Female Reproductive Anatomy
The reproductive system is the part of the body involved in sexual function. In women, this system is also responsible for nourishing and supporting a baby as it develops. Below are the main parts of the female reproductive anatomy.
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A doctor that specializes in caring for a woman’s reproductive system is called a gynecologist.
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Front View
A. Ovaries store eggs (female reproductive cells). About once a month, an egg is released from an ovary. This is called ovulation.
B. Fallopian tubes carry eggs to the uterus. Pregnancy occurs if a man’s sperm fertilizes an egg as it moves through the tube.
C. The uterus is a hollow, muscular, pear-shaped organ. If an egg has been fertilized, the embryo implants in the lining of the uterus where it grows into a baby.
D. The cervix is the narrow canal where the uterus and vagina meet.
E. The vagina is the pathway that connects the uterus with the outside of the body.
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During ovulation, the lining of the uterus thickens. This helps prepare the uterus to receive and nourish a fertilized egg. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, the thickened lining is no longer needed. It is then shed through the vagina as menstrual bleeding (having a period).
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