Reproduction in Lower and Higher Animals — BIOLOGY STD 12 Science — Question

The female reproductive system consists of internal organs and external genitalia.

Internal organs are pair of ovaries and pair of fallopian ducts or oviducts, single median uterus and vagina. External genitalia is called vulva. There are a pair of vestibular glands in external genitalia. Mammary glands or breasts are also associated with reproductive system of female.

(1) Ovaries:

• Ovaries are situated in the abdomen in upper lateral part of the pelvis near the kidneys. Their dimensions are about 3 cm in length, 1.5 cm in breadth and 1.0 cm thick. They are solid, oval or almond shaped organs.
• Ovaries produce ova and they are also endocrine in nature as they produce estrogen, progesterone, relaxin, activin and inhibin.
• Ovarian hormones bring about secondary sexual characters. They also control menstrual cycle, pregnancy and parturition.

(2) Fallopian tubes/oviducts:
(i) Fallopian tubes lie horizontally over peritoneal cavity. These are about 10 to 12 cm long, narrow, muscular structure lined by ciliated epithelium.
(ii) They transport the ovum after ovulation from the ovary to the uterus.
(iii) Fallopian tube can be subdivided into the following three parts:

• The infundibulum which bears a number of finger-like processes called fimbriae at its free border.
• Infundibulum is funnel-shaped having ostium which receives ova released from the ovary.
• The second part is the ampulla where the fertilization takes place.
• The last part is short cornua or isthmus which opens into the uterus.

(3) Uterus/Womb:
(i) Uterus is a pear-shaped, highly muscular, thick walled, hollow organ measuring about 8 cm in length, 5 cm in width and 2 cm in thickness.

(ii) Uterus has the following three parts : Fundus, Body or corpus and Cervix.

(iii) The cervix communicates above with the body of the uterus by an aperture, the internal os and with vagina below by an opening the external os.

(iv) Uterus has three-layered wall. These layers are:

• Perimetrium : An outer serous layer.
• Myometrium : The middle thick muscular layer of smooth muscles.
• Endometrium : The inner highly vascular mucosa that has many uterine glands.

(v) Uterus receives the ovum from fallopian tube. It develops placenta during pregnancy for the nourishment of foetus. At the time of parturition, it expels the young one at birth.

(4) Vagina:

• Vagina is a highly distensible fibro-muscular tube that lies between the cervix and the vestibule.
• It is about 7 to 9 cm in length and is internally lined by stratified and non- keratinised epithelium. The vaginal wall has inner mucous lining.
• Vagina acts as a birth canal as well as copulatory passage. It also allows passage of menstrual flow.
• Vagina opens into vestibule by vaginal orifice which may be covered with hymen which is also a mucous membrane.

(5) External genitalia or vulva or pudendum : The external genitalia consists of five parts; viz. labia majora, labia minora, mons veneris, clitoris and vestibule.

(6) A pair of vestibular glands / Bartholin’s glands : These glands open into the vestibule and release a lubricating fluid.

(7) A pair of mammary glands/breasts : These are the accessory organs of female reproductive system for production and release of milk after parturition.