Female Reproductive
System
Adolescence
Puberty
 Burst of hormones activate maturation of
the gonads: ovaries
 Begins: 8-13 yrs of age
 Abnormally early = precocious puberty
 Delayed =Primary Amenorrhea
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Function of Female Reproductive
System
Produce sex hormones
 Produce functioning gamates [ova]
 Support & protect developing embryo

General Physical Changes
Axillary & pubic hair growth
 Changes in body conformation [widening
of hips, development of breasts]
 Onset of first menstrual period
[menarche]
 Mental changes
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Data from the 1998 Canadian GSS. Students living at home
aged 15-19.
THE EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF ADOLESCENT
GIRLS A CONCERN
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Our analyses show that adolescent girls in the 15 to 19 age
group may be more emotionally vulnerable today than they
were in the 1980s. Girls surveyed in 1998 reported higher
levels of time pressure and stress, and were less satisfied
with their life, self-esteem, and the way they spent time
than boys.
they assessed their health lower than the boys, and
reported having more difficulty falling asleep.
The most surprising finding is, that girls' levels of life
satisfaction and satisfaction with their self-esteem were in
1998 lower than those reported by adult employed women,
who face considerably greater work challenges and time
pressures.
Source: Zuzanek, J. (2000). The effects of time use and time pressure on
child-parent relationships. Waterloo: Otium Publications
.
Major Organs
Ovaries [ gonads]
 Uterine tubes [ fallopian tubes]
 Uterus
 Vagina
 Accessory glands
 External genitalia
 Breasts
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ovaries
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Each ovary is about the size and shape of an
almond. In young women the ovaries are
about 1½ - 2 inches long, 1 inch wide & 1/3
inch thick. After menopause they tend to
shrink.
they produce eggs (also called ova) every
female is born with a lifetime supply of eggs
they also produce hormones:
Estrogen & Progesterone
Male Homolog = testes
oogenesis
when the girl becomes sexually mature,
the primary oocytes recommence their
development, usually one at a time and
once a month.
 The primary oocyte grows much larger
and completes the meiosis I, forming a
large secondary oocyte and a small
polar body that receives little more than
one set of chromosomes.

oogenesis
In humans (and most vertebrates), the
first polar body does not go on to meiosis
II, but the secondary oocyte does proceed
as far as metaphase of meiosis II and
then stops.
 Only if fertilization occurs will meiosis II
ever be completed. Entry of the sperm
restarts the cell cycle
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fallopian tubes [uterine tubes]
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stretch from the uterus to the ovaries and
measure about 8 to 13 cm in length.
range in width from about one inch at the end
next to the ovary, to the diameter of a strand of
thin spaghetti.
The ends of the fallopian tubes lying next to the
ovaries feather into ends called fimbria
Millions of tiny hair-like cilia line the fimbria and
interior of the fallopian tubes. The cilia beat in
waves hundreds of times a second catching the
egg at ovulation and moving it through the tube
to the uterine cavity.
Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tube
uterus
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pear-shaped muscular organ in the upper female
reproductive tract.
The fundus is the upper portion of the uterus
where pregnancy occurs.
The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus that
connects with the vagina and serves as a
sphincter to keep the uterus closed during
pregnancy until it is time to deliver a baby.
the uterus expands considerably during the
reproductive process. the organ grows to from 10
to 20 times its normal size during pregnancy.
uterus
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The main body consists of a firm outer coat of
muscle (myometrium) and an inner lining of
vascular, glandular material (endometrium).
The endometrium thickens during the
menstrual cycle to allow implantation of a
fertilized egg.
Pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg
implants successfully into the endometrial
lining. If fertilization does not occur, the
endometrium sloughs off and is expelled as
menstrual flow.
endometrium
Functional zone – layer closest to the
cavity – contains majority of glands.
Thicker portion – undergoes changes with
monthly cycle
 Basal zone – layer just under
myometrium, attaches functional layer to
myometrial tissue, has terminal ends of
glands. Remains constant

