UNC-Asheville, s2008
clitoris clitoris
FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA ovary uterine tube Clitoris Labia Minora VULVA UTERUS Labia Majora
Pubic region (Mons veneris)
cervix
Anus
vagina
UNC-Asheville, s2008
Vagina: the female organ of copulation, a muscular sheath (7-9 cm long) extends from the cervix to vestibule of vagina (cleft bet. the labia minora).
The Clitoris
The clitoris is the primary organ of sexual excitement for most women. With 8000 nerve endings (nearly 2x that of the head of the penis), it is the most sensitive portion of the womans body. It is found at the top of the woman vulva above the urethra and under the clitoral hood. When engorged the clitoris can be anywhere from the size of a chocolate chip to the size of a thumb. YouTube - The Internal Clitoris http://youtube.com/watch?v=cWRO0IIN_QE
labia
Vaginal opening
Clitoris Mass of erectile tissue (cavernous tissue) Anchored to base of pubic symphysis Protected by skin (prepuce) Entirely sensory function [dorsal N. of clitoris, from pudendal N.]
Erectile tissues (clitoris, bulb of vestibule) Overlying muscles UG diaphragm (external urethral sphincter)
UNC-Asheville, s2008
Ovarian Cycle
oocyte OVULATION
Release of oocyte (mid-cycle)
ov ary
corpus luteum
forms from remnants forms from remnants of follicle makes of follicle makes progesterone progesterone
follicle
oocyte
Usu. release only one oocyte per month High multiple births in recent years is due to fertility treatments
Events shed uterine lining (bleeding) follicle matures, oocyte grows LH, FSH spike oocyte released corpus luteum secretes progesterone endometrium thickens to prepare for implantation
6-13
14 15-28
*specific days and time of ovulation vary between individuals and cycles
UNC-Asheville, s2008
Hormones chemical messenger molecules carried by the blood potentially affect all cells of body (but, cell must have a receptor for the hormone) slow-acting; produce long-term changes in the activity of cells. all hormone-releasing tissues in the body together are the endocrine system.
Hormone Levels
Gonadotropic Hormones FSH & LH produced by pituitary gland Regulate ovulation Corpus Luteum follicle w/out egg secretes progesterone
Ovarian Cycle
Estrogen Triggers FSH and LH release Progesterone causes growth of uterine lining Thickness of endometrium
proliferative
Menstruation
Shedding of the uterine lining Caused by drop in progesterone
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Sexual Intercourse
Vaginal sexual intercourse is the primary way in which a woman becomes pregnant. The simplest explanation of intercourse is when an erect penis is inserted in the vagina, but this doesnt explain the doesn complexity of how sex happens.
UNC-Asheville, s2008
Sexual Intercourse!
http://www.pennhealth.com/health_info/animationplayer/conception_pregnancy.html
Things to know: Where does fertilization take place? Why are there so many more sperm than eggs? Why/how does only one sperm fertilize an oocyte?
Fertilization
Fertilization occurs when the sperm and the egg meet. Thats not a guarantee of That pregnancy, though. Pregnancy occurs when the zygote attaches to the uterine wall. http://websrvr40nj.audiovideoweb.com/av webdsnjwebsrvr4501/portal/media/mediawebdsnjwebsrvr4501/portal/media/media050516-pregnancy.html 050516from A. Tsiaras The Architecture and Design of Man and Woman
oviduct
FERTILIZATION
Occurs near beginning of oviduct
ovary
OVULATION
uterus cervix
vagina INTERCOURSE
ZYGOTE
nuclei fuse fertilized cell
UNC-Asheville, s2008
1 oocyte ~200,000,000 sperm Single sperm cannot fertilize by itself enzymes digest cells around oocyte
IMPLANTATION: zygote divides into a hollow ball of cells (blastocyst) that sticks to endometrium, to form the embryo and placenta 3. Cell Division
zygote
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is the term used to describe when a woman has a growing fetus inside of her. In most cases, the fetus grows in the uterus.
2. fertilization 1. ovulation
Human pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, or just more than 9 months, from the start of the last menstrual period to childbirth. period
4. implantation
HCG
4 weeks
UNC-Asheville, s2008
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY Ball of cells implants somewhere other than uterus (98% in uterine tube)
Can you understand why there are problems with urination and constipation during pregnancy?
Birth
Experts don't fully understand what triggers the onset of labor, and there's no way to predict exactly when it will start. Here are some things that may happen in the weeks may or days before labor starts: The baby "drops" There is an increase in Braxton Hicks contractions. The cervix starts to ripen: soften and thin out Loss of mucus plug or visibility of "bloody show." Amniotic sac ruptures aka the water breaks. Labor can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several days. Each woman is different woman and by working with her midwife or obstetrician she can stay at home for the entire birth or she can choose to stay home for the majority of the labor and go to the labor birthing center or hospital as she gets closer to delivery.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=C0QIAZJ_CuE
Terminology: Embryo
fertilization 8 weeks organogenesis cervix
PARTURITION
Fetus
8 weeks birth growth and maturation dilation
Full-term
38-42 weeks ~24 weeks (>50% survival)
Neonate
newborn breaks connection with mother expulsion Ejection of placenta (afterbirth)