Female anatomy is functional in that it allows for reproduction and it sustains that life after childbirth:
The Breasts
The breasts are more than two curvy objects that vary in size and shape. Although valued for their allure, they are actually quite functional in nature: the breasts are primarily milk producers.
Milk is produced in the glandular lobes of the breasts. The lobes contain ducts that converge toward the nipple. The overall name for this system of lobes and ducts is "mammary glands."
The mammary glands produce and secrete milk to feed a newborn, and the process starts during pregnancy as hormone levels rise.
The Uterus
The uterus is sometimes seen as the ultimate female symbol. This is with good reason, since the uterus is where new life develops.
The uterus is made up of three parts, making it resemble a pear. The widest, upper-most part is the fundus. The middle section, the body, narrows until it reaches the isthmus, where the cervix seals off the uterus from the vagina.
The uterus also has three layers. The outermost layer protects it from the outside world. The middle, or muscular layer, exhibits contractions or cramping during the delivery of a baby or menstruation. The inner layer, the endometrium, functions as the place where an embryo attaches and develops, or is shed during menstruation.
The Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes
The ovaries are the female sex organs, or gonads, that reside in the pelvis. They are the equivalent of the male testicles. Ovaries produce a female hormone (estrogen) and they also develop and release a monthly egg. Through the influence of female hormones, (usually) one egg develops and is released from the ovary every 28 days or so, and the two ovaries alternate the egg production.
The fallopian tubes are the pathways that the developed eggs use to leave the ovaries and enter the uterus. This is the number one place where fertilization occurs. An egg generally fertilizes here and continues into the uterus to implant, or it remains unfertilized and continues to the uterus where it will be expelled during menstruation.
The Vagina
The vagina, which extends from the cervix to the outside of the body, is the birth canal and, of course, where intercourse takes place. This muscular organ expands to many times its size during labor to accommodate the passing of the fetus.
Outer Protective Anatomy
The vulva is external genitalia that covers the opening of the vagina. It has several inner and outer folds that protect the vaginal and urethral (urinary tract) openings.
- For related health information, see the General Health ARTICLE INDEX
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