Woman’s Reproductive System

A woman’s reproductive system includes:
– The vagina
– The uterus
– Two uterine tubes
– Two ovaries

The vagina

• Is sexual passage of the female from the vulva to the uterus
• Measures approx: 7 cm (3 inch) anterior and 10 cm (4 inch) posterior and 2 cm (<1 inch) in diameter
• During sex it stretches several inches longer and many inches wider
• The inner surface is folded to provide greater elasticity and to increase friction during sex
• Produce watery secretions to lubricate
• Have an acidic pH <4.5 to prevent the growth of bacteria and yeast

Related Maintaining a healthy vaginal pH

The Uterus, AKA womb or the house of the baby during pregnancy

• Is a pear-shaped organ
• The size of a closed fist
• Very distensible organ (can expand to the size of a full term baby!)

Parts of the uterus:

Cervix

• Connects the uterus to the vagina
• Acts as a sphincter muscle to control flow of fluids

Os

• Acts as a sphincter muscle to control flow of fluids
• External os is proximal to the vagina
• Internal os is proximal to the uterine cavity

Uterine body

• Wider area of the uterus
• Superior to the cervix
• Is where implantation occurs
• Has thicker walls to protect and support the growing baby
• The 2 uterine tubes extend from the corners of the fundus in the superior area of the uterus is where

Two uterine tubes (previously called fallopian tubes)

• Are long narrow tubes connecting the ovaries to the uterus
• Measures approx: 10 cm (4 inch)
• Support ligaments: broad and suspensory
• Produce slow, steady contractions in response to hormones, and ready to pick up the released egg into the infundibulum and carry it towards the uterus

Parts of each uterine tube:

1. Isthmus
2. Fertilized eggs normally attach and develop
3. Ampulla
4. Where implantation takes place
5. Infundibulum (funnel-shaped)
6. At the end has fimbriae (finger-like projections) that to reach the surface of the ovary

Two Ovaries

• 2 tiny glands/gonads (Almond-sized)
• Responsible for the production of eggs and hormones that control reproduction
• Each ovary contains from 200,000 to 400,000 follicles