THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM.

The Female reproductive system

The Female reproductive system

1- What its role in the normal functioning of the human organism and its contribution to maintenance of homeostasis?

Ans. In the female reproductive system, ova are produced in the ovaries, two small organs set in the pelvic cavity below and to either side of the bellybutton. The ovaries also secrete the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The estrogen hormone causes the thickening of the lining of the uterus and vagina in the early phase of the menstrual cycle. The estrogen hormone is also responsible for female secondary sex characteristics such as pubic hair and breasts, and they affect other tissues including the genital organs, skin, hair, blood vessels, bone, and pelvic muscles. Progesterone induces secretory changes in the lining of the uterus that is very important in case the egg gets fertilized. Being a steroid, progesterone is secreted mostly by the corpus luteum, a group of cells formed in the ovary after the follicle ruptures during the release of the egg cell. If fertilization does not take place, the secretion of progesterone decreases and menstruation occurs. If fertilization does happen, progesterone is secreted during pregnancy by the placenta and actions to avert spontaneous abortion. The hormone furthermore prepares the mammary glands for milk production. After an ovum matures, it passes into the uterine tube, or fallopian tube. If there are sperm from sexual intercourse (or artificial insemination) fertilization occurs . The ovum, either fertilized or unfertilized, then passes down the fallopian tube, aided by cilia in the tube, and into the womb, or uterus, a pear-shaped organ focused for development of a fertilized egg. (Epperly et. al 2000) Pp. 3657)

Q2- What are the anatomical, physiological, chemical and cellular mechanisms behind the structure(s) or performance parameter?

Ans. An inner uterine layer of tissue, the endometrium, undergoes changes as a result of the changing levels of the hormones secreted by the ovaries. The endometrium is thickest throughout the part of the menstrual cycle in which a fertilized ovum would be anticipated to go in the uterus and is thinnest just after menstruation. If no fertilized egg is present in the direction of the end of the cycle, the condensed endometrium degenerates and sloughs off and menstruation occurs. If a fertilized egg is present it becomes embedded in the endometrium about a week after fertilization. The developing embryo produces cells and these, along with cells from the endometrium, form the placenta, the organ in which gas, food, and waste exchange between mother and embryo takes place. The embryo also types the amniotic sac inside which it evolves.

The uterus is a hollow muscular organ in which the fetus develops. The fetus is also delivered from it at the end of pregnancy. The human uterus is pear-shaped and about 3 in. long (and expands greatly during pregnancy). It lies in the pelvis, where it is supported by a ligament on either side extending to the pelvic wall. The body of the uterus goes down to a necklike ...