Review of Female Reproductive Anatomy
- The Uterus
The uterus is a hollow muscular female reproductive organ also referred to as the womb. It is shaped like an upside-down pear and located in the lower pelvic region between the hips. Two fallopian tubes are attached at the top on either side of the uterus. At the bottom, the cervix opens into the vagina, which leads into the exterior of the female reproductive system.
An embryo implants and grows in the uterus. The walls of the uterus are composed of muscles and therefore are capable of expanding with the growth of the child. These muscles also contract and push the baby downward during labor and delivery.
- The Ovaries
The ovaries are a pair of female reproductive organs. They are located in the pelvis on each side of the uterus. Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond (approximately 1 1/2 inches). The ovaries have two functions: to produce eggs and to produce female hormones that control female body characteristics (breasts, body hair, and body shape). Female hormones also regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. - The Fallopian Tubes
The fallopian tubes serve as passageways through which eggs travel from ovary to uterus. Fallopian tubes have finger-like projections that reach out toward the ovaries.Occasionally a fertilized egg will wrongly implant in the fallopian tubes or elsewhere in the abdomen. This is called an ectopic or tubal pregnancy and is an extremely dangerous situation for a woman, requiring medical attention.
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