1. T HE F EMALE R EPRODUCTIVE S YSTEM Borges, Yisel Chavez, Monica Period 5 May 9, 2013

2. I. S TRUCTURE A. O RGANS OF THE F EMALE R EPRODUCTIVE S YSTEM Vagina: a muscular hollow tube that extends from the vaginal opening to the uterus (3-5 inches long) Uterus: ( womb) carries the child during pregnancy Fallopian Tubes: tubes that connect the ovaries to the uterus Ovaries: two oval shaped organs that lie to the upper right and left of the uterus (about the size of an olive and pinkish-grey in color) Cervix: the narrow neck-like passage forming the lower end of the uterus

3. B. E XTERNAL P ARTS OF THE F EMALE R EPRODUCTIVE S YSTEM Vulva: covers the opening to the vagina and other reproductive organs in the body Mons pubis: the area located above the vaginal opening Labia: two pairs of skin flaps that surround the opening Clitoris: a small sensory organ Urethra: the canal that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body

4. II. F UNCTION The Female Reproductive System produces the female egg cells needed for reproduction (called ova or ovum) and transport them to the site of reproduction. (Ovarian Cycle) 4 major hormones involved in the ovarian cycle  Follicle-stimulatory hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, and progesterone Occurs in 3 phases  Follicular phase  Ovulation  Luteal phase

5. A. Follicular Phase FSH and LH are released into the bloodstream.15-20 eggs mature in the ovaries (Each in a follicle) and make estrogen. One follicle in one ovary continues to grow and produce estrogen while the others die. B. Ovulation Ovulation starts about 14 days after the follicular phase began.  The estrogen triggers a flow in the production of LH. The LH causes the follicle to burst. The egg is released and then it enters the fallopian tubes. C. Luteal Phase  After releasing the egg, the follicle forms the corpus luteum, and makes the hormone progesterone, preparing the uterus for an embryo to implant. If a man's sperm has fertilized the egg, the embryo travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus.  If the egg isn’t fertilized, it passes through the uterus. The lining breaks down and sheds, and the next menstrual cycle begins.

7. A menstrual cycle is a period of hormonal activity which repeats at about 28 days interval ( menstru means monthly) If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus, or womb, sheds its lining. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus.

8. III. WHAT C AN POSSIBLY G O W RONG ? Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) : This potentially fatal illness is caused by toxins released into the body during a type of bacterial infection.  The risk of tampon-related TSS is associated with absorbency: the higher the absorbency the higher the risk; the lower the absorbency, the lower the risk, so a woman should use the lowest absorbency tampon for her menstrual flow.

9. B IBLIOGRAPHY “Female Reproductive System: Organs, Function, and More." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. Raven, Peter H. "Female Reproduction System." Biology. By George B. Johnson. Austin: n.p., n.d. 999-1003. Print. "Female Reproductive System." Female Reproductive System. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. YouTube. Perf. MedSchoolMadeEasy. YouTube. YouTube, 15 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 May 2013. “Female Reproductive System.” TeensHealth. Ed. Steven Downshen, MD. Nemours, May 2010. Web. 9 May 2013