The structure of the female genital organ. Details about the anatomy of sexual intercourse, male and female physiology
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The female genital organs are divided into external and internal.
External genitalia.
The external genitalia in women include: the pubis, labia majora and minora, Bartholin glands, clitoris, vestibule of the vagina and the hymen, which is the boundary between the external and internal genitalia.
PUBIS - a triangular elevation covered with hair, located above the womb. The boundaries are: from above - the transverse skin groove; from the sides - inguinal folds.
In women, the upper border of the pubic hair looks like a horizontal line.
LABIA MAJORA - two folds of skin that limit the genital slit on the sides. In front they pass into the skin of the pubis, in the back they merge into the posterior commissure. The skin on the outer surface of the labia majora is covered with hair, contains sweat and sebaceous glands, under it there are vessels in the subcutaneous fatty tissue , nerves and fibrous fibers, and in the posterior third - large glands of the vestibule (Bartholin's glands) - round alveolar-tubular,
the size of a bean gland. Their excretory ducts open in the groove between the labia minora and the hymen, and their secretion is released during sexual arousal.
The space between the posterior commissure and the anal opening is called the inter-
ity. In an anatomical sense, the perineum is a muscular-fascial plate covered on the outside with skin. Its height is on average 3-4 cm.
LABIA MINARA - the second pair of longitudinal skin folds. They are located medially from the labia majora and are usually covered by the latter. In front, the labia minora bifurcate into two legs on each side, which, merging, form the foreskin of the clitoris and the frenulum of the clitoris. Posteriorly, the labia minora merge with large.Thanks to the
The labia minora are the organs of sexual sense due to the presence of blood vessels and nerve endings.
CLITORIS. Outwardly noticeable as a small tubercle in the anterior corner of the genital gap between the fused legs of the labia minora. The clitoris has a head, a body consisting of cavernous bodies and legs that are attached to the periosteum of the pubic and ischial bones. Abundant blood supply and innervation make it the main organ of sexual sensation women.
THE VAGINA VESTRUCTURAL is a space bounded in front by the clitoris, behind by the posterior commissure of the labia, on the sides by the inner surface of the labia minora, and above by the hymen. The external opening of the urethra and the excretory ducts of the Bartholin glands open here.
The hymen is a connective tissue membrane that covers the entrance to the vagina in virgins. Its connective tissue base contains muscle elements, blood vessels and nerves. There must be a hole in the hymen. It can be of any shape. After defloration, the hymenal papillae remain from the hymen, after childbirth - myrtle-shaped papillae.
Internal genital organs.
These include: the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.
VAGINA is a well-stretchable, muscular-elastic tube. It runs from the front and bottom to the back and top. Starts from the hymen and ends at the place of attachment to the cervix. Average dimensions: length 7-8 cm (back wall 1.5-2 cm . longer), width 2-3 cm. Due to the fact that the front and back walls of the vagina are in contact, in cross section it has the shape of the letter H. Around the vaginal part of the cervix, which protrudes into the vagina, the walls of the vagina form a vaulted formation. It is customary to divide it on the anterior, posterior (deepest) and lateral fornix. The vaginal wall consists of three layers: mucous, muscle and surrounding tissue, in which vessels and nerves pass. The muscle layer consists of two layers: the outer longitudinal and the inner circular. The mucosa is covered with a multilayer flat epithelium containing glycogen. The process of glycogen formation is associated with the follicular hormone of the ovary. The vagina is very distensible due to the presence on the front and back walls of two longitudinal ridges, consisting of many transverse folds. There are no glands in the vaginal mucosa. The vaginal secretion is formed by soaking in fluid from the vessels. It has an acidic environment thanks to lactic acid formed from glycogen under the influence of enzymes and waste products of lactobacilli (Dederlein rods). Lactic acid contributes to the death of pathogenic microorganisms.
There are four degrees of purity of vaginal contents.
1st degree: the contents contain only lactobacilli and epithelial cells, the reaction is acidic.
2nd degree: fewer Dederlein rods, single leukocytes, bacteria, many epithelial cells, acidic reaction.
3rd degree: there are few lactobacilli, other types of bacteria predominate, there are many leukocytes, the reaction is slightly alkaline.
4th degree: no lactobacilli, a lot of bacteria and leukocytes, alkaline reaction.
1.2 degrees – a variant of the norm.
3.4 degrees indicate the presence of a pathological process.
The uterus is a smooth muscle hollow organ, pear-shaped, flattened in the anteroposterior direction.
Sections of the uterus: body, isthmus, cervix.
The dome-shaped part of the body above the lines of attachment of the tubes is called bottom of the uterus.
Isthmus- a part of the uterus 1 cm long, located between the body and the cervix. It is separated into a separate section, since the structure of the mucous membrane is similar to the body of the uterus, and the structure of the wall is similar to the cervix. The upper border of the isthmus is the place of dense attachment of the peritoneum to the anterior wall of the uterus. The lower the border is the level of the internal os of the cervical canal.
Neck- the lower part of the uterus, protruding into the vagina. There are two parts: vaginal and supravaginal. The cervix can be either cylindrical or conical (childhood, infantilism). Inside the cervix there is a narrow canal, spindle-shaped, limited internal and external pharynx. The external pharynx opens in the center of the vaginal part of the cervix. It has the shape of a slit in women who have given birth and a round shape in women who have not given birth.
The length of the entire uterus is 8 cm (2/3 of the length is on the body, 1/3 on the cervix), width 4-4.5 cm, wall thickness 1-2 cm. Weight 50-100 g. The uterine cavity has the shape of a triangle.
The wall of the uterus consists of 3 layers: mucous, muscular, serous. The mucous membrane of the uterus (endometrium) covered with a single-layer cylindrical ciliated epithelium containing tubular glands. The uterine mucosa is divided into two layers: superficial (functional), which is released during menstruation, and deep (basal), remaining in place.
Muscle layer (myometrium) richly supplied with vessels, consists of three powerful layers: outer longitudinal; middle circular; inner longitudinal.
Serous lining of the uterus (perimetry) is the peritoneum that covers the body and partly the cervix. From the bladder, the peritoneum passes to the anterior surface of the uterus, forming a vesicouterine cavity between these two organs. From the bottom of the uterus, the peritoneum descends along its posterior surface, lining the supravaginal part of the cervix and the posterior fornix of the vagina , and then passes to the anterior surface of the rectum, thus forming a deep pocket - the rectal-uterine recess (Douglas pouch).
The uterus is located in the center of the small pelvis, inclined anteriorly (anteversio uteri), its bottom is directed to the symphysis, the cervix is posterior, the external cervical os is adjacent to the wall of the posterior vaginal fornix. Between the body and the cervix there is an obtuse angle, open anteriorly (anteflexio uteri).
The fallopian tubes start from the upper corners of the uterus, run along the upper edge of the broad ligament towards the side walls of the pelvis, ending in a funnel. Their length is 10-12 cm. There are three sections in the tube: 1) interstitial- the narrowest part passing through the thickness of the uterus; 2) isthmus (isthmus); 3) ampullary- an expanded part of the tube ending in a funnel with fimbriae. In this section of the tube, fertilization occurs - the fusion of the egg and sperm.
The wall of the pipes consists of three layers: mucous, muscular, serous.
The mucosa is covered with a single-layer cylindrical ciliated epithelium and has longitudinal folding.
The muscle layer consists of three layers: outer - longitudinal; middle - circular; inner - longitudinal.
The peritoneum covers the tube from above and from the sides. Fiber with vessels and nerves is adjacent to the lower section of the tube.
The movement of a fertilized egg through the tube towards the uterus is facilitated by peristaltic contractions of the muscles of the tube, flickering of the cilia of the epithelium directed towards the uterus and longitudinal folding of the mucous membrane of the tube. Along the fold, like a gutter, the egg slides towards the uterus.
OVARIES - paired female gonad, almond-shaped, measuring 3.5-4 x 2-2.5 x 1-1.5 cm, weighing 6-8 g.
The ovary is inserted at one edge into the posterior leaf of the broad ligament (ovarian hilum), the rest of it is not covered by the peritoneum. The ovary is held in a freely suspended state by the broad uterine ligament, the ovarian ligament proper, and the infundibulopelvic ligament.
In the ovary, there is a covering epithelium, a tunica albuginea, a cortical layer with follicles at different stages of development, and a medulla consisting of a connective tissue stroma in which blood vessels and nerves pass.
The ovaries produce sex hormones and eggs mature.
Ligamentous apparatus of the genital organs.
In a normal position, the uterus and appendages are held by the ligamentous apparatus (suspending and securing apparatus) and the pelvic floor muscles (supporting or supporting apparatus).
The hanging apparatus includes:
1. Round uterine ligaments - two cords 10-12 cm long. They extend from the uterine angles, and passing under the wide uterine ligament and through the inguinal canals, they fan out, attaching to the tissue of the pubis and labia majora.
2. The broad ligaments of the uterus are a duplicate of the peritoneum. They run from the ribs of the uterus to the side walls of the pelvis.
3. Uterosacral ligaments - extend from the posterior surface of the uterus in the area of the isthmus, go
posteriorly, covering the rectum on both sides. Attached to the anterior surface of the sacrum.
4. The proper ovarian ligaments run from the fundus of the uterus (posteriorly and below the origin of the tubes) to the ovaries.
