Female reproductive system and the mammary gland
The ovaries make ova and hormones. The fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina host fertilisation and pregnancy and form the birth canal; mammary glands make milk.
Parts of the female reproductive system
| Part | Structure | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ovaries (pair) | One on each side of the lower abdomen, held by ligaments; a thin epithelium encloses the stroma (cortex and medulla) | Primary sex organs: make the ovum and several steroid hormones |
| Infundibulum | Funnel-shaped end of the oviduct, near the ovary, edged with finger-like fimbriae | Fimbriae collect the ovum after ovulation |
| Ampulla | The wider part of the oviduct after the infundibulum | Usual site of fertilisation |
| Isthmus | The last, narrow part of the oviduct | Joins the uterus |
| Uterus (womb) | Single, shaped like an inverted pear; held to the pelvic wall by ligaments | Implantation and growth of the foetus |
| Cervix | Narrow neck of the uterus; its cavity is the cervical canal | With the vagina, forms the birth canal |
| Vagina | Muscular tube opening to the outside | Receives semen; part of the birth canal |
Three layers of the uterine wall
External genitalia
- Mons pubis: a fatty cushion covered with skin and pubic hair.
- Labia majora: fleshy folds of tissue around the vaginal opening. Labia minora: paired folds under them.
- Hymen: a membrane that partly covers the opening of the vagina. It may tear from a fall, cycling, horse riding, other sports or tampon use, and in some women it stays after intercourse. So it is not a reliable sign of virginity.
- Clitoris: a tiny finger-like structure where the two labia minora meet at the top, above the urethral opening.
Mammary gland: the path of milk
The mammary glands (breasts) are paired. They hold glandular tissue and a variable amount of fat.
- 1In each breast, the glandular tissue forms 15 to 20 mammary lobes.
- 2Each lobe has clusters of cells called alveoli. These cells secrete milk, which is stored in their cavities (lumens).
- 3Milk passes from the alveoli into mammary tubules. The tubules of one lobe unite into a mammary duct.
- 4Several mammary ducts meet in a wider mammary ampulla.
- 5★The ampulla connects to the lactiferous duct, through which milk is sucked out by the baby.
★ key step
How to draw the female reproductive system (front view)
- 1Draw an inverted pear-shaped uterus in the middle. On one side, show its wall as three layers: perimetrium, myometrium, endometrium.
- 2Below it draw the narrow cervix with the cervical canal, opening into a wider vagina.
- 3From each upper corner, draw a fallopian tube. Label the narrow isthmus near the uterus, the wider ampulla, and the funnel-shaped infundibulum with fimbriae.
- 4Draw an oval ovary near each infundibulum, attached by a ligament; show a few follicles inside one ovary.
- 5★Title: Diagrammatic sectional view of the female reproductive system.
★ key step
Doctors in India encourage breastfeeding, because the milk made in the alveoli feeds and protects the baby. Since fertilisation happens in the ampulla, a blocked fallopian tube can stop a couple from conceiving.
2 marks: “Name the three layers of the uterine wall. Which layer changes in a cycle, and which helps during childbirth?” Perimetrium, myometrium, endometrium. The endometrium changes cyclically; the myometrium contracts strongly during delivery.
1 marks: “What is the role of the fimbriae?” They collect the ovum after ovulation.
5 marks: “Draw a labelled diagram of the female reproductive system. Describe the parts of the oviduct and the role of each.” Labelled diagram; infundibulum with fimbriae collects the ovum; ampulla is the site of fertilisation; isthmus joins the uterus; uterus with three wall layers; cervix and vagina form the birth canal.
Oviduct from ovary to uterus: I Am Inside: Infundibulum, Ampulla, Isthmus.