4 main jobs of the female reproductive system:

1. To make, store and release eggs from ovaries.2. To make hormones used to regulate her cycle.3. To be equipped to receive and stimulate the

penis.4. To nourish the developing fetus and newborn.

Figure 42.12 The Reproductive Tract of the Human Female (Part 1)

Vagina

Diagram F

Uterus

• Ovum/egg production takes place in the two ovaries through the process of oogenesis. Takes place during 3rd month of fetal

development. 300,000 eggs/ovary

Begin dying day girl is born so by the age of 40 only 1000 eggs are left

Figure 42.13 The Ovarian Cycle (Part 1)

New follilces containingChosen egg

Developing/maturing follicle

Starting with puberty and lasting until menopause one egg is chosen and released each month during ovulation.

Female Menstrual Cycle:

• Begins with puberty and last until menopause.

• Average length is 28 days but varies women to women.

• Day one of cycle is the day the women “bleeds” or the day she starts her period or she menstruates.

A girl’s period is the shedding of the uterine lining known as the endometrium. Last approximately five days.

• Day 5-14: Girl rebuilds her endometrium in hopes of getting pregnant that month.

• Days 14: Ovulation: the chosen egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. Egg is size of a tip of a pin

Ovulation ~ approximately day 14 of cycle

Fimbrae

Once the egg is released from the ovary, it is swept into the fallopian tube by the finger like projections call fimbrae.

The egg travels along the 3 inches of this tube in approximately 3 days.

If no sperm is present the egg will break down and be released as a waste product.

And at the end of the cycle, approximately day 28, the cycle starts over by shedding the uterine lining ( back to day one)

During this time if a sperm is present it will fertilized the egg.Life span of egg is 3 days.Life span of the sperm in the female is 5 to 7 days.

The fertilized egg starts the process of mitosis and continues to travel along the tube towards the uterus.

Flagellated bloodhound

Fertilization Ring

Zona pellucida

Cumulus cells

Diagram I

Zygote 2 cells -20 hrs after 4 cells – 48 hrs

8 cells – 72 hrs 16-32 cell morula – 96 hrs

• ¾ of all zygotes die

• 1 out of 4 develop into a viable fetus

• Out of 400 zygotes:300 die100 liveOut of the 100 that live 95 will be

healthy and the other 5 will have some form a birth defect.

• 250,000 birth defected babies are born in the USA each year.

• 50% of all birth defects are preventable by being more informed and by having a “planned pregnancy”.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Day 7 after fertilization:

• Known as the blastocystBegins to

arrange self into a pattern.

40+ embryonic stem cells.

Hollow area will become the amniotic

sac.Outer cells become the placenta.

Embryonic stem cells have the potential to differentiate into 230 different types of body cells.

The stem cells of the blastocyst forms 3 layers:

• Ectoderm (Outer layer)Skin, nervous system and brain

• Mesoderm (Middle layer)Bones, muscles, blood, hearth

• Endoderm (Inner layer)Respiratory system and digestive

system

)After approximately 280 days the fetus is fully developed and the walls of the uterus contract and the baby is pushed down the birth canal or vagina.

Stages of delivery:

• Video

Placenta:

Cesarean Section:

Tubal ligation:

Vasectomy

42.4 How Can Fertility Be Controlled and Sexual Health Maintained?

Abortion: a termination of a pregnancy once a fertilized egg is implanted.

A spontaneous abortion is also called a miscarriage and is common in early pregnancy.

An abortion may be performed for therapeutic reasons or for fertility control.