
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:
- Isthmus
- Fertilized eggs normally attach and develop
- Ampulla
- Where implantation takes place
- Infundibulum (funnel-shaped)
- 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
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