Female and male anatomy are surprisingly similar, except when it comes to reproduction. Discover the inner workings of the female reproductive system and how medical conditions might affect it.
Most body systems in men and women are similar, but not when it comes to reproduction. The male reproductive system is designed to deliver sperm, while the female reproductive system is capable of producing an egg, receiving sperm, nurturing and protecting a fertilized egg as it grows, and then giving birth. These functions require specialized female anatomy, including the vagina (1), cervix (2), uterus (3), fallopian tubes (4), and ovaries (5). The organs that distinguish female anatomy are located in the pelvic area. The external reproductive organ is simply the opening of the vagina. The internal organs are the vagina, the uterus, the two fallopian tubes, and the two ovaries. During sexual intercourse, sperm may be deposited in the vagina and move through the opening of the uterus called the cervix. The sperm swims into the fallopian tube and, if conception occurs, makes contact with an egg that has been released by the ovary.
Illustrations by Catherine Delphia.
The Vagina
The vagina (1) is the doorway to the female reproductive system. The area around the entrance to the vagina is called the vulva (2). During sexual intercourse, the male deposits his sperm into the vagina; from there the sperm may travel up through the cervix and into the uterus and fertilize an egg. If the fertilized egg leads to pregnancy and the pregnancy carries through to childbirth, the vagina serves as the birth canal. When a woman is not pregnant, the products of menstruation leave the body through the vagina.
Conditions of the Vulva and the Vagina
Inflammation of this area is called vulvovaginitis and it can be caused by irritants such as soaps found in bubble baths or by bacteria and viruses that are transmitted sexually. Candida albicans
Tuesday, September 29, 2020