The male 🧔🏻 and female 👱🏻♀️ reproductive system consists of a set of organs and a network of hormonal production. It allows a man to impregnate a woman🤰🏻, who will give birth to a baby. During conception, the male sperm unites with the egg 🥚 and a fertilized egg (embryo) is formed, which nestles and grows in the uterus during pregnancy. Abnormalities/damage to reproductive organs and hormonal disorders are common causes of infertility.
The female external genitalia are located near the pubic bone and include the vulva. We distinguish them into labia majora and labia minora, the mound of Venus (fatty tissue above the pubic bone, forming the front part of the vulva), the clitoris, the vestibular glands (Bartholin's gland) and the vaginal entrance🍑.
The clitoris is formed by axillary bodies and is richly penetrated by nerve endings. Paired Bartholin's glands produce a mucus-like secretion that moistens the vaginal vestibule. Pubic hair protects the vaginal entrance from the entry of bacteria🦠.
The internal genitalia include the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. The vagina is made up of muscle and connective tissue, and in a resting state its walls are close to each other, measuring about 10 cm. The cells of the vaginal mucosa produce glycogen, which is essential for the lactobacilli of the vaginal microflora (more in the vaginal microbiome article).
The cervix connects the vagina to the uterus. The uterus consists of perimetrium, myometrium and endometrium (uterine lining). The endometrium regularly forms and breaks down under the influence of hormones. If fertilization does not occur during the menstrual cycle, it disappears and is excreted from the body together with the blood.
The function of the ovaries is the production of hormones and eggs. At sexual maturity, there are around 300,000 eggs in each ovary. After birth, there are about a million of them, after which no more eggs are formed. The fallopian tubes are connected to the uterus at the top. During ovulation, the eggs are released from the follicles and travel to the uterus. Fertilization of the egg occurs in the fallopian tubes, followed by implantation in the uterus. If the egg lodges in the fallopian tube, it is an ectopic pregnancy, which is incompatible with the life of the embryo.
Verra team💕