. On the ventral surface of the glans there is the fused junction of the labia minora known as the frenulum. The vestibule lies between the labia minora and is bounded anteriorly by the clitoris and posteriorly by the perineum.

Ø    Within the vestibule there are following structures

Ø  The external urethral orifice.

Ø  The vaginal orificeare

Ø  The hymen (if still present),and

Ø  The openings of the ducts of several glands.

Ø  On either side of the external urethral orifice there are the openings of the ducts of the paraurethral  glands. These mucus-secreting glands are embedded in the wall of the urethra.   On either side of the vaginal orifice itself are the greater vestibular (Bartholin’s) glands. Which open by ducts into a groove between the hymen and labia minora. Several lesser vestibular glands also open into the vestibule.

Ø  Both types of glands produce a small quantity of mucus during sexual arousal and intercourse that adds to cervical mucus and provides lubrication.

Ø  The bulb of the vestibule consists of two elongated masses of erectile tissue just deep to the labia on either side of the vaginal orifice. The bulb of the vestibule becomes engorged with blood during sexual arousal, narrowing the vaginal orifice and placing pressure on the penis during intercourse.

MAMMARY GLANDS (BREAST)

Ø  Each breast is a hemispheric projection of variable size anterior to the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles and attached to them by a layer of fascia composed of dense irregular connective tissue.

Ø  Each breast has one pigmented projection, known as the nipple, that has a series of closely spaced openings of ducts called lactiferous ducts, where milk emerges. The circular pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple is called the areola

Ø  A mammary gland consists of 15 to 20 lobes, or compartments, separated by a variable amount of adipose tissue. In each lobe are several smaller compartments called lobules, composed of grapelike clusters of milk-secreting glands known as alveoli. When milk is being produced, it passes from the alveoli into a series of secondary tubules and then into the mammary ducts.

Ø  Near the nipple, the mammary ducts expand to form sinuses called lactiferous sinuses (ampulla) where some milk may be stored before draining into a lactiferous duct