Overview of the female reproductive system

Abstract

The female reproductive system is described from its gross anatomical, histological, and physiological perspectives. The gross and microscopic anatomical structures described in this chapter ainclude (1) the primary reproductive gland, that is, the ovary; (2) the secondary reproductive glands, that is, bulbourethral, cervical, and vestibular; and (3) the tubular structures developing from the paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts), that is, fallopian (uterian or ovarian) tubes, uterus, and vagina. The physiology of the female reproductive system describes how these various anatomical structures interact in a normal reproductively fertile adult woman. This function necessarily includes the reproductive portion of the hypothalamus and pituitary (hypophysis) gland.

This system is extremely complex and requires very precise timing of all its integral parts to be able to produce a take-home baby. In addition, the female reproductive system interacts with a number of other body systems when it is functioning properly, illustrated by including the nervous system’s hypothalamus and pituitary in describing the physiology of the reproductive system.

The physiology section uses a graph of the female reproductive cycle with its major hormones that summarizes their interactions and illustrates the overall physiology of the normal 28-day menstrual cyclicity. This chapter weaves the gross and histological structures into an understanding of the function of the system as a whole.