The female reproductive system



The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, vulva, mammary glands and breasts. These organs are involved in the production and transportation of gametes and the production of sex hormones. The female reproductive system also facilitates the fertilization of ova by sperm and supports the development of offspring during pregnancy and infancy.

Birth (Delivery)



Birth, or delivery, is the process in which muscular contractions force the fetus through the birth canal. Once labor starts, rhythmic contractions that begin at the top of the uterus and travel down its length force the contents of the uterus toward the cervix.

Since the fetus is usually positioned with its head downward, labor contractions force the head against the cervix. This action causes the cervix to stretch, which is thought to elicit a reflex that will stimulate still stronger labor contractions until a maximum effort is achieved. At the same time, the cervix dilates and, as labor continues, abdominal wall muscles are stimulated to contract and aid in forcing the fetus through the cervix and vagina to the outside.

The fetus (Third Trimester)



In the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetus becomes capable of life outside the womb. Fat begins to accumulate, filling out a scrawny body and preparing the baby for warmth in the outside world. The normal fetus gains three to four pounds during the eighth and ninth months.

The fetus (Second Trimester)



During the second trimester, a fetus begins to take the shape of a baby. At eight weeks, the embryo is a full-formed, tiny baby, now called a fetus. Bodily proportions change as the limbs and trunk grow, reducing the head from one-half to one-fourth of the body length. By fifteen weeks, the fetus can kick, curl its fingers and toes, and squint its eyes. Genitals have developed so it can be seen to be either a male or female child, and the kidneys work. A fine, downy hair covers all the limbs and trunk, the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

The fetus (First Trimester)



During the first trimester, the fetus goes through a huge developmental process. For the first eight weeks of its life, the fertilized egg is called the embryo. The embryo develops from an egg fertilized by the sperm. It begins as one cell, which divides into two cells by the time it descends from the fallopian tube into the uterus. These cells divide further until they form two groups - one making up the wall lining of the embryo to become the placenta and the second becoming the embryo itself. Early in the third week, the embryo becomes pear-shaped. The head forms at the rounded end and the spine at the pointed end. These two halves grow toward each other until they fuse to form the neural tube.

The fetus inside the womb



The fetus inside the womb is actually called an embryo four weeks after it comes into existence. Around the time of implantation, certain cells within the blastocyst (an early stage of embryonic development) organize themselves into a group that will give rise to the body of the offspring. This marks the beginning of the embryonic period of development. The offspring is called an embryo until the end of the eighth week, after which it is a fetus. Eventually, the outer cells of the embryo together with cells of the maternal endometrium (wall of the uterus) form a complex vascular structure called the placenta. This organ serves to attach the embryo to the uterine wall, to exchange nutrients, gases, and wastes between the maternal blood and the embryonic blood, and to secrete hormones.

The fallopian tubes

The fallopian tubes


The Fallopian tubes, also known as the uterine tubes, are a pair of 4-inch (10 cm) long narrow tubes connecting the ovaries to the uterus. Ova (egg cells) are carried to the uterus through the fallopian tubes following ovulation. The ova may also be fertilized while in the Fallopian tubes if sperm is present following sexual intercourse.

Birth and Infancy



Birth, also known as childbirth, parturition or partus, is the end point of pregnancy and results in the expulsion of newborn infants from the pregnant woman's uterus. Birth has three stages of labor: the cervix's shortening and dilation, the descent and birth of the infant, and the expulsion of the placenta. Birth can also be done via caesarean section; this is the removal of the newborn through a surgical incision in the abdomen, instead of through the vagina.

Fertilization and Pregnancy



Fertilization is the process of joining a spermatozoon and an ovum to form a zygote. Ova, also known as egg cells, are the haploid female gametes produced by the ovaries in the female reproductive system. At around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle, female sex hormones trigger the release of a mature ovum from one of the ovaries. The finger-like fimbriae of the Fallopian tubes sweep the surface of the ovaries to collect the ovum and place it into the hollow Fallopian tube. Once inside the Fallopian tube, the ovum is carried toward the uterus by many beating cilia in the lining of the tube and by peristaltic contractions of the tube. It is during this journey of the ovum toward the uterus that fertilization may occur.

The female reproductive organs of the lower torso



The female reproductive system of the lower abdomen and pelvis contains all of the organs necessary for the fertilization of egg cells, development of an embryo and fetus during pregnancy, and delivery of a newborn baby.

The external female reproductive organs are known collectively as the vulva. Within the vulva are several folds of skin surrounding the urinary and reproductive orifices known as the labia majora and labia minora. These folds of skin cover and protect the clitoris, urethral opening, and vaginal opening. Within the labia minora and superior to the urethra is the clitoris, a sensitive erectile organ that is responsible for producing feelings of sexual arousal and pleasure.