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Produce estrogen and progesterone

- Estrogen: promotes breast development & pubic hair distribution preventsosteoporosis and keeps cholesterol levels reduced & so limits effects of

atherosclerosis Fallopian tubes.

2. Fallopian tubes

Approximately 10 cm in length

Arises from each corner of the uterine body

Conveys ova from ovaries to the uterus

Site of fertilization

Parts: interstitial

isthmus cut/sealed in BTL

ampulla site of fertilization

infundibulum most distal segment; covered with fimbria

3. Uterus

Hollow muscular pear shaped organ

- uterine wall layers: endometrium(inner); myometrium(middle);

perimetrium(outer)

Organ of menstruation

Receives the ova

Provide place for implantation & nourishment during fetal growth

Protects growing fetus

Expels fetus at maturity

Has 3 divisions: corpus fundus , isthmus (most commonly cut during CSdelivery) and cervix.

4. Uterine Wall

Endometrial layer: formed by 2 layers of cells which are as follows:

basal layer- closest to the uterine wall.

glandular layer inner layer influenced by estrogen and progesterone;

thickens and shed off as menstrual flow.

Myometrium composed of 3 interwoven layers of smooth muscle; fibers are

arranged in longitudinal; transverse and oblique directions giving it extreme

strength.

5. Vagina

Acts as organ of copulation

Conveys sperm to the cervix

Expands to serve as birth canal

Wall contains many folds or rugae making it very elastic

Fornices uterine end of the vagina; serve as a place for pooling of semen following

coitus.

Bulbocavernosus circular muscle act as a voluntary sphincter at the external

opening to the vagina (target of Kegels exercise).

Menstrual Cycle

1. Female reproductive cycle wherein periodic uterine bleeding occurs in response

to cyclic hormonal changes.

2. Allows for conception and implantation of a new life.3. Its purpose it to bring an ovum to maturity; renew a uterine bed that will be

responsive to the growth of a fertilized ovum.

Menstrual Phases

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It serve s as the fetal lungs, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract and as a separate

endocrine organ throughout pregnancy.

CIRCULATION

The fetus is connected by the umbilical cord to the placenta, the organ that develops andimplants in the mother's uterus during pregnancy.

As early as the 12th day of pregnancy, maternal blood circulation begins to collect

in the intervillus spaces of the uterine endometrium surrounding the chronic villi.

By the 3rd week of pregnancy, through the blood vessels in the umbilical cord, the fetusreceives all the necessary nutrition, oxygen, and life support from the mother through the

placenta..

From there, the nutrients are being transported back to the growing embryo.

Waste products and carbon dioxide from the fetus are sent back through the umbilical

cord and placenta to the mother's circulation to be eliminated.

The blood from the mother enters the fetus through the vein in the umbilical cord. It goes

to the liver and splits into three branches. The blood then reaches the inferior vena cava, amajor vein connected to the heart.

Inside the fetal heart

- Blood enters the right atrium, the chamber on the upper right side of the

heart. Most of the blood flows to the left side through a special fetal

opening between the left and right atria, called the foramen ovale.- Blood then passes into the left ventricle (lower chamber of the heart) and

then to the aorta, (the large artery coming from the heart).- From the aorta, blood is sent to the head and upper extremities. After

circulating there, the blood returns to the right atrium of the heart throughthe superior vena cava.

- About one-third of the blood entering the right atrium does not flow

through the foramen ovale, but, instead, stays in the right side of the heart,

eventually flowing into the pulmonary artery.

Because the placenta does the work of exchanging oxygen (O2) and carbon

dioxide (CO2) through the mother's circulation, the fetal lungs are not used for

breathing. Instead of blood flowing to the lungs to pick up oxygen and then

flowing to the rest of the body, the fetal circulation shunts (bypasses) most of the

blood away from the lungs. In the fetus, blood is shunted from the pulmonary

artery to the aorta through a connecting blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus.