Female external genitalia

The female reproductive system is designed to serve a variety of purposes. It produces ova, which are egg cells that are necessary for reproduction. The system is set up to convey the ova to the fertilisation area. Along with the sperm, egg fertilisation takes place in the Fallopian tubes. The next step for fertilised eggs is to implant in the uterine walls and begin the phases of pregnancy. Aside from the tasks listed above, the female reproductive system is also involved in the creation of female sex hormones, which is necessary for the reproductive cycle to continue.

Ovaries

The female gamete and several hormones are produced by the ovaries, which are the main female sex organs. These organs are located on both sides of the lower abdomen, one on each side. Each ovary is approximately 2 to 4 cm long and is attached to the uterus and pelvic wall via ligaments. The ovary is encased in a thin epithelium that surrounds the ovarian stroma and is separated into two zones: the outer cortex and an inner medulla. The cortex is made up of ovarian follicles at various stages of development. The basic unit of the female reproductive system is the ovarian follicle. The ampulla, isthmus, and infundibulum are the three anatomical regions that make up each oviduct.

Uterus

The uterus is also referred to as the womb. It is a female reproductive system muscled, inverted pear-shaped organ. The inner glandular layer, the middle thick layer, and the outer thin layer are the three layers that make up the uterus’s walls. Ligaments linked to the pelvic wall maintain these three layers, which eventually open into the vagina from a small cervix. The birth canal is formed by the cervical canal and the vaginal canal. The vagina is a muscular tube that extends from the uterus’s lower end to the outside.

Tubes of the Fallopian System

The fallopian tubes are a pair of muscular tubes and funnel-shaped structures that extend from the uterus’s superior corners to the ovaries’ edge. 

These tubes are encased in fimbriae, tiny projections that sweep over the ovaries, picking up released eggs and delivering them to the infundibulum for uterine supply. Cilia protect each fallopian tube and are responsible for transporting the ovum to the uterus.

Vagina

The vaginal tube connects the cervix to the external body and is made up of muscles and elastic. In sexual intercourse, it serves as a receptacle for the penis and transports sperm to the fallopian tubes and uterus. It also serves as a birth canal, allowing the foetus to be delivered during childbirth.

Ovulation

The process of releasing eggs from the ovaries is known as ovulation. This occurs when the follicle has fully expanded and achieved its maximum size, accompanied by the collection of fluids within the follicle without a considerable increase in pressure. The stigma, or macula pellucida, appears as a little oval-shaped patch jutting outward as a clear cone area when the follicle grows out and later undergoes localised changes in colour, integrity, and translucency. 

The maximal level of oestrogen hormone release occurs just before ovulation. Ovulation happens at the stigma site after a rise in luteinizing hormone. This surge is required for ovulation to occur.

Ovulation is the separation of the follicle from the ovum, which is enclosed by the corona radiata, by the release of follicular fluid. In the presence of spermatozoa, the cells of the corona radiata will separate later. At the time of ovulation in ruminants, the oocytes have already lost their corona. The ovum is picked up by the fimbriae, which are particularly active at the oviduct’s end. If a fertilised ovum or zygote is cleaved and transported to the uterus for implantation. It degenerates in 24 hours if not fertilised.

Cycle of Menstruation

After reaching adolescence, all females generate mature egg cells once a month during a process known as the menstrual cycle. An ovary releases a developed egg during this time, which goes to the uterus. If the egg is not fertilised in the uterus, the uterine lining sheds and a new cycle begins. A menstrual cycle lasts 28 days on average, but it can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35 days in certain women. The endocrine system is in charge of the entire menstrual cycle, and the hormones involved are FSH, LH, oestrogen, and progesterone. 

The pituitary gland produces both FSH and LH hormones, while the ovaries generate oestrogen and progesterone hormones. Many other variables contribute to the disruption of the menstrual cycle in addition to hormonal abnormalities. Diet, exercise, stress, and weight gain or loss are all factors that affect the menstrual cycle. At times, especially throughout puberty, the cycle may be erratic. Menstrual cycles occur every month from puberty until the age of 45 to 55, except for pregnancy. Ovaries slow down hormone synthesis and mature egg release at the age of 55. The menstrual cycle eventually ceases, and the lady is no longer able to become pregnant.

Conclusion

Fertilisation is the process of producing a zygote through the union of sperm and egg. It is an important step in human reproduction. The zygote is the name given to the fertilised egg. The zygote begins to split into many cells and becomes an embryo. The embryo enters the uterus and attaches to its walls. Implantation is the name given to this procedure, and the implanted embryo eventually grows into a foetus.