1. General facts

• Located in the pelvic region.
• Consists of a pair of ovaries, a pair of oviducts, uterus, cervix, vagina and external genitalia.
• Mammary glands support child care and lactation.

2. Ovaries

• Primary female sex organs.
• Produce ova (female gametes) and steroid hormones.
• One ovary is present on each side of the lower abdomen.
• Length: 2–4 cm.
• Connected to the pelvic wall and uterus by ligaments.
• Covered by thin epithelium.
• Ovarian stroma has two zones:
  • Outer cortex
  • Inner medulla

3. Oviducts (Fallopian tubes)

• Female accessory ducts include oviducts, uterus and vagina.
• Each oviduct is 10–12 cm long.
• Three parts:
  1. Infundibulum: Funnel-shaped; near the ovary.
  2. Ampulla: Wider part.
  3. Isthmus: Narrow lumen; joins the uterus.
• Fimbriae: Finger-like projections that help collect the ovum after ovulation.

4. Uterus

• Also called the womb.
• Single, inverted pear-shaped organ.
• Supported by ligaments attached to the pelvic wall.
• Opens into the vagina through the cervix.
• Cervical canal and vagina together form the birth canal.

Three layers of the uterine wall

Layer	Important fact
Perimetrium	Outer, thin membranous layer
Myometrium	Middle, thick smooth-muscle layer
Endometrium	Inner, glandular layer lining the uterine cavity

• Endometrium: Undergoes cyclical changes during the menstrual cycle.
• Myometrium: Exhibits strong contractions during childbirth.

5. Female external genitalia

• Mons pubis
• Labia majora
• Labia minora
• Hymen
• Clitoris

Important facts:

• Mons pubis: Fatty tissue covered by skin and pubic hair.
• Labia majora: Fleshy folds extending down from the mons pubis.
• Labia minora: Paired folds beneath the labia majora.
• Hymen: May partially cover the vaginal opening.
• Clitoris: Tiny, finger-like structure at the upper junction of the labia minora, above the urethral opening.
• The presence or absence of the hymen is not a reliable indicator of virginity or sexual experience.

6. Mammary glands

• Paired structures called breasts.
• Contain glandular tissue and variable amounts of fat.
• Each breast contains 15–20 mammary lobes.
• Each lobe contains clusters of cells called alveoli.
• Alveolar cells secrete milk.
• Milk is stored in the lumens of alveoli.

Milk passage pathway

Alveoli → Mammary tubules → Mammary ducts → Mammary ampulla → Lactiferous duct → Nipple

Quick revision: Numbers to remember

Structure	Fact
Ovary	2–4 cm long
Oviduct	10–12 cm long
Mammary lobes per breast	15–20
Uterus	Inverted pear-shaped
Ovarian stroma	Cortex and medulla
Uterine wall	Perimetrium, myometrium, endometrium
Birth canal	Cervical canal + vagina