Female Anatomy and Physiology

Question 1

What are the Female Sex organs for?

Answer 1

Reproductive Function, Attract partners, provide pleasure, some anatomical issues remain unresolved.

Question 2

Female External Genitalia: Vulva

Answer 2

Mons Pubis, Clitoris, Lia Majora, Labia Minor, Vestibule, Perineum, Vaginal Opening

Question 3

Mons Pubis

Answer 3

Latin for pubic mound; pad of fatty tissue that covers the pubic bone; protects pubic bone from the impact of sexual intercourse; After puberty, pubic hair develops to protect the genitals from moisture; sexually sensitive in some women; no reproductive purpose

Question 4

Clitoris: Glans clitoris (head of clitoris)

Answer 4

composed of erectile tissue and blood vessels that contain high concentration of nerve endings; rounded organ at the top of the vulva, just above the urethra; measures about 1/4 of an inch; covered by hood when not engorged; believed to be the most sexually sensitive part of the female anatomy; structurally analogous to the penis

Question 5

Clitoris

Answer 5

erectile internal structure- two 3.5” long branches called crura; Crura contain two corpora cavernosa: hollow chambers that fill with blood and swell during arousal; Orgasmic- enlarges initially, then retracts beneath the hood just before and during orgasm, follows same pattern with repeated orgasms, though swelling is less pronounced.

Question 6

Labia Majora *

Answer 6

*the large, outer lips of the vulva; they are covered by pubic hair and contain fatty tissue under the skin; they contain numerous sweat and oil glands; contain a significant concentration of nerve endings.

Question 7

Labia Minora *

Answer 7

• fleshy inner lips of the vulva; they are inside the Labia Majora and closer to the vaginal opening; contain a significant concentration of nerve endings; swell during sexual arousal; enclose the vestibule (within labia minora)

Question 8

Skene’s Glands *

Answer 8

• female ejaculate originates from this; located on the anterior wall of the vagina around the lower end of the urethra; can be indirectly felt through the upper vaginal wall - 2-3 inches from the entrance of the vagina; ducts from these glands empty into the urethral canal; female counterpart to the male’s prostate; produces a thin, clear fluid whose chemical makeup is similar to semen (aka female ejaculate)

Question 9

Bartholin’s Glands

Answer 9

they flank the vaginal opening; they secrete relatively small amounts of mucus-like fluid that travels down tiny tubes (ducts) into the lower part of the entrance to the vagina; the fluid aids in sexual intercourse by reducing friction; not the same fluid that it produces when a female secretes fluid from inside the vagina on a daily basis

Question 10

Vestibule

Answer 10

the area between the labia minora; includes the urethra, vaginal opening and openings of ducts of the Skene’s glands; and openings of the ducts of the Bartholin’s Glands.

Question 11

Perineum

Answer 11

Smooth skin that extends from the merged labia minora to the anus; sexually sensitive in some women

Question 12

Female Internal Structures

Answer 12

Vagina, cervix, Uterus, Fallopian Tubes, 2 ovaries

Question 13

Vagina

Answer 13

the vaginal opening is called the introitus; 3 reproductive functions: encompasses penis during coitus (vaginal intercourse), birth canal, exit for menstrual fluid; 3-5 inches in length; the lower third of third of the vagina has the majority of nerve endings; the upper two-thirds of the vagina are relatively insensitive to touch; before puberty, the vaginal walls are thin and elastic; after puberty, the vaginal walls thicken and become more elastic and highly vascularized; the vaginal walls contribute the majority of vaginal lubrication during sexual arousal; it’s a self cleansing organ (secretes an acidic fluid); during sexual arousal, the vagina “tents” out; in the non-aroused state, the vaginal walls resemble a collapsed tube of toothpaste

Question 14

Hymen

Answer 14

thin membrane that partially covers introitus, it usually has a perforation or opening in the center.

Question 15

Grafenberg Spot (G-spot)

Answer 15

an erotically sensitive area on the front wall of the vagina midway between pubic bone and cervix

Question 16

Uterus

Answer 16

resembles a small inverted pear; hollow, thick-walled muscular organ; approx. 3” by 3” in women who have not given birth; Endometrium- inner layer; Myometrium- middle strong layer of muscles; Perimetrium- outer layer or external cover; has three parts; accommodates the developing fetus during pregnancy

Question 17

Cervix: (part of the uterus)

Answer 17

neck of the uterus that projects into the back of the vagina; has relatively few nerve endings; the cervical opening is called the os; the os is normally no wider than the diameter of a matchstick; it dilates to 10cm (about 4 inch) at childbirth;

Question 18

Body: (part of the uterus)

Answer 18

the center cavity

Question 19

Fundus: (part of the uterus)

Answer 19

the broad, upper part of the uterus; it is dome-shaped

Question 20

Fallopian Tubes

Answer 20

aka oviducts; pathway for ovum to reach the uterus; they are about 4 in long and 1/3 in diameter; extend from each side of the uterus toward the ovary

Question 21

Fimbriae

Answer 21

fingerlike projections attached to the funnel-shaped ovarian end of each fallopian tube (2); they hang over the ovary, but there is no direct connection; during ovulation an egg is drawn into the fallopian tube by them

Question 22

Ovaries *

Answer 22

• female sex organs also called gonads; 2 ovaries- size of large almonds; 2 Functions: production of estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormone) and production of egg or ovum

Question 23

Egg or Ovum *

Answer 23

female sex cell; *on avg. a female is born with approx. 2,000,000 immature eggs in her ovaries; during child-bearing years, about 300 to 400 eggs mature and become capable of being fertilized; * on avg. the number of menstrual cycles in a female’s lifetime is 451; a female will spend on avg. 1,800 days or 4.9 years in in menstruation; by menopause, most remaining follicles have degenerated; * if an egg does not become fertilized within 24 hrs of its eruption, it begins to degenerate; * a female’s vaginal pH ranges from 3.8-4.5 for most of her cycle