5. Infundibulopelvic ligaments are the outermost part of the broad uterine ligament, which passes into the peritoneum of the lateral wall of the pelvis.
The round ligaments keep the uterus in a state of anteversion, the broad ligaments tense when the uterus moves and thereby help keep the uterus in a physiological position, the ovarian ligaments proper and the infundibulopelvic ligaments help keep the uterus in the median position, the uterosacral ligaments pull the uterus posteriorly.
The anchoring apparatus of the uterus consists of connective tissue cords with a small number of muscle cells that extend from the lower part of the uterus: a) anteriorly to the bladder and further to the symphysis; b) to the lateral walls of the pelvis - the main ligaments; c) posteriorly, forming the connective tissue framework of the uterosacral ligaments.
The supporting apparatus consists of the muscles and fascia of the pelvic floor, which prevent the genitals and viscera from descending.
Blood supply to the genital organs.
The external genitalia are supplied with blood by the pudendal artery (a branch of the internal iliac artery).
The blood supply to the internal genital organs is provided by the uterine and ovarian arteries.
The paired uterine artery, departs from the internal iliac artery, goes to the uterus along the periuterine tissue, approaching the lateral surface of the uterus at the level of the internal os, gives off the cervicovaginal branch, supplying blood to the cervix and the upper part of the vagina. The main trunk rises along the rib of the uterus, giving off numerous branches that feed the wall of the uterus, and reaches the bottom of the uterus, where it gives off a branch going to the tube.
The ovarian artery is also paired, departs from the abdominal aorta, descends along with the ureter, passes through the infundibulopelvic ligament, giving branches to the ovary and tube. The terminal sections of the uterine and ovarian arteries anastomose with each other in the upper section of the broad uterine ligament.
Arteries are accompanied by veins of the same name.
Innervation of the genital organs.
The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (utero-vaginal and ovarian plexuses) take part in the innervation of the genital organs.
The external genitalia and pelvic floor are innervated by the pudendal nerve.
Physiology of female genital organs.
It is known that reproduction, or reproduction, is one of the most important functions
the female body. The reproductive function of women is carried out primarily due to the activity of the ovaries and the uterus, since the egg matures in the ovaries, and in the uterus, under the influence of hormones secreted by the ovaries, changes occur in preparation for the reception of a fertilized egg. The reproductive (childbearing) period continues from 17-18 to 45-50 years.
The childbearing period is preceded by the following stages of a woman’s life: intrauterine; newborns (up to 1 year); childhood (up to 8-10 years); prepubertal and pubertal age (up to 17-18 years). The reproductive period passes into menopause, in which premenopause, menopause (last menstruation) and postmenopause are distinguished.
The menstrual cycle is one of the manifestations of complex biological processes in a woman’s body. The menstrual cycle is characterized by cyclic changes in all parts of the reproductive system, the external manifestation of which is menstruation.
Each normal menstrual cycle is a preparation of a woman’s body for pregnancy. Conception and pregnancy usually occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle after ovulation (rupture of a mature follicle) and the release of an egg ready for fertilization from the ovary. If fertilization does not occur during this period, the unfertilized egg dies, and the prepared one to perceive it, the uterine mucosa is shed and menstrual bleeding begins. Thus, the appearance of menstruation indicates the end of complex cyclic changes in a woman’s body, aimed at preparing for the possible onset of pregnancy.
The first day of menstruation is conventionally taken as the first day of the menstrual cycle, and the duration of the cycle is determined from the beginning of one to the beginning of another (subsequent) menstruation. The normal duration of the menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days and for most women on average 28 days. Value blood loss on menstrual days is 50-100 ml. The duration of normal menstruation is from 2 to 7 days.
The first menstruation (menarhe) is observed at the age of 10-12 years, but for 1-1.5 years after this, menstruation may be irregular, then a regular menstrual cycle is established.
Regulation of menstrual function is carried out through a complex neurohumoral pathway with the participation of five links (levels): 1) cerebral cortex; 2) hypothalamus; 3) pituitary gland; 4) ovaries; 5) peripheral organs called target organs (fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina). Target organs, due to the presence of special hormonal receptors, most clearly respond to the action of sex hormones produced in the ovaries during the menstrual cycle.
The cyclic functional changes that occur in a woman’s body are conventionally combined into several groups. These are changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary system, the ovaries (ovarian cycle), the uterus and, first of all, in its mucous membrane (uterine cycle). Along with this, cyclic shifts occur in throughout a woman’s body, known as the menstrual wave. They are expressed in periodic changes in the activity of the central nervous system, metabolic processes, the function of the cardiovascular system, thermoregulation, etc.
The cerebral cortex exerts a regulating and corrective influence on processes associated with the development of menstrual function. Through the cerebral cortex, the external environment influences the underlying parts of the nervous system involved in the regulation of the menstrual cycle.
The hypothalamus is a section of the diencephalon and, through a number of nerve conductors (axons), is connected to various parts of the brain, due to which the central regulation of its activity is carried out. In addition, the hypothalamus contains receptors for all peripheral hormones, including ovarian (estrogens and progesterone). Thus, complex interactions take place in the hypothalamus between impulses entering the body from the environment through the central nervous system, on the one hand, and
influences of hormones of peripheral endocrine glands - on the other.
Under the control of the hypothalamus is the activity of the brain appendage - the pituitary gland, in the anterior lobe of which gonadotropic hormones are secreted, which affect the function of the ovaries.
The controlling effect of the hypothalamus on the anterior pituitary gland is carried out through the secretion of neurohormones.
Neurohormones that stimulate the release of tropic hormones from the pituitary gland are called releasing factors or liberins. Along with this, there are also neurohormones that inhibit the release of tropic neurohormones, called statins.
The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland secretes follicle-stimulating (FSH) and luteinizing (LT) gonadotropins, as well as prolactin.
FSH stimulates the development and maturation of the follicle in one of the ovaries. Under the combined influence of FSH and LH, the mature follicle ruptures, or ovulation. After ovulation, under the predominant influence of LH, the corpus luteum is formed from the elements of the follicle (the connective tissue membrane and the granulosa cells lining its inner surface). Prolactin promotes the production of the hormone progesterone by the corpus luteum.
In the ovaries, during the menstrual cycle, follicles grow and the egg matures, which eventually becomes ready for fertilization. At the same time, the ovaries produce sex hormones that ensure changes in the uterine mucosa, which is capable of receiving a fertilized egg.
Sex hormones synthesized by the ovaries affect target tissues and organs by interacting with the corresponding receptors. Target tissues and organs include the genitals, primarily the uterus, mammary glands, spongy bones, brain, endothelium and smooth muscle cells blood vessels, myocardium, skin and its appendages (hair follicles and sebaceous glands), etc.
Estrogen hormones contribute to the formation of genital organs and the development of secondary sexual characteristics during puberty. Androgens influence the appearance of pubic and axillary hair. Progesterone controls the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle and prepares the endometrium for implantation. Sex hormones play an important role in the development of pregnancy and childbirth
Cyclic changes in the ovaries include three main processes:
1) growth of follicles and formation of a dominant follicle (follicular phase);
2) ovulation;
3) formation, development and regression of the corpus luteum (luteal phase).
At the birth of a girl, there are 2 million follicles in the ovary, 99% of which undergo atresia throughout life. The process of atresia refers to the reverse development of follicles at one of the stages of its development. By the time of menarche, the ovary contains about 200-400 thousand follicles, of which mature to the ovulation stage of 300-400.
It is customary to distinguish the following main stages of follicle development: primordial follicle, preantral follicle, antral follicle, preovulatory (dominant) follicle. The dominant follicle is the largest (21 mm at the time of ovulation).
Ovulation is the rupture of the dominant follicle and the release of an egg. Thinning and rupture of the follicle wall occurs mainly under the influence of the enzyme collagenase.
After the release of the egg into the cavity of the follicle, the resulting capillaries quickly grow. Granulosa cells undergo luteinization: the volume of the cytoplasm increases in them and lipid inclusions are formed. LH, interacting with the protein receptors of granulosa cells, stimulates the process of their luteinization. This process leads to the formation of the corpus luteum.
The corpus luteum is a transient endocrine gland that functions for 14 days, regardless of the duration of the menstrual cycle. In the absence of pregnancy, the corpus luteum regresses.
The cyclic secretion of hormones in the ovary determines changes in the uterine mucosa. The endometrium consists of two layers: the basal layer, which is not shed during menstruation, and the functional layer, which undergoes cyclic changes during the menstrual cycle and is shed during menstruation.
The following phases of endometrial change during the cycle are distinguished:
1) proliferation phase; 3) menstruation;
2) secretion phase; 4) regeneration phase
Proliferation phase. As the secretion of estradiol by the growing ovarian follicles increases, the endometrium undergoes proliferative changes. The cells of the basal layer actively multiply. A new superficial loose layer with elongated tubular glands is formed. This layer quickly thickens 4-5 times. The tubular glands lined with cylindrical epithelium elongate.
Secretion phase. In the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle, under the influence of progesterone, the tortuosity of the glands increases, and their lumen gradually expands. The cells of the stroma, increasing in volume, come closer to each other. The secretion of the glands intensifies. They acquire a sawtooth shape. Increased vascularization of the stroma is noted.
Menstruation. This is the rejection of the functional layer of the endometrium. The endocrine basis for the onset of menstruation is a pronounced decrease in the levels of progesterone and estradiol due to regression of the corpus luteum.
