The
FEMALE
REPRODUCTIVE
Physiology
TOPICS
 Parts and their function
 Physiological Stages
 Female Cycles
–
–
Menstrual Cycle/ Endometral
Cycle
Ovarian Cycle
 Copulation
 Conception
 Birth Controls
- Contraceptives
- Sterilization
 Delivery
 Lactation
 Diseases
Parts and Function
Primary Sex Organ
• Ovaries
–Ova (ovum) female gamete
–Female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
Estrogen:
- stimulates uterine
growth
- 2° female characteristic
-Regulated by FSH and
LH from pituitary
Progesterone:
- stimulates uterine
growth
- Regulated by FSH and
LH from pituitary
Ovaries
Secondary Sex Organs
Fallopian
tube (uterine
or oviduct)
– narrowcervical
tubes that
are attached to the
• Cervix
– connects
uterus tube
and vagina
that secretes
mucus.
upper part
of theisuterus
and runny
is the site
of fertilization.
- mucus
clear and
(conducive
for sperm) during ovulation.
mucus
pasty
(block sperm)
post
- cilia -lining
thegets
tubethick
andand
uterine
peristalsis
propelatthe
eggovulation.
towards the uterus.
- cervical
mucus shaped
form plug
to seal at
offthe
theterminal
uterus protecting
the developing baby
Fimbriea
– funnel
structure
end.
when woman got pregnant .
- catches egg release during ovulation and carry oocyte towards
• Vagina
–
thin walled chamber that serves as copulatory organ.
fallopian tube.
- (birth canal) has fold that will expand during delivery.
• Uterus (womb)– site of implantation and fetal development.
- Perimetrium - a strong, serous membrane that coats the entire uterine corpus
except the lower one fourth and anterior surface where the bladder is attached.
- Myometrium - smooth muscle component of the wall.
- Endometrium - inner layer or mucosa.
Fimbriae
Fimbriae
Fallopian Tubes
Uterus
Cervix
Vagina
Secondary Sex Organs
• Vulva – collective term for external genitalia.
- Mons Pubis –fatty prominence underlying the pubic hair.
- Clitoris – penis counterpart that contains shaft of erectile tissue and
covered with pea shaped gland; sexually sensitive organ (contains sexual
receptors).
- Labia majora (labium majus) – hair-covered fold of the vulva.
- Labia minora (labium minus)
- small folds beneath the labia
Minora.
- Vestibule – cleft between labia
minora containing the orifice of
the vagina and urethra.
Physiological Stages





Neonatal period: birth to 4 weeks
Childhood: 4 weeks to 12 years
Puberty: 12 years to 18 years
Sexual maturation: 18 year to 50 year
Perimenopause: decline of ovarian
function (40 years) to 1 year
postmenopause
 Postmenopause
*Menopause happens when ovaries lose response to FSH and LH
• Menstrual Cycle or Endometral Cycle
• Ovarian Cycle
Female Cycles
Menstrual Cycle or Endometral Cycle
Ovaries
Uterus
follicles = estrogen
ovulation
Proliferative Phase
Secretory Phase
Corpus Luteum = LH = progesterone
menses
All hormones
estrogen
LH
surge
progesterone
•Menstru means "monthly“
- a woman’s body prepares for a potential pregnancy, whether or not that is the
woman’s intention.
Hypothalmus
FSH
LH
GnRH
Pituitary
Negative feedback
ESTROGEN
LH
surge
LH
ESTROGEN
Positive feedback
Pituitary
GnRH
Hypothalamus
Ovarian
Cycle
Fertilization and
Implantation
Occur
Developing placenta
HCG
Corpus Luteum
maintained until
placenta starts to
secrete Progesterone
and estrogen
No Fertilization
Progesterone
Anterior Pituitary
(negative feedback )
LH
Corpus Luteum degenerate
(Corpus Albicans)
)
FSH
No Fertilization
(Low level of hormones)
HYPOTHALAMUS
• s
GnRH
Pituitary
Causes mood swing and other premenstrual syndrome(PMS)!
And the whole cycle repeats !
