The female reproductive system is a complicated but fascinating subject.

It has the capability to function

intimately with nearly every other body system for the purpose of reproduction.
The female reproductive organ can be subdivided into the internal and external genitalia..

the internal

genitalia are those organs that are within the true pelvis. These include the vagina, uterus, cervix , uterine
tubes (oviducts or fallopian tubes)
The external

genitalia lie outside the true pelvis. These include the perineum ,mons pubis, clitoris,

urethral (urinary)meatus, labia majora and minora, vestibule, greater vestibular(Bartholin)glands, skene
glands and periurethral area.
The vulva also known as the pudendum
1. Anatomy is the study of the structures of the human body, and physiology is the study of the
coordinated functions of the organs, tissues and body systems..
3.3.

1 Mons pubis

The mons pubis is a thick, hair-covered, fatty and semi-rounded area overlying the symphysis
pubis. Symphysis is a type of strong and immovable joint between bones. The function of the fatty
tissue in the mons pubis is to protect the womans pubic area from bruising during the sex act.
The mons

pubis is a rounded mound of fatty tissue that covers the pubic bone. During puberty, it

becomes covered with hair. The mons pubis contains oil-secreting (sebaceous) glands that
release substances that are involved in sexual attraction (pheromones).

Labia Majora
The labia majora (singular: labium majus) are a pair of rounded folds of skin and
adipose that are part of the external female genitalia.
Their function is to cover and protect the inner, more delicate and
sensitive structures of the vulva, such as the labia minora, clitoris,
urinary orifice, and vaginal orifice.
The labia majora are homologous to the scrotum in males and develop from the
same embryological tissue..
The labia majora are located in the pubic region on the surface of the
body lateral to the labia minora, clitoris, and vaginaThe major function
of the labia majora is protection of the softer tissues of the vulva.
The labia majora (literally, large lips) are relatively large, fleshy folds of tissue
that enclose and protect the other external genital organs.

labia minora also known as nymphae

They protect the opening of the vagina and the urethra (the tube that carries urine
from the bladder to the urethral opening in the vulva) . The labia minora normally have an
elastic nature, which enables them to distend and contract during sexual activity, and labour and delivery.

The labia minora can stretch to let the babys head out.The labia

minora (literally,

small lips) can be very small or up to 2 inches wide.. A rich supply of blood vessels gives
the labia minora a pink color. During sexual stimulation, these blood vessels become engorged
with blood, causing the labia minora to swell and become more sensitive to stimulation.
The vestibule is the area between the labia minora, and consists of the clitoris, urethral opening and
1cm anterior to the vaginal opening.
The clitoris is a short erectile organ at the top of the vestibule, which has a very rich nerve supply
and blood vessels. Its function is sexual excitation and it is very sensitive to touch. Its anatomical
position is similar to the position of the male penis. Its width in an adult female is appr0ximately1
cm with an average length of 1.5-2.0cm.
The urethral

opening is the mouth or opening of the urethra, which is a small tubular structure

that drains urine from the bladder.

The skene

glands secret lubrication at the opening of the urethra. The greater vestibular
(Bartholin)glands are also responsible for secreting lubrication to vagina
The vaginal

opening is the entrance to the vagina. It is where you will begin to see the presenting

part of the baby as it stretches wider open near the end of labour.
3.3.4

Perineum and hymen

The skin-covered muscular area between the vaginal opening and the anus is called the perineum. It has
strong muscles and its own nerve supply, and it helps to support the contents of the pelvic cavity. The
hymen is a fold of thin vaginal tissue which partially covers the vaginal entrance in girls. It can be torn
during strenuous exercise, as well as by the first sexual penetration.
The area between the opening of the vagina and the anus, below the labia majora, is called the

perineum. It varies in length from almost 1 to more than 2 inches (2 to 5 centimeters).

The opening to the vagina is called the introitus.
The vaginal opening is the entryway for the penis during sexual intercourse and the exit for
blood during menstruation and for the baby during birth. When stimulated, Bartholin glands
(located beside the vaginal opening) secrete a thick fluid that supplies lubrication for intercourse..

The prepuce, or hood, of the clitoris is a small fold of skin that covers and
protects the clitoris anteriorlyThe clitoris can be divided into three major
regions: the glans, body, and crura.

Under the surface of the skin, two legs of erectile tissue known as the crura fan
out to support the exterior structures of the clitoris and attach to the underlying
tissues.

Extending from the crura is the body, the main cylindrical region of the clitoris,
which contains two columns of the erectile tissue. Blood filling the hollow chambers of
the erectile tissue allows the clitoris to grow in size and harden during sexual
stimulation.
Finally, the glans forms the pointed tip of the clitoris extending outward from
the body and beyond the prepuce that covers the rest of the clitoris.