Regeneration phase. Regeneration of the endometrium is observed from the very beginning of menstruation. By the end of the 24th hour of menstruation, 2/3 of the functional layer of the endometrium is rejected. The basal layer contains epithelial cells of the stroma, which are the basis for endometrial regeneration, which is usually completely completed by the 5th day of the cycle. In parallel, angiogenesis is completed with restoration of the integrity of ruptured arterioles, veins and capillaries.
In the regulation of menstrual function, the implementation of the principle of the so-called feedback between the hypothalamus, the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and the ovaries is of great importance. It is customary to consider two types of feedback: negative and positive.
With a negative type of feedback, the production of central neurohormones (releasing factors) and gonadotropins of the adenohypophysis is suppressed by ovarian hormones produced in large quantities. With a positive type of feedback, the production of releasing factors in the hypothalamus and gonadotropins in the pituitary gland is stimulated by low levels of ovarian hormones in the blood. The implementation of the principle of negative and positive feedback underlies the self-regulation of the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system.
Female pelvis and pelvic floor.
The bony pelvis is of great importance in obstetrics. It is a container for the internal genital organs, rectum, bladder and surrounding tissues, and during childbirth it forms the birth canal through which the fetus moves.
The pelvis consists of four bones: two pelvic (nameless), sacrum and coccyx.
The pelvic bone consists of three bones: the ilium, the pubis and the ischium, connected to each other in the area of the acetabulum.
There are two sections of the pelvis: large pelvis and small pelvis. The border between them runs anteriorly along the upper edge of the symphysis pubis, laterally along the innominate line, and posteriorly along the sacral promontory.
Big pelvis limited laterally by the wings of the ilium, posteriorly by the last lumbar vertebrae. In front it does not have a bony wall. Based on the size of the large pelvis, which is fairly easy to measure, one can judge the shape and size of the small pelvis.
Small pelvis is the bony part of the birth canal. The shape and size of the pelvis are of great importance during labor. With sharp degrees of narrowing of the pelvis and its deformations, childbirth through the natural birth canal becomes impossible, and the woman is delivered by cesarean section.
The posterior wall of the pelvis consists of the sacrum and coccyx, the lateral ones are formed by the ischial bones, and the anterior wall is formed by the pubic bones and the symphysis. The posterior wall of the pelvis is three times longer than the anterior one.
In the small pelvis there are the following sections: inlet, cavity and outlet. In the pelvic cavity there are a wide and a narrow part. In accordance with this, four planes of the small pelvis are considered: 1) the plane of the entrance to the small pelvis; 2) the plane of the wide part of the small pelvis; 3) the plane of the narrow part of the small pelvis; 4) the plane of the exit of the pelvis.
The plane of entry into the pelvis has the following boundaries: in front – the upper edge of the symphysis and pubic bones, on the sides – innominate lines, in the back – the sacral promontory. The entrance plane is kidney-shaped. In the entrance plane, the following dimensions are distinguished: straight, which is the true conjugate of the small pelvis (11 cm), transverse (13 cm) and two oblique (12 cm).
The plane of the wide part of the pelvic cavity limited in front by the middle of the inner surface of the symphysis, on the sides by the middle of the acetabulum, and behind by the junction of the II and III sacral vertebrae. In the wide part there are two sizes, straight (12.5 cm) and transverse (12.5 cm)
The plane of the narrow part of the pelvic cavity bounded in front by the lower edge of the symphysis, on the sides by the spines of the ischial bones, and behind by the sacrococcygeal joint. There are also two sizes: straight (11 cm) and transverse (10.5 cm).
Pelvic exit plane has the following boundaries: in front - the lower edge of the symphysis, on the sides - the ischial tuberosities, in the back - the coccyx. The exit plane of the pelvis consists of two triangular planes, the common base of which is the line connecting the ischial tuberosities. The direct size of the pelvic outlet is from the apex of the coccyx to the lower edge of the symphysis; due to the mobility of the coccyx during the passage of the fetus through the small pelvis, it increases by 1.5 - 2 cm (9.5-11.5 cm). The transverse size is 11 cm.
The line connecting the midpoints of the direct dimensions of all planes of the pelvis is called wired pelvic axis, since it is along this line that the fetus passes through the birth canal during childbirth. The wire axis is curved according to the concavity of the sacrum.
The intersection of the plane of the entrance to the pelvis with the horizon plane forms pelvic inclination angle equal to 50-55’.
Differences in the structure of the female and male pelvis begin to appear during puberty and become pronounced in adulthood. The bones of the female pelvis are thinner, smoother and less massive than the bones of the male pelvis. The plane of entrance to the pelvis in women has a transverse oval shape, while in men it has the shape of a card heart (due to the strong protrusion of the promontory).
Anatomically, the female pelvis is lower, wider and larger in volume. The pubic symphysis in the female pelvis is shorter than the male one. The sacrum in women is wider, the sacral cavity is moderately concave. The pelvic cavity in women is closer to a cylinder in outline, and in men it narrows funnel-shaped downwards. The pubic angle is wider (90-100’) than in men (70-75’). The tailbone protrudes anteriorly less than in the male pelvis. The ischial bones in the female pelvis are parallel to each other, and in the male pelvis they converge.
All of these features are very important in the process of birth.
Pelvic floor muscles.
The outlet of the pelvis is closed from below by a powerful muscular-fascial layer, which is called pelvic floor.
Two diaphragms take part in the formation of the pelvic floor - the pelvic and genitourinary.
Pelvic diaphragm occupies the back of the perineum and has the shape of a triangle, the apex of which faces the coccyx, and the corners face the ischial tuberosities.
Superficial layer of the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm represented by an unpaired muscle - the external sphincter of the anus (m.sphincter ani externus). The deep bundles of this muscle start from the apex of the coccyx, wrap around the anus and end in the tendon center of the perineum.
To the deep muscles of the pelvic diaphragm There are two muscles: the levator ani muscle (m.levator ani) and the coccygeus muscle (m. coccygeus).
The levator ani muscle is a paired, triangular-shaped muscle that forms a funnel with a similar muscle on the other side, the wide part facing upward and attached to the inner surface of the pelvic walls. The lower parts of both muscles, tapering, cover the rectum in the form of a loop. This muscle consists of the pubococcygeus (m. pubococcygeus) and iliococcygeus muscles (m.iliococcygeus).
The coccygeus muscle in the form of a triangular plate is located on the inner surface of the sacrospinous ligament. With a narrow apex it starts from the ischial spine, and with a wide base it is attached to the lateral edges of the lower sacral and coccygeal vertebrae.
Urogenital diaphragm–fascial – muscular plate located in the anterior part of the pelvic floor between the lower branches of the pubic and ischial bones.
The muscles of the urogenital diaphragm are divided into superficial and deep.
To the superficial include the superficial transverse perineal muscle, the ischiocavernosus muscle and the bulbospongiosus muscle.
The superficial transverse muscle of the perineum (m.transversus perinei superficialis) is paired, unstable, and can sometimes be absent on one or both sides. This muscle is a thin muscular plate located at the posterior edge of the urogenital diaphragm and running across the perineum. Its lateral end is attached to the ischium, and its medial part crosses along the midline with the muscle of the same name on the opposite side, partly intertwining with the bulbospongiosus muscle, partly with the external muscle that compresses the anus.
The ischiocavernosus muscle (m.ischiocavernosus) is a steam muscle that looks like a narrow muscle strip. It begins as a narrow tendon from the inner surface of the ischial tuberosity, bypasses the stalk of the clitoris and is woven into its tunica albuginea.
The bulbospongiosus muscle (m. bulbospongiosus) is a steam muscle, surrounds the entrance to the vagina, and has the shape of an elongated oval. This muscle starts from the tendinous center of the perineum and the external sphincter of the anus and is attached to the dorsal surface of the clitoris, intertwined with its tunica albuginea.
To the deep The muscles of the genitourinary diaphragm include the deep transverse perineal muscle and the urethral sphincter.
The deep transverse muscle of the perineum (m. transversus perinei profundus) is a paired, narrow muscle starting from the ischial tuberosities. It goes to the midline, where it connects with the muscle of the same name on the opposite side, participating in the formation of the tendon center of the perineum.
The sphincter of the urethra (m.sphincter urethrae) is a paired muscle that lies anterior to the previous one. Peripherally located bundles of this muscle are directed to the branches of the pubic bones and to the fascia of the genitourinary diaphragm. Bundles of this muscle surround the urethra. This muscle connects to the vagina.
In all world cultures, the function of reproduction, procreation, is considered one of the main ones. The male and female reproductive systems have different structures, but perform one task: to form sex cells - gametes, the fusion of which at the moment of fertilization will make it possible to develop the future human body. This article is devoted to the study of the structure and function of the female reproductive system.
General characteristics of a woman’s reproductive organs
The female reproductive system includes the external and internal genital organs, which are also called reproductive organs.
The external ones, called the vulva, are visually sufficiently expressed - these are the pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris and the entrance to the vagina (vagina), closed by an elastic hymen called the hymen. Let's study the external organs of the female reproductive system in more detail.
The structure of the pubis
The lower abdomen at the level of the pubis (pubic bone) forms the pubis. The bone itself, in an anatomically correct position, hangs over the entrance to the vagina and has the appearance of an arch. Externally, the pubis has a roll-like shape, forming an elevation. A layer of fat forms under his skin. On the outside, hair forms on it. It has a clearly defined horizontal border. If a woman’s body produces an excess amount of androgens - male sex hormones, the hairline increases and rises upward at an acute angle to the navel. Pathology of pubic hair is a sign of sexual development.
Labia majora and labia minora
From the pubis to the anus there are two folds of skin - the labia majora, which have outer hair and a layer containing the ducts of the Bartholin gland in their connective tissue. It secretes a fluid that moisturizes the female genital organs. If hygiene is poor, harmful microorganisms penetrate the gland tissue and cause inflammation in the form of painful seals.
Under the labia minora are the labia minora, densely intertwined with blood vessels and nerves. In their upper part there is an organ homologous to the male penis - the clitoris. Its growth is inhibited by the hormones of the female reproductive system - estrogens. The clitoris contains a large number of nerves and blood vessels, which means it is highly sensitive. If a girl or woman has greatly enlarged clitoris, this may be a clear sign of hormonal pathology.
Entrance to the vagina
The vulva, in addition to the pubis, labia majora and minora, and clitoris, includes the entrance to the vagina. At a distance of up to 2 centimeters deep from it there is the hymen. It consists of connective tissue and has several holes through which blood flows during menstruation.
Internal reproductive organs of a woman
These include the vagina (vagina), uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. All of them are located in the pelvic cavity. Their functions are the maturation and entry of fertilized female gamete eggs into the uterine cavity. It is from the zygote that the embryo will develop.
Structure of the vagina
The vagina is an elastic tube consisting of muscle and connective tissue. It is located from the genital slit towards the uterus and has a length of 8 to 10 cm. Located in the pelvis, the vagina enters the cervix. It has anterior and posterior walls, as well as a fornix - the upper section of the vagina. The posterior vault of the vagina is deeper than the anterior one.
The vagina is located at an angle of 90 degrees to the surface of the uterus itself. Thus, the internal female genital organs, which include the vagina, are densely intertwined with arterial and venous vessels, as well as nerve fibers. The vagina is separated by a thin connective tissue wall from the bladder. It is called the vesicovaginal septum. The lower part of the vaginal wall is divided posteriorly from the lower part of the large intestine by the perineal body.
Cervix: structure and functions
The vagina enters into a canal called the cervical canal, and the junction itself is the external os. Its shape is different in women who have given birth and those who have not given birth: if the pharynx is dotted-oval, the uterus did not bear the fetus, and the appearance of the gap is characteristic of those who have given birth. The uterus itself is an unpaired hollow muscular organ, consisting of a body and a cervix and located in the pelvis. Considering the structure of the female reproductive system and its functions, it becomes clear that it is responsible for the formation and development of the embryo, as well as for the process of expulsion of the fetus as a result of labor. Let's return to the structure of its lower section - the neck. It is connected to the upper part of the vagina and has the shape of a cone (in nulliparous women) or a cylinder. The vaginal portion of the cervix is up to three centimeters long and is also anatomically divided into anterior and posterior lips. The cervix and pharynx transform as a woman ages.
Inside the cervix is the cervical canal, which ends in the internal os. It is lined with secretory glands that secrete mucus. If its secretion is disrupted, blockage and cyst formation can occur. Mucus has bactericidal properties and prevents infection of the uterine cavity. 4-6 days before the release of the egg from the ovary, the mucus becomes less concentrated, so sperm can easily penetrate through it into the uterus, and from there into the fallopian tubes.
After ovulation, cervical secretion increases its concentration, and its pH decreases from neutral to acidic. A pregnant woman is covered with a clot of cervical mucus in the cervical area. During the menstrual period, the cervical canal opens slightly so that the rejected endometrial layer can come out. This may be accompanied by aching pain in the lower abdomen. During labor, the cervical canal can open up to 10 cm in diameter. This promotes the birth of a child.
Among the most common diseases of the cervix is its erosion. It appears as a consequence of damage to the mucous layer caused by infections or injuries (abortion, complicated childbirth). Undetected and untreated erosion can cause inflammatory processes and even cancer.
Fallopian tubes
The fallopian tubes, also called oviducts or fallopian tubes, are 2 elastic tubes located in the abdominal cavity and entering the fundus of the uterus. The free edge of the oviduct has fimbriae. Their beating ensures the advancement of the egg released from the ovary into the lumen of the tube itself. The length of each oviduct is from 10 to 12 cm. It is divided into sections: a funnel, which has an expansion and is equipped with fimbriae, an ampulla, an isthmus, and part of the canal entering the uterine wall. For the normal development of pregnancy, a condition such as complete patency of the oviducts is necessary, otherwise the woman will face infertility. The most common pathologies of the fallopian tubes are adhesions, salpingitis and hydrosalpinx.
All of these diseases cause tubal infertility. They are complications of chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, genital herpes, causing a narrowing of the lumen of the fallopian tubes. Frequent abortions can provoke the appearance of adhesions that are located across the tube. Hormonal disorders cause a decrease in the mobility of the ciliated epithelium lining the oviducts, which leads to a deterioration in the motor properties of the egg.
The most dangerous complication resulting from tubal pathologies is ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the zygote stops in the oviduct without reaching the uterus. It begins to fragment and grow, stretching the pipe wall, which eventually bursts. This results in severe internal bleeding that is life-threatening.
Ovaries in women
They are a paired gonad and weigh 6-8 grams. The ovaries are the production of sex hormones - estrogens, controlled by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus - this is an intrasecretory function. As exocrine glands, they form sex cells - gametes, called eggs. The biochemical composition and mechanism of action of estrogens will be studied by us later. Let's return to the structure of the female gonads - the ovaries. It must be taken into account that the structure of the female reproductive system (as well as the male) is directly related to the urinary system.
It is from the mesonephros (primary kidney) that the stroma of the female gonads develops. The precursors of eggs, oogonia, are formed from mesenchyme. The ovary has a tunica albuginea, and under it there are two layers: the cortex and the medulla. The first layer contains follicles, which, when maturing, form first and second order oocytes, and then mature eggs. The medulla of the gland consists of connective tissue and performs a supporting and trophic function. It is in the ovaries that ovogenesis occurs - the process of reproduction, growth and maturation of female reproductive gametes - eggs.
Specifics for a woman
The structure of the female and male reproductive systems is controlled by special biologically active substances - hormones. They are produced by the sex glands: the testes in men and the ovaries in women. Entering the blood, they specifically influence both the development of the reproductive organs and the formation of secondary sexual characteristics: body hair, development of the mammary glands, pitch and timbre of the voice. The development of the female reproductive system occurs under the influence of estradiol and its derivatives: estriol and estrone. They are produced by special ovarian cells - follicles. Female hormones - estrogens lead to an increase in the volume and size of the uterus, as well as to muscle contractions of the fallopian tubes and the uterus itself, that is, the reproductive organ is prepared to accept the zygote.
The corpus luteum of the uterus produces progesterone, a hormone that stimulates the development of the child's place - the placenta, as well as an increase in the glandular epithelium of the mammary glands during pregnancy. Hormonal imbalance in the female body leads to diseases such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and polycystic disease.
Anatomical features of the female uterus
The reproductive system of the female body contains an organ that is unique in structure and function. It is located in the pelvic cavity between the bladder and rectum and has a cavity. This organ is called the uterus. To understand the mechanism of fertilization, remember that the genital organs - the ovaries in women - are connected to the fallopian tubes. The egg, entering the oviduct, then penetrates the uterus, which serves as the organ responsible for the development of the embryo (embryogenesis). It consists of three parts: the neck, which was studied earlier, as well as the body and bottom. The body of the uterus has the shape of an inverted pear, the expanded part of which includes two fallopian tubes.
The reproductive organ is covered with a connective tissue membrane and has two layers: muscular (myometrium) and mucous (endometrium). The latter is built from squamous and columnar epithelial cells. The endometrium changes the thickness of its layer: during ovulation it thickens, and if fertilization does not occur, this layer is rejected along with a portion of blood from the walls of the uterus - menstruation occurs. During pregnancy, the volume increases greatly (about 8-10 times). In the pelvic cavity, the uterus is suspended by three ligaments and entwined with a dense network of nerves and blood vessels. Its main function is the development and nutrition of the embryo and fetus until the moment of physiological birth.
Pathologies of the uterus
The structure of the female reproductive system may not always be ideal and function correctly. One of the pathologies of the reproductive system associated with the structure of the reproductive organ may be a bicornuate uterus. It has two bodies, each of which is connected to one oviduct. If the pathology of the female reproductive system concerns the structure of the endometrium, we speak of hypoplasia and aplasia of the uterus. The consequence of all the above pathologies is termination of pregnancy or infertility.
This article examined the anatomical and physiological features of the female reproductive system.
According to statistics, almost every second woman has insufficient knowledge about her intimate area. This is a rather sad fact, because, according to the same statistics, it is lack of awareness that often prevents a woman from enjoying intimacy.
Meanwhile, this organ is capable of giving a woman unforgettable sensations if you know how to use it correctly. Therefore, below are the most interesting facts regarding the erotic female anatomy.
Fact 1. The vagina is not the entire intimate area
The intimate zone is usually called the female external genitalia. This term is much more inclusive. The intimate zone is a canal that runs along the entire body, starting from the external genitalia and ending with the cervix. In addition to the vagina, the intimate zone includes the clitoris, urethra, labia majora and minora, perineum, cervix, bladder, anus, uterus and ovaries.
