Anatomy of Female Reproductive System

External Structures
A. Visible Organs of the Vulva

• Mons pubis—covered with pubic hair—located over pubic bones, serves a protective function
• Labia major and labia minora—two pairs of tissue surrounding the outer part of the vulva.
• Vestibule—surrounded by the labia it contains the vaginal opening and
  urethra.
• Vaginal opening
• Clitoris—erectile tissue analagous to the penis
• Urethral orifice
• Perineum—the region of the genital area between the vulva and the anus. This is the location of an episiotomy if performed during birth.

B. Breasts—mammary glands

• Function is to secrete milk for infant—lactation.
• After delivery, the withdrawal of estrogen and progesterone due to the expulsion of the placenta cause prolactin to be produced, which stimulates milk formation. Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates the release of milk.

Internal Reproductive Organs
A. Located in the Pelvic Cavity

• Ovaries—female gonads located on each side of the uterus. Functions include
  (1) Development and release of the ovum (egg)
  (2) Secretion of the hormones estrogen and progesterone
• Fallopian tubes
  (1) Carry the ovum from the ovary to the uterus.
  (2) Fimbriae sweep ovum into the tube.
• Uterus
  (1) Hollow pear-shaped organ that stretches and enlarges during
  pregnancy to support the fetus.
  (2) Other functions include menstruation and expelling of the fetus
  during labor.
  (3) Divisions of the uterus are: fundus—uppermost portion; corpus—the
  body; cervix—lower third that exits into the vagina through the
  cervical os.
• Vagina
  (1) Curved tube leading from the uterus to the vestibule.
  (2) Functions as a passageway for menstrual flow, organ of copulation,
  and birth canal.

Pelvis

A. Bones—support and protect pelvic contents

• Sacrum—wedge-shaped bone formed by the fusion of five vertebrae
• Coccyx—small triangular bone at bottom of the vertebral column.
• Innominate bones
  (1) Ilium—upper prominence of the hip
  (2) Ischium—L-shaped bone below the ischium. Distance between the
  ischial spines is the shortest diameter of the pelvic cavity.
  (3) Pubis—slightly bowed front portion of the innominate bone. The
  pubis meet at the front of the pelvis to make up the joint called the
  symphysis pubis. Below the symphysis is a triangular space called
  the pubic arch, under which the fetal head passes during birth.

B. Pelvic floor—muscular floor of bony pelvis, supports pelvic contents

• Levator ani—major portion, made up of four muscles
  (1) Ileococcygeus
  (2) Puboccygeus
  (3) Puborectalis
  (4) Pubovaginalis
• Coccygeal muscle—underlies sacrospinous ligament a thin muscular
  sheet which helps the levator ani support the pelvic contents

C. Pelvic shapes—vaginal birth is never ruled out because of pelvic type
without a trial of labor.

• Android—narrow, heart shaped, similar to shape of male pelvis—not
  favorable for vaginal birth
• Anthropoid—widest from front to back—usually adequate for vaginal
  birth
• Platypelloid—widest from side to side—not favorable for vaginal birth
• Gynecoid—“classic” female pelvis—approximately 50 percent of
  women and it’s the best for vaginal birth

Functions of the Female Reproductive System