Uterine arteries
Arcuate arteries - encircle endometrium
 Radial arteries – connect arcuate to
straight
 Straight arteries – deliver blood to basilar
zone
 Spiral arteries – deliver blood to functional
zone
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The Cervix
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the lower portion or neck of the uterus.
The cervix is lined with mucus, the quality and quantity of
which is governed by monthly fluctuations in the levels of
the estrogen and progesterone.
When estrogen levels are low, the mucus tends to be thick
and sparse, hindering sperm from reaching the fallopian
tubes. But when an egg is ready for fertilization, estrogen
levels are high, the mucus then becomes thin and slippery,
offering a “friendly environment” to sperm
at the end of pregnancy, the cervix acts as the passage
through which the baby exits the uterus into the vagina.
The cervical canal expands to roughly 50 times its normal
width in order to accommodate the passage of the baby
during birth
The Vagina
vagin = sheath
 a muscular, ridged sheath connecting the
external genitals to the uterus.
 functions as a two-way street, accepting
the penis and sperm during intercourse
and roughly nine months later, serving as
the avenue of birth through which the new
baby enters the world
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External genetalia
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vulva—which runs from the pubic area downward to the
rectum.
Mons pubis or "mound of Venus" is the V-shaped area
covered with hair
Labia majora or "greater lips" are the part around the
vagina containing two glands (Bartholin’s glands)which
helps lubrication during intercourse. Male Homolog =
scrotum
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Labia minora or "lesser lips" are the thin hairless ridges at
the entrance of the vagina, which joins behind and in front.
In front they split to enclose the clitoris
The clitoris is a small pea-shaped structure (equivalent to
penis in males ) It plays an important part in sexual
excitement in females. Male Homolog = penis
External genetalia
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The urethral orifice or external urinary opening is
below the clitoris on the upper wall of the vagina
and is the passage for urine
The introitus or opening of the vagina is separate
from the urinary opening (unlike males) and
located below it.
The hymen is a thin cresentic fold of tissue which
partially covers the opening of the vagina.
medically it is no longer considered to be a 100%
proof of female virginity.
Mammary Glands [ breasts]
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Present in both sexes - normally only functional in females
Developmentally they are derived from sweat glands
Contained within a rounded skin-covered breast anterior
to the pectoral muscles of the thorax
Slightly below center of each breast is a ring of pigmented
skin, the areola - this surrounds a central protruding
nipple
Internally - they consist of 15 to 25 lobes that radiate
around and open at the nipple
Each lobe is composed of smaller lobules- these contain
alveoli that produce milk when a women is lactating
non-pregnant women - glandular structure is undeveloped
- hence breast size is largely due to the amount of fat
deposits
glands
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Lesser Vestibular (Paraurethral, Skene's) Male
Homolog = prostate located on the upper wall of the
vagina, around the lower end of the urethra.
They drain into the urethra and near the urethral
opening Function - mucus production to aid
lubrication during intercourse
Greater Vestibular (Bartholin's) Male Homolog =
bulbourethral glands located slightly below and to the
left and right of the opening of the vagina. They
secrete mucus to provide lubrication, especially
when the woman is sexually aroused
Table 1. Production Rate of Sex Steroids in Women at Different Stages of the Menstrual Cycle
DAILY PRODUCTION RATE
SEX STEROIDS*
Early
Follicular
Preovulatory
Midluteal
Progesterone (mg)
1
4
25
17-Hydroxyprogesterone
(mg)
0.5
4
4
Dehydroepiandrosterone
(mg)
7
7
7
2.6
4.7
3.4
144
171
126
Estrone (mg)
50
350
250
Estradiol (mg)
36
380
250
Androstenedione (mg)
Testosterone (mg)
From Baird DT. Fraser IS. Blood production and ovarian secretion rates of esuadiol-17b and estrone in women throughout the
menstrual cycle. J Clin Endocri-nol Metab 38: l009-1017. 1974. @ The Endocrine Society.
*Values are expressed in milligrams or micrograms per 24 hours.
Hormones and the menstrual
cycle
The female hormones that control the cyclic growth and
shedding of the endometrium are estrogen and
progesterone.
Estrogen and progesterone are produced by the ovaries.
Estrogen causes the growth or proliferation of the
endometrium during the first 2 weeks of the menstrual
cycle.
 After ovulation, the ovary produces progesterone.
http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/anisamples/majorsbiology/
ovarianuterine.html
When does ovulation occur?
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The timing of ovulation varies with the length of a
woman's menstrual cycle.
In the average 28 day menstrual cycle, the LH surge
usually occurs between cycle days 11-13 and
ovulation follows about 36-48 hours later, on or close
to cycle day 14.
Women with shorter menstrual cycle lengths tend to
ovulate earlier and women with longer cycle lengths
tend to ovulate later than cycle day 14.
Despite the variations in menstrual cycle length, the
time from ovulation to the onset of the next menstrual
period is usually constant (2 weeks). This principle is
the basis for the use of ovulation calendars that take
into account an individual's shortest and longest cycle
lengths.