The woman reproductive system is one of the most sacred systems in the body. Make sure you learn all about it and share it with others!
The woman reproductive system is made up of external and internal parts and, together with hormones, constitutes the essence of being a woman; enjoying sexual intercourse and giving life are part of their role.
The female reproductive system is itself a fascinating subject of anatomy and physiology. Not only for sexual or reproductive reasons, but for its characteristics, location, advantages and disadvantages. Also for the alterations that it can suffer and much more.
If you are interested in knowing in greater detail what the female reproductive system is and how it works, below we will provide you with some information that will be of interest to you and will help you satisfy your curiosity. Ready to take note? Go for it!
The female reproductive system has the female genital organs and includes the vagina, uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries. Each of these serves various functions.
How is the female reproductive system formed?
As the scientific literature indicates, unlike the male reproductive system, the female reproductive system is located within the pelvis. Some organs are more visible, while others not so much.
External parts of the female reproductive system
The vulva, the mons pubis and the lips – due to their similar shape to the lips of the mouth – are the female reproductive organs that are visible.
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Vulva
The outer part of the female reproductive organ is the vulva, which means ‘covering’. The vulva covers the entrance to the vagina and the remaining internal reproductive organs.
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Mount of Venus and lips
Above the vaginal opening is a fleshy area is the mons pubis. From there, two pairs of skin folds called lips are located.
As the girl becomes a woman, the mons pubis and the lips are covered with pubic hair. Between the lips are two openings: the urethra – the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside – and the one that gives access to the vagina.
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Clitoris
Between the lips is the clitoris, a very sensitive part of the apparatus. In fact, it is the only part of the human body whose function is to bring pleasure to women.
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Hymen
The opening of the vagina is partially covered by a thin sheet of tissue, provided with one or more holes, called the hymen. Likewise, the hymen varies from one woman to another: in some it stretches, in others it tears during sexual penetration.
Internal parts of the female reproductive system
Inside the pelvis, the woman reproductive system includes: the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
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Vagina
The vagina is a muscular hole and tube that extends from the vaginal opening to the uterus. In the adult woman the vagina can be 8 to 12 centimeters long.
Also, its muscles can contract and dilate. This is during sexual intercourse, to expel menstruation and for labor. In addition, the walls of the vagina contain mucous that protects it and keeps it moist.
The cervix is the one that connects it to the womb or the uterus; the walls of the cervix are thick and strong, and its opening is very narrow.
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Uterus
The uterus is shaped like an inverted pear. Their muscular walls are so thick and robust that they are considered one of the strongest muscles in the female body.
In women who are not pregnant, the uterus is only 7.5 centimeters long and 5 centimeters wide. In the uterus, the fertilized ovum nests.
Therefore, when the egg and sperm unite, the zygote is formed and gestation begins. The uterus protects and nourishes the fertilized egg until it develops into a baby.
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Fallopian tubes
The location of the fallopian tubes is in the corners of the uterus; one on each side, and connect the uterus with the ovaries. They are about 10 centimeters long. The end of each tube is in the shape of funnels; they surround the ovary without adhering to it.
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Ovaries
The ovaries are two organs in oval shape in the upper part of the uterus. They are the gonads in charge of producing, storing and releasing the ovules.
In adult women, each ovary measures between four and five centimeters. They are also part of the endocrine system, since they produce the female sex hormones: estrogens and progesterone.
How does the woman reproductive system work?
A woman’s ovaries contain hundreds of thousands of oocytes when she’s first born, which remain inactive until puberty.
Between the ages of 10 and 14, the pituitary gland produces hormones that stimulate the ovaries to begin producing female sex hormones. In this way, the girl develops.
The ovaries of adolescent girls begin to release eggs, which begins their menstrual cycle. The egg makes its way into the fallopian tubes and, after two weeks, the first menstruation occurs.
The blood and tissues that lined the uterus, in case the ovum was fertilized, are expelled in the form of menstrual flow. This is the so-called period (also known as period or menstruation) that lasts between three and five days.
The uterus is responsible for expelling this flow with weak or strong involuntary contractions, which can be uncomfortable for the woman. After the first menstruation, it takes about two years for a woman’s body to develop a regular menstrual cycle.
On average, an adult woman’s menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, although it can range from 23 to 35 days.
What if egg fertilization happens?
The female reproductive system is complex.
Fertilization is a fascinating process that still hides many secrets.
If an egg meets a sperm in the fallopian tubes, fertilization occurs.
Within a week, the zygote transforms into a multicellular blastocyst the size of a pinhead. The blastocyst gets inside the uterus, the endometrium.
Estrogens and progesterone make the endometrium thick and keep it flushed with blood. In this way, the blastocyst can nest well and absorb nutrients. This is the implantation process.
The embryonic stage begins when the blastocyst cells start receiving receive nutrients. The cells multiply thousands of times and move to new positions until they transform into an embryo, which will later be a baby.
How does pregnancy occur?
At eight weeks, the embryo is the size of a thumb, but all the organs are almost there: the brain and nerves, the heart and blood, the stomach and intestines, the muscles and the skin. The fetal stage begins, which runs from the ninth week to birth.
The fetus continues developing, the cells continue to multiply, move and transform. The fetus floats in the amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac: it receives oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood through the placenta, which is in connection to the fetus through the umbilical cord. On average, the pregnancy lasts about 280 days (40 weeks).
When the baby is ready to be born, her head presses on the cervix, which begins to relax and dilate. Also, labor begins and the contractions are intense. Therefore, after hours of dilation, the woman pushes the baby out.
After delivery, the placenta also gets out. The cycle of life begins again, of which the female reproductive system is a stellar protagonist.
Now that you know a little more about the woman reproductive system, you can understand a little more about the importance of caring for it throughout life, regularly attending gynecological check-ups.
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