Illustrative
Summary
- Ovarian Cycle
- Female’s body
temperature during
the cycles
- Hormonal
Control of the Cycles
Menstrual Cycle
/Endometral Cycle
animation
Copulation
Four phases of Sexual Response Cycle
1. Excitement Phase – prepare the vagina for coitus.
There is vasoconstriction because of the increase
blood flow in the arteries and constriction of the
veins filling the erectile tissues of the clitoris,
some part of ovaries and female labia the nipples
also become erect.
Myotonia- increase muscle tension causing erection of the nipples;
tension in the arm, legs, and other skeletal muscles; and
sustained or rhythmic contractions of the smooth muscle.
2. Plateau Phase – the outer third of the vagina
becomes vasoconstricted, while the inner two
thirds becomes slightly expanded, and the
uterus becomes elevated; all in preparation for
receiving sperm.
- there is increase heart rate and breathing due
to the stimulation from the autonomic
(symphatetic) nervous system and not by
physical activity!
3. Orgasm – the rhythmic and involuntary
contractions of the reproductive organs.
– orgasm in females involves the uterus and outer
vagina but not the upper two thirds of the vagina.
– females are harder to stimulate and reach orgasm.
Note: females do not have refractory period hence they
have multiple orgasms and once aroused are often
not raedy to quit.
4. Resolution Phase – the return to normal.
- vasoconstriction returns normal.
- muscle relax.
conception
Start of new life
1. Fertilization – union of egg cell and sperm cell in the
uterine tube (oviduct).
2. Implantation – attachment or implantation of the
blastocyst on the uterine wall (wall of uterus).
3. Fetal development
Ectopic pregnancy – any pregnancy that occur outside the uterus.
Birth Control Method
• Contraceptives
- artificial
1. Condom
2.Diaphragm
3.Cervical cap
4.Hormonal implants
- natural
1.Temperature method
2.Mucus method
3.Calendar method
Birth Control Method
• Sterilization
1. Tubal ligation – removal of fallopian tube
2.Hysterectomy – removal of the ovary
Delivery
1. Dilation of the cervix – last from onset of labor until the
cervix reaches its full diameter of about 10cm and is the
longest stage (6-12 hr. or longer).
2. Expulsion stage - (20min to 1 hr.) from full dilation to full
delivery.
- strong contraction about 1 min each occur
every 2-3 min. and the mother feels an increasing urge to
push until the baby is force down into the vagina and out.
3. Delivery of the placenta – occurs within 15 min. of the
delivery of the baby.
lactation
Breast is a mass of glandular, fatty, and fibrous tissues positioned over
the pectoral muscles of the chest wall and attached into it by fibrous strands
which contains milk glands that secrete milk and hence used by mammals in
feeding their infants (breastfeeding).
-apocrine gland
ANATOMY OF THE BREAST
•Lobules or milk ducts –
produces milk.
•Areola - colored skin
surrounding the nipple.
•Nipple – where the
milk emanates.
•Lactiferous Ducts –
connect milk gland to
the nipple
•Subcutaneous fat and
Cooper's ligaments connective tissues
Milk Ejection Reflex
• The Prolactin Reflex
1. (Long arrow) Nerve impulses from sucking go
to brain
2. (Short arrow) The pituitary gland releases
prolactin into the blood
3. (Breast) This causes the alveolar cells to
secrete milk and swells the alveoli
• The Milk Ejection Reflex
1. (Long arrow) Nerve impulses from sucking go
to the brain
2. (Short arow) The pituitary gland releases
oxytocin into the bloodstream
3. (Breast) This causes muscles around the
alveoli in the breast to squeez milk to the nipple
Milk production stimulated by:
oxytocin and prolactin
*colostrum - first to produce
- nutrient-rich substance conatining lots of antibodies
Some Diseases
Cancers:
• Ovarian
– “silent” detected in late development
– Oophorectomy- surgical removal of the ovary
• Cervical
– Detected by pap smear
• Cancer of the fallopian tube
– Salpingectomy – surgical removal of the uterine tube
• Cancer of the Uterus
– Hysterectomy – surgical removall of the uterus
Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STD)
1. Genital warts – caused by Human Papiloma Virus (HPV)
2. AIDS