Fact 2. The vagina is very elastic and has folded walls
Yes, the vagina is so elastic that it can wrap around a gigantic penis, and after sex it will shrink back to its previous size. The female body has a wonderful feature - it adapts to the size and shape of its current lover.
Most of the time, the walls of the intimate area are quite close to each other. But when necessary, it opens up like an umbrella. And during childbirth, the vagina can generally open to a width of 10 cm or even more.
However, after giving birth, some women complain that their vagina has somewhat lost its elasticity. Regular Kegel exercises can help cope with this problem.
Fact 3. Different women's vaginas are very similar.
True, this only applies to the inside of the vagina, but every woman’s vulva is unique. The labia majora may not be noticeable at all, but can reach several centimeters in size. The labia minora, shaped like butterfly wings, may be hidden or may even hang below the labia majora. Most women have labia that are asymmetrical. This is a completely normal phenomenon and should in no way embarrass a woman. The size of the clitoris is also different for each woman. On average it is usually 2-3 cm.
By the way, the sensitivity of the clitoris and labia varies from woman to woman. It may be higher on the left or right. You can find out which side is more sensitive experimentally.
Fact 4. The inside of the vagina is filled with bacteria
Do not be alarmed, as most of these bacteria are vital for a woman. Thanks to them, women's health is maintained, as bacteria protect the vagina from infections. 
Fact 5. The vagina is capable of self-cleaning
Truly amazing self-cleaning ability. There is no need for a woman to try to wash hard-to-reach intimate areas in the shower or in any other way. Thanks to daily secretions, the body cleans itself from the inside. The discharge washes away all unnecessary bacteria, water and dirt from the vaginal walls and naturally removes them from the body.
So the only thing a woman needs to take care of is the hygiene of the surrounding areas. For this purpose, it is better to use special gels for intimate hygiene, since ordinary soap can damage the natural balance and cause irritation.
Fact 6. The vagina has a specific smell
Before menstruation, the vagina has a sour smell, and after it ends it has a pungent odor. The odor may become more pronounced during sex (due to the release of natural lubrication), or during sports (due to sweat).
Fact 7. Every woman’s intimate area is different in color from other parts of the body.
Many women with fair skin have a purple or brownish tint to their intimate area. But for dark-skinned people, the intimate area is often lighter than their body. In addition, the intimate area may be colored differently in different places. For example, the perineum may be pale pink and the labia may be dark.
Fact 8. The structure of discharge changes throughout the cycle
For example, during ovulation, the discharge is more abundant and has a liquid and transparent structure. And before menstruation they thicken and become creamy. If a woman notices curd-like discharge and itching in the perineum, she should immediately consult a gynecologist.
Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:
The female genital organs include the ovaries and their appendages, the uterus and fallopian tubes, the vagina, the clitoris and the female genital area. Depending on their position, they are divided into internal and external. The female genital organs perform not only a reproductive function, but also participate in the formation of female sex hormones.
Rice. The structure of the female reproductive system and adjacent organs, side view.
1 - vagina; 2 - cervix; 3 - body of the uterus; 4 - fallopian tube; 5 - funnel of the fallopian tube; 6 - ovary; 7 - urethra; 8 - bladder; 9 - rectum; 10 - pubic bone.
Internal female genital organs.
Ovary (ovarium) - a paired female reproductive gland located in the pelvic area. The mass of the ovary is 5-8 g; the length is 2.5-5.5 cm, width 1.5-3.0 cm and thickness up to 2 cm. The ovary has an ovoid shape, somewhat compressed in the anteroposterior direction. With the help of its own and suspensory ligaments, it is fixed on both sides of the uterus. The peritoneum, which forms the mesentery (duplicate) of the ovary and attaches it to the broad ligament of the uterus, also participates in fixation. There are two free surfaces in the ovary: the medial one, directed into the pelvic cavity, and the lateral one, adjacent to the wall of the pelvis. The surfaces of the ovary pass from behind into a convex free (posterior) edge, from the front - into the mesenteric edge, to which the mesentery of the ovary is attached.
In the area of the mesenteric edge there is a depression - gate of the ovary, through which vessels and nerves enter and exit it. In the ovary, there is an upper tubal end, which is turned towards the fallopian tube, and a lower uterine end, connected to the uterus by its own ovarian ligament. This ligament is located between the two layers of the broad ligament of the uterus. The largest fimbria of the fallopian tube is attached to the tubal end of the ovary.
The ovaries are part of the group of movable organs; their topography depends on the position of the uterus and its size.
The surface of the ovary is covered with a single-layer germinal epithelium, under which lies a dense connective tissue tunica albuginea. The internal substance (parenchyma) is divided into outer and inner layers. The outer layer of the ovary is called the cortex. It contains a large number of follicles containing eggs. Among them there are vesicular (mature) follicles (Graafian vesicles) and maturing primary follicles. A mature follicle can be 0.5-1.0 cm in size; covered with a connective tissue membrane consisting of an outer and an inner layer.
Adjacent to the inner layer is a granular, forming oviductal mound, in which the egg is located - oocyte. Inside a mature follicle there is a cavity containing follicular fluid. As the ovarian follicle matures, it gradually reaches the surface of the organ. Typically, only one follicle develops within 28-30 days. With its proteolytic enzymes, it destroys the tunica albuginea of the ovary and, bursting, releases the egg. This process is called ovulation. Then the egg enters the peritoneal cavity, onto the fimbriae of the tube and then into the peritoneal opening of the fallopian tube. At the site of the burst follicle, a depression remains in which the corpus luteum forms. It produces hormones (lutein, progesterone) that inhibit the development of new follicles. If fertilization of the egg does not occur, the corpus luteum atrophies and crumbles. After atrophy of the corpus luteum, new follicles begin to mature again. If the egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum grows quickly and exists throughout pregnancy, performing an intrasecretory function. Then it is replaced by connective tissue and turns into a whitish body. In place of the burst follicles on the surface of the ovary, traces remain in the form of depressions and folds, the number of which increases with age.
Something interesting
The bubbles visible on the surface were recognized as an accumulation of unclear energy, a kind of unlit candle or tinder. The ancient Egyptians managed to quickly remove the ovaries, creating a kind of eunuch from a woman who never became pregnant.
K. M. Baer, the future St. Petersburg academician, was famous for his absent-mindedness, which, however, did not prevent him from making a great discovery with the help of a microscope. One can quite understand his shock when in 1827 he discovered the first (!) egg cell seen by man. That is why it is rightly inscribed on the medal knocked out in his honor: “Starting with an egg, he showed man to man.”
Uterus
Uterus - a hollow unpaired organ in which the development of the embryo and gestation of the fetus occurs. It distinguishes bottom- top part, body- middle section and neck- lower narrowed part. The narrowed transition of the uterine body to the cervix is called isthmus of the uterus. The lower part of the cervix, which enters the vaginal cavity, is called vaginal cervix, and the upper one, lying above the vagina, - supravaginal part. The opening of the uterus is limited by the anterior and posterior lips. The rear lip is thinner than the front. The uterus has anterior and posterior surfaces. The anterior surface of the uterus faces the bladder and is called the vesical surface, the posterior surface, facing the rectum, is called the intestinal surface.
The size of the uterus and its weight vary. The length of the uterus in an adult woman is on average 7-8 cm, and the thickness is 2-3 cm. The weight of the uterus in a nulliparous woman ranges from 40 to 50 g, in lice it reaches 80-90 g. The volume of the uterine cavity is in the range of 4-6 cm3 . Located in the pelvic cavity between the rectum and bladder.
The uterus is fixed using the left and right broad ligaments, consisting of two layers of peritoneum (anterior and posterior). The area of the broad ligament of the uterus adjacent to the ovary is called the mesentery of the ovary. The uterus is also supported by the round ligament and cardinal ligaments of the uterus.
The wall of the uterus consists of three layers. The surface layer is represented serous membrane (perimetry) and covers almost the entire uterus; average - muscular layer (myometrium), formed by internal and external longitudinal and middle circular layers; internal - mucous membrane (endometrium), covered with single-layer prismatic ciliated epithelium. Located under the peritoneum around the cervix periuterine tissue - parametrium.
The uterus has considerable mobility, which depends on the position of neighboring organs.
Something interesting
Plato was sure that “in women, that part of them that is called the uterus, or womb, is nothing more than a beast that has settled inside them, filled with childbearing lust. When this beast is in season, and there is no chance for him to conceive, he comes to, prowls throughout the body, constricts the respiratory tract and does not allow a woman to breathe, leading to the last extreme and to all sorts of ailments, until, finally, female lust and male eros bring the couple together and take the harvest from the trees.”
Medical workers of ancient times did not doubt the ability of the uterus to repeatedly move around the body, just like a maddened animal, over a considerable distance from the vagina to the xiphoid process of the sternum. At the same time, the unfortunate woman herself may lose her voice, hallucinate and convulse. This is why it was believed that this led to the emergence of a condition called (based on the Greek name for the organ - hystera) hysteria. To stop this, the genitals were smeared with expensive incense. They put ice on the area and operated on the clitoris. At the same time, it was prescribed to take substances with a disgusting taste (tar, beer grounds) orally. The meaning of the actions was seen in the fact that the uterus, “turned away” in this way from the upper part of the body, would inevitably return to the lower part, that is, to its original place.
