Table of Contents |
The female reproductive system is a body system specific to females that plays a role in the development of offspring, from the development of reproductive cells (eggs) to the time of conception all the way to birth. Please refer to the diagram below as you work your way through this lesson.
Egg cells are the female version of gametes. In the process of reproduction, the mother and the father each contribute half of embryo's DNA (1/2 + 1/2 = 1). Cells that have half the typical amount of DNA are called gametes; female gametes are eggs, and male gametes are sperm.
Oogenesis is the word used for the formation of an egg and takes place in the ovaries. An egg is released from the ovary into the oviduct, where it can become fertilized. If it doesn't, the egg will still move toward the uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, it will be expelled through menstruation out through the cervix and then out the vagina.
A female has two ovaries (one on each side), and the ovaries produce and release egg cells called oocytes. The process of releasing a developing egg (oocyte) from the ovary is called ovulation. An oocyte is an immature egg cell that is produced in the ovaries; the oocyte won't become a mature ovum (the plural of "ovum" is "ova") unless they become fertilized.
During ovulation, an oocyte will be released from the ovaries and will move into the oviduct, or fallopian tube. As egg cells move through the fallopian tubes, they may encounter sperm. This is where fertilization occurs.
From there, regardless of if the egg becomes fertilized or not, it will travel toward the uterus. The uterus is the location for the development of a fertilized egg, which will eventually become an embryo.
The myometrium is a muscular layer of the uterus and will expand quite a bit if a baby is developing within the uterus, creating room for the developing embryo and fetus.
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus; it lies between the myometrium and the space within the uterus (where the baby develops). This is where the embryo would implant if the egg was fertilized and would begin its development.
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that leads out to the vagina. The vagina is essentially the birth canal and leads from the cervix to the outside. The vagina is essentially where a baby exits the mother and where sperm is first introduced.
Source: THIS WORK IS ADAPTED FROM SOPHIA AUTHOR AMANDA SODERLIND