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Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

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Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

The reproductive role of the female is far more complex than that of a male. Not only must she produce gametes, but her body must prepare to nurture a developing embryo for a period of approximately nine months. Ovaries, the female gonads, are the primary reproductive organs of a female, and like the male testes, ovaries serve a dual purpose: They produce the female gametes (ova) and sex hormones, the estrogens * and progesterone (pro-ges′tĕ-rōn). The accessory ducts (uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina) transport or otherwise serve the needs of the reproductive cells and a developing fetus. As illustrated in Figure 27.11, the ovaries and duct system, collectively known as the internal …show more content…

Each uterine tube is about 10 cm (4 inches) long and extends medially from the region of an ovary to empty into the superolateral region of the uterus via a constricted region called the isthmus (is′mus). The distal end of each uterine tube expands as it curves around the ovary, forming the ampulla; fertilization usually occurs in this region. The ampulla ends in the infundibulum (in″fun-dib′u-lum), an open, funnel-shaped structure bearing ciliated, fingerlike projections called fimbriae (fim′bre-e; “fringe”) that drape over the ovary. Unlike the male duct system, which is continuous with the tubules of the testes, the uterine tubes have little or no actual contact with the ovaries. An ovulated oocyte is cast into the peritoneal cavity, and many oocytes are lost there. However, the uterine tube performs complex movements to capture oocytes–it bends to drape over the ovary while the fimbriae stiffen and sweep the ovarian surface. The beating cilia on the fimbriae then create currents in the peritoneal fluid that tend to carry an oocyte into the uterine tube, where it begins its journey toward the uterus.

The uterine tube contains sheets of smooth muscle, and its thick, highly folded mucosa contains both ciliated and nonciliated cells. The oocyte is carried toward the uterus by a combination of muscular peristalsis and the beating of the cilia. Nonciliated cells of the mucosa have dense

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