BIO 004 · Human Anatomy
The Female Reproductive System
Block 4 · Module 6: The Reproductive System, Female
A reference for the female reproductive system video and lab. This page covers the ovaries, the uterine tubes and the path of the ovum, the uterus, the vagina and external genitalia, and the mammary glands. The focus is on the structures and the job each one does.
How to use this sheet Toggle the toolbar above. Notes prints the full reference for review. Study prints as a fill-in-the-blank worksheet. Print it, then write each definition while you watch the video or read your book. Quiz me is on-screen typing practice: type the term, click Reveal to check yourself. The comparison grids respond to Study and Quiz too, with a Reveal button on each row.
The Foundations video gives you a complete foundational understanding of this topic, enough on its own for a foundational course. Learn it first, then move on to the Deep dive, which adds the majors-level depth for this course.
- Identify the structures of the ovary and the uterine tubes.
- Name the regions, ligaments, and wall layers of the uterus.
- Identify the external genitalia and the structures of the mammary gland.
Your pre-work
Work through these the evening before class. None of it is turned in. It is how you learn the material and build your spaced recall.
This is more than a checklist. Ticking these boxes is the start, not the finish. Committing this material to memory and being able to apply it takes considerable time and repeated effort. You are not done when the boxes are checked. Put in the real hours, and keep coming back for frequent recall and review until the material is genuinely yours.
The female reproductive tract
Add a labeled sagittal view of the ovary, uterine tube, uterus, and vagina.
The ovary in section
Add a labeled view of the cortex, medulla, follicles, and corpus luteum.
The mammary gland
Add a labeled view of the lobes, lobules, alveoli, and lactiferous ducts.
The Female Reproductive System, an Overview
The female reproductive system produces oocytes, receives sperm, and supports a developing fetus. Its organs sort into the gonads, the genital tract, the external genitalia, and the mammary glands.
- Ovariesthe female gonads; they produce oocytes and secrete hormones
- Uterine tubesthe fallopian tubes; they carry the oocyte toward the uterus
- Uterusthe muscular organ where a fertilized ovum implants and a fetus develops
- Vaginathe canal that receives the penis and serves as the birth canal
- Vulvathe external genitalia, collectively called the vulva or pudendum
- Mammary glandsthe milk-producing glands of the breasts
The Ovaries
The ovaries are paired, almond-shaped organs held beside the uterus by ligaments. Inside, the developing oocytes sit in structures called follicles.
- Ovariesthe paired, almond-shaped female gonads, one on each side of the uterus
- Broad ligamentthe fold of peritoneum that drapes over the uterus and tubes; it attaches to the ovary by the mesovarium
- Ovarian ligamentthe cord that anchors the ovary to the uterus
- Suspensory ligamentthe fold that attaches the ovary to the pelvic wall
- Germinal epitheliumthe surface layer of low cuboidal epithelium covering the ovary
- Tunica albugineathe whitish capsule of dense connective tissue just beneath the germinal epithelium
- Ovarian cortexthe region beneath the tunica albuginea that contains the ovarian follicles
- Ovarian medullathe deeper region of looser connective tissue holding blood vessels and nerves
- Ovarian folliclesthe structures in the cortex, each holding an oocyte at a stage of development
- Mature folliclethe large, fluid-filled follicle ready to release its oocyte at ovulation
- Corpus luteumthe yellow body; the structure left after ovulation, which later degenerates into a scar called the corpus albicans
The Uterine Tubes and the Path of the Ovum
The uterine tubes catch the released oocyte and carry it toward the uterus. Fertilization, when it happens, usually happens here.
- Infundibulumthe funnel-shaped end of the tube, open to the pelvic cavity near the ovary
- Fimbriaethe fringe of finger-like projections at the infundibulum that sweep the oocyte into the tube
- Ampullathe widest and longest portion of the tube, where fertilization usually occurs
- Isthmusthe narrow, thick-walled portion that joins the tube to the uterus
- Lining of the tubeciliated and secretory cells whose cilia and fluid move the oocyte toward the uterus
The ovum follows one route from the ovary to the uterus.