Fallopian tube (tuba uterina) - paired tubular organ 10-12 cm long, 2-4 mm in diameter; promotes the passage of the egg from the ovary into the uterine cavity. The fallopian tubes are located on both sides of the fundus of the uterus; their narrow end opens into the uterine cavity, and their widened end opens into the peritoneal cavity. Thus, through the fallopian tubes, the peritoneal cavity is connected to the uterine cavity.
The fallopian tube is divided into the infundibulum, ampulla, isthmus and uterine part. The funnel has the ventral opening of a tube that ends in long narrow fimbriae. The funnel is followed by the ampulla of the fallopian tube, then its narrow part - isthmus. The latter passes into the uterine part, which opens into the uterine cavity through the uterine opening of the tube.
The wall of the fallopian tube consists of a mucous membrane covered with a single-layer prismatic ciliated epithelium, a muscular layer with an internal circular and outer longitudinal layers of smooth muscle cells and a serous membrane.
Something interesting
At the end of the tube, which is next to the ovary, fringes are visible to the naked eye. For a long time they were considered to have their own desires and abilities. One of them is supposedly curious, the other is “somewhat confused,” and the third looks like a “hunter.” But all these names, I admit, are not from anatomical literature, but from fiction.
- an unpaired hollow organ in the form of a tube 8-10 cm long, the wall thickness is 3 mm. With its upper end it covers the cervix, and with its lower end it opens through the genitourinary diaphragm of the pelvis into the vestibule with the opening of the vagina. This opening in a virgin is closed by the hymen, which is a semilunar or perforated plate, which is torn during sexual intercourse, and its flaps then atrophy. In front of the vagina are the bladder and urethra, behind is the rectum, with which it fuses with loose and dense connective tissue.
Rice. The structure of the female reproductive system, front view.
1 - vagina; 2 - cervix; 3 - body of the uterus; 4 - uterine cavity; 5 - fallopian tube; 6 - funnel of the fallopian tube; 7 - ovary; 8 - maturing egg
The vagina has front and back walls that connect to one another. Covering the vaginal part of the cervix, they form a dome-shaped depression around it - vaginal vault.
The vaginal wall consists of three membranes. External - adventitial- the shell is represented by loose connective tissue with elements of muscle and elastic fibers; average - muscular- predominantly longitudinally oriented beams, as well as beams of circulation direction. In the upper part, the muscular membrane passes into the muscles of the uterus, and at the bottom it becomes stronger and its bundles are woven into the muscles of the perineum. The internal mucosa is lined with stratified squamous epithelium and forms numerous transverse vaginal folds. On the anterior and posterior walls of the vagina, the folds become higher and form longitudinal columns of folds.
Something interesting
“The mouth of a woman’s trap” was the name given to that terrible image that entered literature and mythology under the name vagina dentata - a vagina with teeth. In Ecuador, the Kayapa Indians were convinced that the vagina could even “eat” the penis. The corresponding concept is very well known among psychoanalysts; in the fantasies of their patients, it happens that this aggressive organ appears, capable of killing or castrating.
Of course, there are no teeth in this area, but for those who have not had sexual intercourse, there is (almost all) a hymen at the beginning of the vagina. The latter is an anatomically unremarkable connective tissue membrane, very abundantly supplied with nerve endings.
The hymen is accompanied by a whole collection of beautiful and poetic metaphors: “girlish flap”, “shred”, “seal of virginity”, “guard”, “chastity bolt”, “belt of purity”, “flower of virginity”. The botanical assortment also turned out to be very diverse. Its list also includes a delicate lily, a rose that is prone to crumbling (evidence of short duration), an orange flower, hawthorn flowers in May, lavender (in Christianity it is a symbol of the Virgin Mary), and a daisy. The image of strawberries informed about virginity and purity in Western European art. It was placed on coats of arms and on cloaks.
Imagery such as “closed well”, “sealed fountain”, “bell” was also used. The elusive, graceful doe was recognized as an attribute of the virginity of the Olympic goddess Artemis (Diana). The warrior maiden Athena was also pure.
Virginity was endowed not only with sonorous terms, but also with special powers attributed to those who possessed it. As a result, among some peoples, certain actions could only be performed by those who did not have sexual relations. According to the views of the medieval church fathers, a virgin cannot be possessed by the devil. At one time, this conviction forced us to conduct a corresponding study on the captured Joan of Arc. Warrior maidens lost their fighting courage after sexual intercourse. But the ancient Slavic men did not attach any importance to virginity. And not only them.
Oogenesis - the process of development of female germ cells in the ovary. Primary female germ cells (oogonium) begin to develop in the first months of intrauterine development. Oogonia then turn into oocytes. By the time of birth, girls’ ovaries contain about 2 million oocytes, which turn into first order oocytes. However, even among them there is an intensive process of atresia, which significantly reduces their number. Before the onset of puberty, there are about 500,000 oocytes capable of further division. The oocytes then turn into primordial follicles, and then in primary follicles. Secondary follicles appear only after reaching puberty.
In manuals on sexology you can read,
that, thanks to the significant muscles of the vaginal walls, a woman is able to “shoot” the inserted object, suck in air and even release it with a whistle. But the fact that there are no snakes in the vagina (according to the beliefs of some peoples), as well as the fact that its walls absorb semen and deliver it to the ovaries, is certain.
The secondary follicle continues to grow and turns into mature (Graafian vesicle). The follicle then ruptures and egg enters the peritoneal cavity. This process is called ovulation.
External female genitalia.
They are located in the anterior perineum in the area of the genitourinary triangle and include the female genital area and the clitoris.
The female genital area includes the pubis, the labia majora and minora, the vestibule of the vagina, the major and minor glands of the vestibule, and the vestibular bulb.
Rice Female external genitalia:
1- pubis; 2- anterior commissure of the lips; 3- foreskin of the clitoris; 4 - head of the clitoris; 5- labia majora; 6- paraurethral ducts; 7- labia minora; 8- duct of the large gland of the vestibule; 9- frenulum of the labia; 10 - posterior commissure of the lips; 11 - anus; 12 - crotch; 13 - fossa of the vestibule of the vagina; 14 - hymen; 15- vaginal opening; 16 - vestibule of the vagina; 17 - external opening of the urethra (urethra); 18 - frenulum of the clitoris
The pubis at the top is separated from the abdominal area by the pubic groove, and from the hips by the coxofemoral grooves. It is covered with hair that extends to the labia majora. In the pubic area, the subcutaneous fat layer is well developed.
Something interesting
In reality, the external female genital organs are represented by the pubis, crowned with fat and hair. Textbooks retain the name “Hill of Venus” for this area. Love and fertility have always been the prerogative of this goddess. Less known is that in some places she was considered “low”, patronizing the arousal of desires and the satisfaction of passion. She also had the nickname “Genitelis,” which clearly indicates her patronage of the genitals.
The purpose of pubic hair is seen not in thermal protection, since there is already a lot of fat here, but in preserving olfactory stimuli that attract, even charm some. According to Slavic mythology, the appearance of female genitals gave reason to call them “marten”, “sobletka”, “ermine”, “furry”. Hence the custom of young people spending their first night in the sheepfold. The ermine, in particular, was called because, according to legend, this animal died if its white skin got dirty. In ancient portraits, ermine symbolized purity.
Very long pubic hair once gave the Tungus the right to divorce their wives. However, the complete absence of vegetation here for some reason acted as evidence of infertility. It was possible that this hair could be dyed in the most intricate colors (for example, bright red).
Labia majora They are a rounded paired skin fold 7-8 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. They limit the genital slit on the sides. The labia majora are connected to each other by the anterior and posterior commissures. The skin covering the labia majora contains many sebaceous and sweat glands.
Between the labia majora there is another pair of skin folds - labia minora. Their anterior ends cover the clitoris, form the foreskin and frenulum of the clitoris, and the posterior ends, connecting with each other, form a transverse fold - frenulum of the labia. The space between the labia minora is called the vestibule of the vagina. It contains the external opening of the urethra and the opening of the vagina.
Something interesting
In some areas of tropical Africa, girls had their labia majora sewn up to better preserve their virginity. For the same purpose, a ring was threaded through them. In Europe (in the 16th century) they came up with the idea of using special belts made of iron and wire, locked with locks. Allegedly, this was invented by the Paduan tyrant Francesco II. When a knight went on a campaign, he took one key from his wife’s belt with him, and gave the other to the priest. But if you want, you can find a master key for any lock.
Clitoris is a homologue of the cavernous bodies of the male penis and consists of paired cavernous bodies. It distinguishes the body,
head and legs attached to the lower branches of the pubic bones. In front, the body of the clitoris narrows and ends at the head. The clitoris has a dense tunica albuginea and is covered with skin rich in sensory nerve endings.
Something interesting
The Chinese considered a large clitoris a deformity, something so suspicious that they endowed the said organ with the ability to grow cyclically with the Moon and reach the size of a penis.
The erection of the clitoris, which was very abundantly supplied with nerve endings, gave reason to equate it in this state with the protruding tongue of the formidable and destructive goddess Kali (from Hindu mythology). We are more aware that the clitoris is the main center for inducing orgasm, the “organ of pleasure.”
