What is
the female reproductive system? The female reproductive system
is made up of some special organs (female
reproductive diagram A).
An organ is a part of the body designed to
perform a certain function, such as the heart,
which has the job of pumping blood. The female
reproductive organs make it possible for a woman
to have a baby. The uterus,
fallopian
tubes, ovaries
and the vagina
are the main structures of the female
reproductive system. uterus ovaries egg
cells fallopian
tubes vagina The vagina is a tube about four to five
inches long. It connects the uterus with the outside of the
body. The part of the uterus that meets the vagina is called
the cervix.
The cervix is a very tiny opening that leads into the
uterus. The uterus is about the size and shape of an
upside-down pear. Sometimes you might hear the uterus called
the womb.
The womb or the uterus is where a baby grows and develops
inside the mother. The uterus is a hollow organ with
muscular walls. The inside lining of the uterus is called
the endometrium. The uterus is located inside of a females
body between the hips. On each side of the uterus there are
small organs called ovaries. The ovaries contain thousands
of egg
cells. These egg cells are
only about the size of a tiny grain of sand. The egg cells
formed inside of a girl's ovaries before she is even born.
During puberty these egg cells will begin to mature and be
released from the ovary. When an egg cell is released from
an ovary it must travel to the uterus. Directly next to each
ovary is a thin tube through which the egg cell travels to
get to the uterus. These thin tubes are called fallopian
tubes. The interior of a fallopian tube is only the
thickness of two human hairs. What changes
occur to the reproductive organs during puberty? As a females body begins the process of
puberty special hormones
are released that create changes to the internal
reproductive organs inside of a girl's body. The vagina
becomes deeper,and girls may notice some wetness, called
vaginal discharge, on their panties. The color of the
discharge is usually clear to whitish and, it's normal in
small amounts, so it's nothing to worry about. The uterus
becomes longer and the lining of the uterus becomes thicker.
The ovaries enlarge and the egg cells inside the ovaries
begin to grow and develop getting ready for a special
monthly event called ovulation.
What is
ovulation?
Male
Reproductive System |
Female
Reproductive System
| Review
This site is designed to support and
expand the Hillendale Health Curriculum.
Learning about how your body grows and
develops and how to take care of your body is an important
part of Hillendale Health class. The following information
deals with the changes that occur to a girl's body
especially the reproductive system as girls go through
puberty. Find information by reading the information below
or click on the contents
button to look for answers
to specific questions.
What are the different parts of the
female reproductive system?
Female Reproductive System
female
reproductive diagram B
What is fertilization?
Where does a baby grow inside of the mother?
What is menstruation?