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From ovary to vagina
For many people, the parts of the female reproductive system may be more familiar than those of the male. Thanks to pregnancy and the menstrual cycle, terms like uterus and ovary are quite established. But do you actually know where they are? And what happens in the female body?
The main female reproductive functions are to produce eggs, fertilize eggs through sexual intercourse, and provide a place for the fetus to grow and develop. In addition, hormones ensure the functioning of the reproductive organs and female sexual characteristics such as the breasts. The latter are, for example, necessary for feeding the baby after birth.
Vagina (sheath)
The vagina connects the uterus to the outside world. However, the sheath cannot be seen from the outside, it is shielded by the vulva. In general, the vagina is 8 to 10 centimeters deep. During sexual intercourse, the vagina is penetrated by the penis. That way, when the man ejaculates, sperm cells can begin their journey towards a mature egg. In addition, the vagina is, of course, the channel from which babies are born.
womb (uterus)
The uterus has the shape and size of a pear. The lower part, the cervix and cervix, partially protrude into the vagina, the upper part is located in the abdomen behind the bladder. A number of bands, ligaments, hold the uterus in place. The upper part of the uterus is connected to the ovaries via the fallopian tubes.
The inside of the uterus consists of a mucous membrane. This membrane is partly always present and partly grows during the menstrual cycle under the influence of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen. A fertilized egg can implant in this layer. If this does not happen, the layer is shed during menstruation. In addition to the mucous membrane, the uterine wall consists of three different muscle layers.
The uterus is therefore very important for reproduction. The fertilized egg implants itself in the endometrium and receives nutrients there until the placenta is formed. After a week or two, the amniotic fluid develops in the uterus. The amniotic fluid protects the fetus and removes waste. Finally, the uterus contracts during childbirth: the contractions.
During sexual arousal, more blood flows to the pelvis and uterus. The latter then becomes larger. When you ejaculate, not only do the muscles in the vagina contract, but also those in the uterus.
ovaries (ovaries)
The ovaries are located to the left and right of the uterus in the pelvis. The ovary is a bean-shaped organ 3 to 4 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2 centimeters thick. The ovaries are connected to the fallopian tubes and the pelvic wall, among other things, with different bands, ligaments. They are gray-white in color.
The ovaries consist of the pith (inside) and cortex (outside). The marrow is connective tissue with many blood vessels and nerves. The cortex layer contains primary eggs from birth. During the woman’s reproductive years, a number of eggs (follicles) mature every month. One fully matured egg eventually ends up in the fallopian tube every month during ovulation.
The ovaries also produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and determine the external sexual characteristics, such as the breasts. They also play a role in sex drive and in keeping the vagina flexible.
Fallopian tubes (tubae)
At the top of the uterus is an opening on both sides: the entrance to the fallopian tubes. These thin flexible tubes connect the uterus to the ovaries. They are 8 to 10 centimeters long. The inside is lined with mucous membrane and cilia. The outside consists of a thin muscle layer. The end of the fallopian tubes at the level of the ovary is funnel-shaped. It looks a bit like a splayed hand with fingers and each finger is fused with the ovary.
After intercourse, a sperm can fertilize an egg in a fallopian tube. The millions of sperm cells released during a man’s orgasm must travel through the cervix and uterus into the fallopian tube and fertilize the egg within 24 hours of ovulation. If successful, the cilia then transport the fertilized egg to the uterus.