In some tribes of Tropical Africa, in the southern regions of the Arabian Peninsula, in Malaysia and Indonesia, Australia and Oceania, the clitoris of girls who have reached puberty is sometimes circumcised to weaken sexual desire, as well as for hygienic reasons. According to men, someone who has not undergone such an operation cannot be a respectable, well-mannered and obedient wife. Often the same fate befalls the labia minora and even partly the labia majora, which is called “Pharaonic circumcision.”
One should not exclude the possibility of symbolizing a departure from childhood and entry into adulthood in this action. And this, as in similar cases with boys undergoing circumcision, requires significant volitional efforts to overcome the pain.
Such a crippling effect was invented, it seems, by the Egyptians about two or three hundred BC. The fact that after this a nervous breakdown may occur, sexual coldness may develop, and difficulties with childbirth may follow is usually not taken into account. As the French ethnologist B. Olya writes, “the physiological effect of the operation is complemented by its mental consequences. Usually, circumcision of the clitoris occurs just before the onset of puberty, and the girl retains a terrible memory of this. It will be difficult for her to understand that the part of her body that has just has been the source of such great misfortune, can become a source of pleasure."
Crotch - a complex of soft tissues (skin, muscles, fascia) covering the entrance from the pelvic cavity. It occupies an area bounded in front by the lower edge of the pubic symphysis, in the back by the apex of the coccyx, and on the sides by the lower branches of the pubic and ischial bones and the ischial tuberosities. The line connecting the ischial tuberosities divides the perineum into two triangles: the anterior-superior part is called the genitourinary region, and the lower-posterior part is called the anal region. Within the genitourinary region there is the urogenital diaphragm, and in the anus there is the pelvic diaphragm.
Urogenital diaphragm and the pelvic diaphragm are a muscular-fascial plate formed by two layers of muscles (superficial and deep) and fascia.
The superficial muscles of the urogenital diaphragm include the superficial transverse perineal muscle, the ischiocavernosus muscle, and the bulbospongiosus muscle. The deep muscles of the urogenital diaphragm include the deep transverse perineal muscle and the urethral sphincter.
The pelvic diaphragm includes a superficial layer of muscles, which is represented by the unpaired muscle - external anal sphincter. When contracted, it compresses (closes) the opening of the anus. The deep muscles of the pelvic diaphragm include two muscles that form the posterior section of the floor of the pelvic cavity: the levator ani muscle and the coccygeus muscle.
Internally, the pelvic floor is covered by the superior fascia of the pelvis, below the perineum is covered by the superficial subcutaneous fascia and the inferior fascia of the pelvic diaphragm.
The muscles of the genitourinary diaphragm lie between the superior and inferior fascia of the genitourinary diaphragm, and the muscles of the pelvic diaphragm lie between the superior and inferior fascia of the pelvic diaphragm.
A woman's perineum is different from a man's. The urogenital diaphragm in women is wide, the urethra and vagina pass through it; the muscles are somewhat weaker than in men, and the fascia, on the contrary, is stronger. The muscle bundles of the urethra also cover the vaginal wall. The tendon center of the perineum is located between the vagina and the anus and consists of tendon and elastic fibers.
In the perineal area, on the sides of the anus, there is a pair of depressions called the ischiorectal fossa. This hole is filled with fatty tissue and acts as an elastic cushion.
FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS.
1. Internal female genitalia.
2. External female genitalia.
3. The structure of a woman’s reproductive cycle.
OBJECTIVE: To know the topography, structure and functions of the internal female genital organs: ovary, uterus, fallopian tube, vagina and external genitalia: female genital area and clitoris.
Be able to show the internal and external female genital organs and their individual parts on posters and tablets.
Represent the physiological mechanisms of the processes of ovulation, menstruation, and the structure of a woman’s reproductive cycle.
1. The female genital organs serve for the growth and maturation of female reproductive cells (eggs), gestation and the formation of female sex hormones. According to their position, the female genital organs are divided into internal (ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina) and external (female genital area and clitoris). The branch of medicine that studies the characteristics of the female body and diseases associated with dysfunction of the genital organs is called gynecology (Greek qyne, qynaikos - woman).
The ovary (ovarium; Greek oophoron) is a paired sex gland that produces female reproductive cells and hormones. It has the shape of a flattened oval body 2.5-5.5 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, up to 2 cm thick. The mass of the ovary is 5-8 g. There are two free surfaces in the ovary: the medial one, facing the cavity of the small pelvis, and lateral, adjacent to the wall of the pelvis, as well as the upper tubal and lower uterine ends, the free (posterior) and mesenteric (anterior) edges.
The ovary is located vertically in the pelvic cavity on both sides of the uterus and is attached to the posterior layer of the broad ligament of the uterus through a small fold of peritoneum - the mesentery. In the region of this edge, vessels and nerves enter the ovary, which is why it is called the hilum of the ovary. One of the fimbriae of the fallopian tube is attached to the tubal end of the ovary. The ligament of the ovary runs from the uterine end of the ovary to the uterus.
The ovary is not covered by peritoneum; on the outside there is a single-layer cubic epithelium, under which lies a dense connective tissue tunica albuginea. This ovarian tissue forms its stroma. The substance of the ovary, its parenchyma, is divided into two layers: the outer, denser one, the cortex, and the inner one, the medulla. In the medulla, which lies in the center of the ovary, closer to its gate, numerous vessels and nerves are located in the loose connective tissue. The cortex, located outside, contains, in addition to connective tissue, a large number of primary (primordial) ovarian follicles, which contain embryonic eggs. In a newborn, the cortex contains up to 800,000 primary ovarian follicles (in both ovaries). After birth, the reverse development and resorption of these follicles occurs and by the onset of puberty (13-14 years) there are 10,000 of them left in each ovary. During this period, the alternate maturation of eggs begins. Primary follicles develop into mature follicles - Graafian vesicles. The cells of the walls of the maturing follicle perform an endocrine function: they produce and release into the blood the female sex hormone - estrogen (estradiol), which promotes the maturation of follicles and the development of the menstrual cycle.
The cavity of a mature follicle is filled with liquid, inside of which there is an egg on the ovarian mound. Regularly, after 28 days, the next mature follicle ruptures, and with a flow of liquid, the egg enters the peritoneal cavity, then into the fallopian tube, where it matures. The rupture of a mature follicle and the release of an egg from the ovary is called ovulation. At the site of the burst follicle, a corpus luteum forms. It acts as an endocrine gland: it produces the hormone progesterone, which ensures the development of the embryo. There are menstrual (cyclic) corpus luteum and the corpus luteum of pregnancy. The first is formed if the egg is not fertilized and functions for about two weeks. The second is formed upon the onset of fertilization and functions for a long time (during the entire pregnancy). After atrophy of the corpus luteum, a connective tissue scar remains in its place - a whitish body.
Ovulation is associated with another process in a woman’s body - menstruation: periodic discharge from the uterus of blood, mucus and cellular detritus (decomposition products of dead tissue), which are observed in a sexually mature non-pregnant woman after about 4 weeks. Menstruation begins at the age of 13-14 and lasts 3-5 days. Ovulation precedes menstruation by 14 days, i.e. it occurs midway between two menstruation periods. By the age of 45-50, a woman experiences menopause (menopause), during which the processes of ovulation and menstruation stop and menopause occurs. Before the onset of menopause, women have time to mature from 400 to 500 eggs, the rest die, and their follicles undergo reverse development.
The uterus (uterus; Greek metra) is an unpaired hollow muscular organ designed for the development and gestation of the fetus during pregnancy and its removal during childbirth. Located in the pelvic cavity between the bladder in front and the rectum in the back, it is pear-shaped. It is divided into: a bottom facing upward and anteriorly, a body - the middle part and a neck facing downwards. The junction of the uterine body with the cervix is narrowed (the isthmus of the uterus). The lower part of the cervix flows into the vaginal cavity and is called vaginal, the upper part of the cervix, lying above the vagina, is called supravaginal. There is a cavity in the body of the uterus, which communicates with the fallopian tubes from the bottom, and in the cervical area passes into the cervical canal. The cervical canal opens with an opening in the vagina. The length of the uterus in an adult woman is 7-8 cm, width - 4 cm, thickness - 2-3 cm, weight in nulliparous women 40-50 g, in those who have given birth up to 80-90 g, cavity volume - 4- 6 cm3.
The wall of the uterus is significantly thick and consists of three membranes (layers):
1) internal - mucosa, or endometrium; 2) middle - smooth muscle, or myometrium;
3) external - serous, or perimetry. Around the cervix under the peritoneum there is peri-uterine tissue - the parametrium.
The mucous membrane (endometrium) forms the inner layer of the uterine wall, its thickness is up to 3 mm. It is covered with single-layer columnar epithelium and contains the uterine glands. The muscular layer (myometrium) is the most powerful, built of smooth muscle tissue, consists of internal and external oblique and middle circular (circular) layers, which are intertwined with each other. Contains a large number of blood vessels. Serosa (perimetry) - peritoneum covers the entire uterus, with the exception of part of the cervix. The uterus has a ligamentous apparatus by which it is suspended and secured in a curved position, as a result of which its body is tilted above the anterior surface of the bladder. The ligamentous apparatus includes the following paired ligaments: broad, round ligaments of the uterus, rectouterine and sacrouterine.
