Anatomy Of The Female
Genital Tract
Dr. Miada Mahmoud Rady
EMS – 473
Gynecological Emergency Lecture 1
1. Introduction .
2. External genital tract.
3. Internal genital tract.
4. Home work.
• Gynecology : is the branch of medicine that deals
with the diseases and care of the reproductive system
of women.
• Obstetrics : is the branch of medicine that deals with
birth.
Female genital tract
Internal
genitalia
(Genital tract):
1. Ovaries.
2. Oviducts.
3. Uterus.
4. Cervix.
5. Vagina.
External
(vulva):
1. Labia major
2. Labia minor
3. Mons pubis
4. Clitoris
5. Perineum
6. Vestibule.
genitals
Anatomy of the female genital
system
External genital tract
 Collectively known as vulva or pudendum.
 Called external as it seen from outside of the body .
Female external genitalia
1
3
5
2
6
External genital tract
1. Mons pubis :
Rounded pad of fatty tissue that overlies and protects
the symphysis pubis.
Located Anterior to the urethral and vaginal openings.
Covered by course, dark hair which normally appears in
early puberty and become sparse after menopause.
External genital tract
2. The labia majora and labia minora :
Surround and protect the vaginal opening .
The labia majora are darkly pigmented and covered with pubic
hair, but the labia minora are not.
3. The clitoris :
Cylindrical mass of erectile tissue and nerves .
Located at the anterior junction of the labia minora.
Has an important role in the sexual excitement of the female.
External genital tract
4. The perineum :
The area of
muscle and tissue located between the
vaginal opening and anal canal.
Contains an abundance of nerve endings that make it
sensitive to touch.
Episiotomy : is an incision of the perineum used during
childbirth for widening the vaginal opening.
External genital tract
5. The Vestibule :
Is oval-shaped area formed between the labia minora,
clitoris, and fourchette.
Structure located within the vestibule are :
A. Urethral opening .
B. Vaginal opening ( covered by the hymen) .
C. Bartholin glands .
Female
External
genitals
Vagina
 Fibromuscular tube that extends from the perineum through
the pelvic floor and into the pelvic cavity.
 About 8-12 cm long .
 Lying between the bladder anteriorly and the rectum
posteriorly.
 The vagina connects the uterus above with the vestibule below.
 Function : passage of menstrual flow , passage of fetus ,the
female organs of coitus.
Anatomical
Relations
Of the
Vagina
Cervix
 The lowermost part of the uterus and it is about 2.5 to 3 cm.
 The os is the opening in the cervical canal that runs between
the uterus and vagina , there are two :
A. The internal os : is the opening between the cervix and
uterus( in the upper part of the cervix).
B. The external os : is the opening between the cervix and
vagina ( in the lower part of the cervix).
Cervix
 During childbirth, the cervix Dilates And Shortens to
accommodate the passage of the fetus , dilation is a sign
imminent labour ( Effacement ).
The Uterus
 The uterus is a hollow, pear shaped, thick-walled muscular
organ and weights about 50- 60 gm.
 The uterus lies in the midline between the bladder and rectum.
 The uterus is divided into Three Parts : body , isthmus and
the cervix.
 The uterine wall is made up of Three Layers: Perimetrium ,
Myometrium and Endometrium.
Anatomical parts of the uterus
A. Body : fundus is part
of the body above
insertion of the uterine
tubes.
B. Isthmus.
C. Cervix or the neck of
the uterus.
Layers of the uterus
 Perimetrium : outer peritoneal layer .
 Myometrium : middle muscular layer of the uterus .
 Endometrium : is the inner layer of the uterus , it is
responsive to
the
cyclic
variations
of estrogen
and
progesterone during the female reproductive cycle every
month.
Structural
anatomy
of
the
uterus
The Function Of The Uterus
1. Menstruation : monthly shedding of the endometrial
lining of the uterus .
2. Pregnancy : the uterus support s, protects and allows the
fetus to grow.
3. Labour and birth : the uterine muscle contracts to expel
the fetus outside the uterus.
Fallopian tubes
 Also known as oviducts or uterine tube .
 The two long slender tubes (passageways) that connect uterus
to ovary.
 Normally there is one fallopian tube associated with each
ovary.
 Length : (8 to 14) cm , average (10) cm.
Fallopian tubes
 Function :
A. The site of fertilization of the ovum by the male
sperm (outer third).
B. Serve as a pathway for the fertilized ovum to the
uterus , ( fertilized egg takes approximately 6 to
10 days to travel through the fallopian tube to
implant in the uterine lining).
Anatomical parts of the fallopian tubes
Fertilization
of the
ovum
in the
fallopian
tubes
The Ovaries
 The female gonads or sex glands.
 Two almond-sized , located on each side of uterus behind &
below fallopian tubes.
 Function of the ovaries:
1. Production of estrogen & progesterone in response to
follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) & luteinizing
hormone (LH) secreted from pituitary gland .
2. Production of the ova.
1. Home work
identify the following numbers
1
3
2
z
5
6
2. Please identify the numbers associated with
the following pictures??
Home work
 From your study to the previous picture
answer as required :
1. Function of both number 7 and 4.
2 ,
Any questions ????
Physiology Of Female
Reproduction
Dr. Miada Mahmoud Rady
EMS /473
Gynecological Emergency Lecture 2
Ovulation
 A woman is born with approximately 400,000 immature eggs
called follicles.
 During a lifetime a woman release around 400 to 500 fully
matured eggs for fertilization.
 The follicles in the ovaries produce the female sex hormones,
progesterone and estrogen.
 These hormones prepare the uterus for implantation of the
fertilized egg.
Menstrual cycle
Definition : cyclical changes occurring from one menstruation
to the next and is composed of the ovarian cycle and the
uterine cycle.
Duration of the cycle : varies from 21-35 days , average 28
days (28+/-7days).
Menstrual cycle
Menstrual
ovarian
Follicular
uterine
Luteal
Proliferative
Secretory
Menstruation
Ovarian cycle
1. Follicular phase :
The first phase of the ovarian cycle.
Starts from days 1 to day 13 , First day of menstruation until
ovulation.
FSH
(
follicle
stimulating
hormone)
promotes
the
development of a follicle that secretes estrogen.
An estrogen spike leads to a surge in LH and ovulation
around day 14 in the 28-day cycle.
Ovarian cycle
1. The luteal phase:
The second phase of the ovarian cycle
Starts from day 14 to day 28 , when the oocyte is released
from the ovary (ovulation) and ends on the first day of
menstruation,
LH promotes the develop of the corpus luteum that functions
to secrete progesterone .
If pregnancy does not occur menstruation begins.
Simply ::::
Uterine cycle
1. The proliferative phase:
The first phase of the uterine cycle is.
Starts from Day 5 to day14 , time after the end menstruation
and just before the next ovulation occurs.
The uterine lining (endometrium) increases in thickness under
the effect of estrogen secreted by growing follicle to be
prepared to receive a fertilized oocyte.
Uterine cycle
2.
The secretory phase
The second phase of the uterine cycle
Starts from day 14 to day 28 , time after ovulation until the
onset of the menstruation
Occurs when the oocyte is not fertilized leading :
a. Estrogen and progesterone levels decrease.
b. The thick lining of the uterus is shed from the woman's
body.
Uterine cycle
 Menstruation (menstrual phase): shedding of the functional
layer of the endometrium .
 both menstrual and proliferative phases occur before ovulation
and together they correspond to the follicular phase of the
ovarian cycle while the secretory phase corresponds to the
luteal phase .
Any questions ??
Thank you