22.3: Female Reproductive System (External)
- Page ID
- 59147
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Female Reproductive System (External)
External Female Genitalia
Above: External female genitalia. On the diagram on the right, locations of possible episiotomies are shown. An episiotomy is a surgical cut made to widen the vaginal opening during a difficult childbirth to prevent tissues from tearing.
|
Structure |
Location |
Function |
|---|---|---|
|
anus |
posterior to the vulva |
removal of feces |
|
clitoris |
medial structure; superior to urethral opening; covered by clitoral hood; made of highly sensitive erectile tissue |
a highly sensitive bulbous erectile structure; covered by the prepuce (aka clitoral hood); homologous to glans penis in male |
|
labia majora |
two fatty folds that extend posteriorly from the mons pubis; lateral to urethral opening and vaginal opening |
homologous to the male scrotum; contain pubic hair, sudoriferous and sebaceous glands |
|
labia minora |
two smaller parallel folds; lateral to urethral opening and vaginal opening but medial to labia majora |
contain sebaceous glands but no hair, covers clitoris |
|
mons pubis |
fatty pad superior to the rest of the vulva |
cushions and protects pubic symphysis during sexual intercourse |
|
perineum |
region between the vulva and the anus |
supports urinary, genital, and gastrointestinal structures |
|
urethral opening |
medially located; inferior of clitoris and superior of vaginal opening |
removal of urine |
|
vagina orifice (opening) |
entry point into internal female genitalia |
entry point for copulation and exit for childbirth |
|
vulva |
the external female genitalia |
removal of urine, copulation, childbirth |
Breasts
The female reproductive system is designed not only to nurture developing embryos/fetuses in utero, but also to provide nutrients after childbirth. The breasts contain specialized mammary glands for providing nutrients to continue nurturing offspring.
Above: Structures of breasts, mammary glands, and lactiferous ducts.
Human breast milk contains a variety of nutrient compounds, including proteins, fats, sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, vitamin A, B vitamins, and vitamin D, as well as non-nutritive, but biologically important, components such as hormones, growth factors, antibodies, cytokines, chemokines, stem cells, and macrophages. Alveoli cells are specialized cells that are primarily responsible for producing and secreting a large proportion of the components of breast milk. Alveoli cells are clustered into lobules, which are further clustered into lobes. During lactation (the process of secreting breast milk), milk travels from the lobes, to the lactiferous ducts, to the lactiferous sinuses, and to the nipple for delivery to the offspring. Areolar glands are present surrounding the nipple on the areola to help lubricate and protect the nipple during breastfeeding.
|
Structure |
Description/Function |
|---|---|
|
alveoli |
milk-secreting cells |
|
areola |
pigmented tissue surrounding the nipple; muscles within the areola aid in lactation and milk delivery |
|
areolar glands (Montgomery glands) |
these are sebaceous glands; protect the nipple; lubricates the nipple |
|
lactiferous ducts |
drain milk from lobules |
|
lactiferous sinus |
empty milk into nipples |
|
lobes of mammary glands |
bunches of lobules of mammary glands |
|
lobules of mammary glands |
small divisions of lobes of mammary glands that contain alveoli |
|
mammary glands |
modified sweat glands that produce milk in a process called lactation |
|
nipple |
surrounded by pigmented areola |
|
suspensory ligaments |
connective tissue; provides structure/support for breast tissues |
Above: External breast structures.
Attributions (All Female Reproductive Sections)
- "Anatomy 204L: Laboratory Manual (Second Edition)" by Ethan Snow, University of North Dakota is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
- "Digital Histology" by Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and the Office of Faculty Affairs, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and the ALT Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University is licensed under CC BY 4.0
- "Female Areola.jpg" by Electric one is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
- "Female Reproductive System" by Dongho Kim is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
- "Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014" by Blausen.com staff is licensed under CC BY 3.0
- "Wiki Images" by https://www.scientificanimations.com/wiki-images/ is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0