The uterine (fallopian) tube, or oviduct (tuba uterina; Greek salpinx), is a paired tubular formation 10-12 cm long, through which the egg is released into the uterus. Fertilization of the egg and the initial stages of embryo development occur in the fallopian tube. Pipe clearance 2 - 4 mm. Located in the pelvic cavity on the side of the uterus in the upper part of the broad ligament. One end of the fallopian tube is connected to the uterus, the other is expanded into a funnel and faces the ovary. There are 4 parts in the fallopian tube: 1) the uterine tube, which is enclosed in the thickness of the uterine wall; 2) the isthmus - the narrowest and thickest-walled part of the tube, which is located between the leaves of the broad ligament of the uterus; 3) the ampulla, which accounts for half the length of the entire uterine tube pipes; 4) a funnel that ends in long and narrow pipe fringes.
Through the openings of the fallopian tubes, the uterus and the vagina, the peritoneal cavity in women communicates with the external environment, therefore, if hygienic conditions are not observed, infection can enter the internal genital organs and the peritoneal cavity.
The wall of the fallopian tube is formed by: 1) a mucous membrane covered with a single-layer cylindrical ciliated epithelium; 2) a smooth muscle membrane, represented by the outer longitudinal and internal circular (circular) layers; 3) a serous membrane - part of the peritoneum, forming the broad ligament of the uterus.
The vagina (vagina; Greek colpos) is the organ of copulation. It is an extensible muscular-fibrous tube 8-10 cm long, with a wall thickness of 3 mm. The upper end of the vagina starts from the cervix, goes down, penetrates the urogenital diaphragm and the lower end opens into the vestibule with the opening of the vagina. In girls, the vaginal opening is closed by the hymen (gymen), the attachment point of which separates the vestibule from the vagina. The hymen is a semilunar or perforated plate of the mucous membrane. During the first sexual intercourse, the hymen is torn, and its remains form flaps of hymen. Rupture (defloration) is accompanied by slight bleeding.
In front of the vagina are the bladder and urethra, and behind is the rectum. The vaginal wall consists of three membranes: 1) outer - adventitial, made of loose connective tissue containing a large number of elastic fibers; 2) middle - smooth muscle, made of longitudinally oriented bundles of muscle cells, as well as bundles with a circular direction; 3) inner - mucous membrane , covered with non-keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium and devoid of glands. The cells of the surface layer of the epithelium of the mucous membrane are rich in glycogen, which, under the influence of microbes living in the vagina, breaks down to form lactic acid. This gives vaginal mucus an acidic reaction and makes it bactericidal against pathogenic microbes
Inflammation of the ovary - oophoritis, uterine mucosa - endometritis, fallopian tube - salpingitis, vagina - vaginitis (colpitis).
2. The external female genitalia are located in the anterior perineum in the area of the genitourinary triangle and include the female genital area and the clitoris.
The female genital area includes the pubis, the labia majora and minora, the vestibule of the vagina, the major and minor glands of the vestibule and the bulb of the vestibule.
1) The pubis (mons pubis) at the top is separated from the abdominal area by the pubic groove, and from the hips by the hip grooves. The pubis (pubic eminence) is covered with hair that continues onto the labia majora. In the pubic area, the subcutaneous fat layer is well developed. 2) The labia majora (labia majora pudendi) is a rounded paired skin fold 7-8 cm long, 2-3 cm wide, containing a large amount of fatty tissue. The labia majora limit the genital fissure on the sides and are connected to each other by the anterior (in the pubic area) and posterior (in front of the anus) commissures. 3) The labia minora (labia minora pudendi) are paired longitudinal skin folds. They are located more medially and hidden in the genital fissure between the labia majora, limiting the vestibule of the vagina. The labia minora are built from connective tissue without fatty tissue and contain a large number of elastic fibers, muscle cells and venous plexuses. The posterior ends of the labia minora are connected to each other by a transverse fold - the frenulum of the labia minora, and the upper ends form the frenulum and foreskin of the clitoris. 4) The vestibule of the vagina (vestibulum vaginae) - the space between the labia minora. The external opening of the urethra, the opening of the vagina and the openings of the ducts of the large and small vestibular glands open into it. 5) The large gland of the vestibule, or Bartholin's gland (glandula vestibularis major), is a steam room, similar to the bulbourethral gland of a man, the size of a pea or bean. Located on each side at the base of the labia minora, the ducts of both glands open here. They secrete a mucus-like liquid that moisturizes the wall of the entrance to the vagina.6) Small vestibular glands (glandulae vestibularis minores) are located in the thickness of the walls of the vestibule of the vagina, where their ducts open.7) The bulb of the vestibule (bulbus vestibuli) is identical in development and structure to the unpaired corpus spongiosum male penis. This is an unpaired formation, consisting of two parts - right and left, which are connected by a small intermediate part of the bulb, located between the clitoris and the external opening of the urethra.
The clitoris (clitoris) is a small finger-like prominence 2-4 cm long in front of the labia minora. It consists of a head, body and legs, attached to the lower branches of the pubic bones. The clitoris consists of two cavernous bodies, corresponding to the cavernous bodies of the male penis, and contains a large number of receptors. The body of the clitoris is covered on the outside with a dense tunica albuginea. Irritation of the clitoris causes a feeling of sexual arousal.
3. The sexual cycle of a woman, despite the similarity in the course of the main stages (phases) with the sexual cycle of a man, has specific features. In women, both the duration and intensity of the sexual cycle are much more varied than in men. This is due to differences in the structure of sexual (sexual - lat. secsus - sex) feelings of men and women. Sexual feeling is the sum of two components (components): the spiritual baggage (wealth) of the individual - the ability to compassion, pity, love, friendship (spiritual psychological component of sexual feeling) and sensual erotic (Greek erotikos - love) satisfaction (sensual erotic component ). In the structure of the sexual feeling of a man and a woman, these components are ambiguous. If for men in the structure of sexual feelings the sensual erotic component is in first place and only in second place is the spiritual one, then for women, on the contrary, the spiritual component is in first place and the sensual erotic component is in second place (a man falls in love with his eyes, and a woman with her ears .A man needs a woman’s body, and a woman needs a man’s soul).
Sexologists conditionally divide women into 4 groups based on sexual feelings:
1) the zero group - constitutionally frigid, who lack the sensual erotic component of sexual feelings; 2) the first group - with a sensual erotic component, but it emerges very rarely among them; this group needs spiritual attunement; 3) the second group - erotically minded: they also need spiritual attunement, and they experience joy even without orgasm, i.e. without sensual satisfaction; 4) the third group - women who necessarily achieve sensual satisfaction, i.e. .e. orgasm. Women with a painful increase in sexual desire due to endocrine, nervous or mental disorders should not be included in this group.
The first three groups of women can be content with only the spiritual component without orgasmic sensations. The fourth group necessarily achieves orgastic sensations, not being content with the spiritual component.
Phase I of the sexual cycle - sexual arousal leads, in a reflexive and psychogenic way, to changes in the external and internal genital organs of a woman. The labia majora and minora, the clitoris and its head become filled with blood and enlarge. 10-30 s after sensory or psychogenic stimulation, transudation of mucous fluid begins through the squamous epithelium of the vagina. The vagina is moistened, which contributes to adequate stimulation of the receptors of the penis during coitus. Transudation is accompanied by expansion and lengthening of the vagina. As arousal increases in the lower third of the vagina, as a result of local stagnation of blood, a narrowing occurs (orgastic cuff), due to this, as well as the swelling of the labia minora, a long canal is formed in the vagina, the anatomical structure of which creates optimal conditions for the occurrence of orgasm in both partners. During orgasm, depending on its intensity, 3-15 contractions of the orgasmic cuff are observed (analogue of emission and ejaculation in men). During orgasm, regular contractions of the uterus are observed, which begin from its bottom and cover its entire body, down to the lower sections.
LECTURE No. 44.
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ORGANS.
1. General characteristics of the immune system organs.
2. Central and peripheral organs of the immune system and their functions.
3. Basic patterns of the structure and development of the immune system organs.
OBJECTIVE: To know the general characteristics of the immune system, the topography of the immune system organs in the human body, the functions of the central and peripheral organs of the immune system.
Represent the basic patterns of the structure and development of the immune system organs.
1. The immune system is a set of lymphoid tissues and organs of the body that protects the body from genetically foreign cells or substances coming from outside or formed in the body. The organs of the immune system containing lymphoid tissue perform the function of protecting the constancy of the internal environment (homeostasis) throughout life. They produce immunocompetent cells, primarily lymphocytes, as well as plasma cells, include them in the immune process, ensure the recognition and destruction of cells and other foreign substances that have entered the body or formed in it, bearing signs of genetically foreign information. Genetic control is carried out by populations of T- and B-lymphocytes functioning together, which, with the participation of macrophages, provide an immune response in the body
The immune system has 3 morphofunctional features: 1) generalized throughout the body; 2) cells constantly circulate through the bloodstream; 3) capable of producing specific antibodies against each antigen.
The immune system includes organs that have lymphoid tissue. In lymphoid tissue, there are 2 components: 1) stroma - reticular supporting connective tissue, consisting of cells and fibers; 2) cells of the lymphoid series: lymphocytes of varying degrees of maturity, plasmacytes, macrophages. The organs of the immune system include: bone marrow, in which lymphoid tissue is closely related to the hematopoietic tissue, thymus (thymus gland), lymph nodes, spleen, accumulations of lymphoid tissue in the walls of the hollow organs of the digestive, respiratory systems and urinary tract (tonsils, group lymphoid plaques, single lymphoid nodules). These are lymphoid organs of immunogenesis.
