The female reproductive system is extremely incredible with multiple functions; it is capable of bringing life, gratification, and hormonal balance (as long as there aren't any anatomic and/or physiological abnormalities). But, do you know what composes your reproductive system?
We believe that to truly take care of our bodies and give it the love it deserves we need to get to know it better and understand how it works, so we'll be delivering a small lesson on the female reproductive system. First of all, we need to know that it's constituted by the external organs, meaning the vulva, and the internal organs. The internal organs are those that lay inside the pelvic cavity and act as a protector, so for today, we'll be taking a look at what we have inside.
Internal Organs
The internal organs are composed of 4 main parts: the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the endometrium, and the vagina. Do you know what they do or where they're located?
The Ovaries
They are a pair of little glands with the size of an almond, the shape could be modified with age and the ovarian cycle phase; it can double its size during pregnancy and menopause, they're atrophies, and both of them are located on opposite sides of the uterus (womb) and are connected to it by the fallopian tubes. But, ¿what do they exactly do? Well, these glands have two main reproductive functions in the body:
They produce oocytes (eggs) for fertilization
Produce reproductive hormones: estrogen which is the primary female sex hormone that helps bring out all your physical changes, and progesterone which is the one in charge of your fertility
Fallopian tubes
Just like the ovaries, every woman has two, as we mentioned earlier they connect the ovaries with the uterus. Their main job is to carry the ova (eggs) from the ovary to the womb each month, then the eggs can be fertilized on the presence of sperm, and the uterine tubes will transport the fertilized egg to the uterus for implantation. They have three parts:
Isthmus: this segment is the closes one to the womb
Ampulla: is the segment most expanded of the fallopian tube. Fertilization usually occurs here
Infundibulum: funnel-shaped opening near the ovary to which fimbriae (fingerlike branches) are attached
Endometrium
It is a single layer that covers the uterine cavity, this epithelium (a type of tissue) is the layer in which implantation takes place. If there is no pregnancy, the endometrium suffers cyclical changes of degeneration and regeneration characteristics which can be known as menstruation.
Vagina
It's an elastic, muscular tube that connects the cervical canal of the uterus to the external organs of the reproductive system (vulva), it has a length of 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) and it's located next to the bladder and below the rectum. The vagina has de ability to increase its diameter for sexual intercourse and childbirth and it can also function as an excretory organ for menstruation.
Remember, the female body is incredible and capable of many things, so get to know it, it is the strongest relationship you should have, love it, cherish it, and take good care of it, because you only get one.
Camila Quintero
Adira advisor, last year medicine student interested in women’s wellness and promoter of a healthy lifestyle. You can find more of her content on @karantina_col where you'll find recipes and tips to a better wellbeing.
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