- Ovarythe mature follicle releases the secondary oocyte at ovulation
- Fimbriae and infundibulumthe fimbriae sweep the oocyte into the funnel of the tube
- Ampullathe oocyte travels through the widest part of the tube, where sperm may fertilize it
- Isthmusthe oocyte or early embryo passes through the narrow part of the tube
- Uterusthe oocyte or embryo reaches the uterine cavity
The Uterus
The uterus is a thick-walled, pear-shaped organ between the bladder and the rectum. Ligaments hold it in place and three layers build its wall.
- Fundusthe dome-shaped superior portion of the uterus, above the entry of the tubes
- Bodythe tapered central portion of the uterus
- Cervixthe narrow inferior portion that opens into the vagina
- Uterine cavitythe interior space of the body of the uterus
- Cervical canalthe interior of the cervix, opening to the uterine cavity at the internal os and to the vagina at the external os
- Broad ligamentsthe paired folds of peritoneum attaching the uterus to the pelvic walls
- Uterosacral ligamentsthe paired folds connecting the uterus to the sacrum
- Cardinal ligamentsthe paired ligaments extending from the pelvic wall to the cervix and vagina
- Round ligamentsthe paired fibrous cords running from the uterus to the labia majora
The wall of the uterus has three layers. Compare them.
| Layer | What it is |
|---|---|
| Perimetrium | the outer serous layer, part of the visceral peritoneum |
| Myometrium | the thick middle layer of smooth muscle that contracts during childbirth |
| Endometrium | the inner vascular lining; its stratum functionalis sheds in menstruation and its stratum basalis rebuilds it |
The Vagina and External Genitalia
The vagina connects the cervix to the outside. The external genitalia, the vulva, surround its opening.
- Vaginathe fibromuscular canal from the cervix to the exterior; the birth canal
- Fornixthe recess of the vagina that surrounds the cervix
- Hymenthe thin fold of mucous membrane that partly closes the vaginal opening
- Mons pubisthe cushion of fatty tissue over the pubic symphysis
- Labia majorathe two larger, hair-covered folds of skin; homologous to the scrotum
- Labia minorathe two smaller, hairless folds within the labia majora
- Clitoristhe small mass of erectile tissue at the anterior junction of the labia minora; homologous to the penis
- Vestibulethe region between the labia minora, holding the vaginal and urethral openings
- Greater vestibular glandsthe Bartholin's glands beside the vaginal opening, which secrete lubricating mucus
- Perineumthe diamond-shaped region holding the external genitalia and anus, split into a urogenital triangle and an anal triangle
The Mammary Glands
The mammary glands lie in the breasts, over the chest muscles. They are modified sweat glands that produce milk.
- Mammary glandsthe modified sweat glands of the breast that produce milk
- Lobesthe 15 to 20 or more compartments of the mammary gland, each divided into lobules
- Lobulesthe subdivisions of a lobe, containing the milk-secreting alveoli
- Alveolithe small sacs of glandular tissue that secrete milk
- Lactiferous ductsthe ducts that carry milk from the lobes toward the nipple
- Nipplethe pigmented projection where the lactiferous ducts open
- Areolathe circular pigmented area of skin around the nipple
- Suspensory ligamentsthe Cooper's ligaments that support the breast
Common Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Compare the common disorders of the female reproductive system by the structure each one affects.
| Disorder | What it is |
|---|---|
| Endometriosis | endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, on the ovaries or pelvic lining |
| Ovarian cysts | fluid-filled sacs that form on or in an ovary |
| Uterine fibroids | non-cancerous tumors of the smooth muscle of the myometrium |
| Pelvic inflammatory disease | an infection that spreads through the uterus, tubes, and ovaries |
| Cervical cancer | a malignant tumor of the cervix |
| Ectopic pregnancy | an embryo implants outside the uterus, most often in a uterine tube |
| Breast cancer | a malignant tumor of the mammary gland tissue |
See also: The Male Reproductive System for the homologous structures, and Pregnancy and Birth, the next page in this block.
Study questions
Work on answering these in writing, in your own words. They are the questions to bring to class, and good practice for the reasoning the exams ask for.
- Trace the path of an oocyte from the ovary to the uterus, naming each structure.
- Name the layers of the uterine wall and what each one contributes.
- Compare the ovarian and the uterine cycles, and describe how they line up in time.
- Explain how the structure of the ovary changes across one cycle.
Step 2 . Retrieval check
Now explain it back, in your own words.
In 60 words or more, pull together what the video just taught you. Include the key concepts. This is the point where the learning actually sticks. After you submit, your spaced-recall cards for this topic unlock.