THE PHYSIOLOGY

OF
Female GENITAL
SYSTEM
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Learning Objective
Student should comprehend of:
1. Female hormonal system (the
hypothalamic- pituitary-gonodal axis)
2. Ovarian and endometrial monthly
cycle
3. Puberty, menarche
4. Female sexual act
5. Menopause

Two major phases of female

reproductive functions:
1.Preparation of the female body to
conception and pregnancy
2.The period of pregnancy itself.

The female hormonal system consists of

three hierarchies of hormones:
1. GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing
Hormone, from hypothalamus)
2. FSH and LH (from anterior pituitary)
3. Estrogen and progesterone (from the
gonads)

The brain directs the

reproduction system
The pathways that regulate
reproduction begin with secretion of
peptide hormones by the
hypothalamus and anterior pituitary
(follows the basic hypothalamusanterior pituitary-pheripheral gland
pattern).

Feedback Pathways
Trophic hormones:
Follow the general pattern
When circulating levels of gonadal
steroids are low, the pituitary
secretes FSH and LH.
Once streroid secretion reaches a
certain level, negative feedback
usually inhibits gonadotropin
release.

Feedback
Pathways (cont.)
In contrast, estrogen
alternates between
positive and negative
feedback.
Lower concentrations of estrogen have a
negative feedback effect. However, if estrogen
rises rapidly to a threshold level or above for
at least 36 hours, feedback changes from
negative to positive, and gonadotropin release
(particularly LH) is stimulated.

 Reproduction begins with the

development of ova in the ovaries

About 7 million oogonia in embryonic

ovary develop into half a million
primary oocytes

During fetal life, the outer surface of

the ovary is covered by a germinal
epithelium,
primordial ova (a primary oocyte),
with a layer of granulosa cells =
primordial follicle
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 During childhood, when almost no

pituitary gonadotropic hormones are
secreted, the ovaries remain inactive
At the age of 9 to 12 years, the pituitary
does begin to secrete progressively
more FSH and LH = puberty
Which then leads to onset of monthly
sexual cycles beginning (= menarche)
between the ages of 11 and 15 years

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 It is now, believe that the onset

of puberty is initiated by some
maturation process that occurs
elsewhere in the brain, perhaps
somewhere in the limbic system

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Environmental Factor influence

reproduction
Stress
Nutritional status
Changes in the day-night cycle
(travel across time zones or shift
work)
Phytoestrogens of plants, or
Synthetic compounds (EDCs,
endoc-disrupt compounds: agonis
steroidal and thyroid hormon)

Ovarian and endometrial cycle

The female reproductive (monthly)
cycles:
1) ovarian cycle

Three phases of ovarian cycle:

1. Follicular phase
2. Ovulation
3. Lutheal phase

2) uterine (endometrial) cycle:

1. Proliferative phase
2. Secretory phase
3. Menstruation

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1. The follicular phase

(or the phase of follicular
maturation)
Rapid proliferation of the
granulosa cell
Several layers outside the
granulosa cells
develop the theca
During the follicular phase,
the follicle secrete hormones:
estrogens (prepare the uterus to receive the
embryo).
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2 The ovulation phase

Ovulation occurs 14 days
after the onset of
menstruation
The protruding outer wall of
the follicle swells rapidly,
than the stigma rupture
During ovulation, the ovum is
extruded from the follicle,
whose wall breaks, and is
aspirated into the Fallopian
tube

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The ovulation phase

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The ovulation phase

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The ovulation phase

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The ovulation phase

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3. The lutheal phase

(or preparation of the
uterus for the potential
implantation of an embryo)
The follicle (the remaining
granulosa and theca interna
cells) is transformed into a
corpus lutheum (lipid
inclusion)
CL produces progesterone
and estrogen

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The monthly
endometrial
cycle

1. Proliferative phase
(estrogen phase)

Occurring before ovulation

The stromal cells and the epithelial
cells proliferated rapidly
(the endometrial glands and new
blood vessels) under influence of
estrogen
The endometrium is 3 to 5 mm thick
(at the time of ovulation)
Mucus secretion

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2. Secretory phase
(progestational phase)
Occuring after ovulation
Progesteron and estrogen
together are secreted in large quantity by
the corpus lutheum
Swelling and secretory development of
the endometrium
Endometrium is 5 to 6 mm thick (at the
peak of the secretory phase)

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3. Menstruation
Estrogens and
progesterons decrease to
low levels of secretion
Blood vessel vasoplastic release
vasoconstrictors materials (prostaglandin)
necrotic of the endometrium
The menstrual fluid is normally noncloting
fibrinolysin

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Secretory
proliferasi

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 Embriyo

Oogenesis

Embryonic ovary, germ cells: oogonia

Complete mitotic replication : the fifth month of
embryonic development, and the first
stage of meiosis start before birth.
Than the ovary contains primary gametes
(primary oocytes)

Reproductive adult
Start on puberty
Primary oocyte continue the meiotic devision
Before ovulation, each primary oocyte divides
into two cells: 2nd oocyte and first polar body

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Function of ovarian
hormones
Estrogen
Progesteron

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Functions of estrogens
Their effects on the primary and secondary
female sex characteristics:
1.Uterus and external female sex organ

Change (ovaries, fallop. tube, uterus and

vagina) from those a child to those of an adult
The ext. genitalia enlarge, with deposition of
fat in the mons pubis and labia majora and
with enlargement of the labia minora.

2.Fallopian tubes
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Functions of estrogens
2. Fallopian tubes

Estrogen
cause the glandular tissues in
this lining to proliferate,
cause the number and activity
of ciliated epithelial cells to
increase
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Functions of estrogens
3. Breasts
(1)Development of the stromal tissues of
the breasts
(2)Growth of an extensive ductile system,
and
(3)Deposition of fat in the breasts
Do not complete the job of converting the
breasts into milk producing organs

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Functions of estrogens
4. Skin
Cause the skin to develop a texture that is soft
and usually smooth , become more vascular
(increased warmth, greater bleeding)

5. Skeleton
Increase osteoblastic activity in the bones (growth
in height becomes rapid for several years
Cause uniting of the epiphyses with the shafts of
the long bones
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Functions of estrogens
6. Protein deposition
Cause a slight increase in total body protein

7. Body metabolism and fat deposition

Cause deposition of increased quantities of fat
in the subcutaneous tissues (buttocks and
thighs, feminine figure)

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Functions of estrogens
8. Hair distribution
Estrogen do not greatly affect hair distribution
(pubic region and in the axillae after puberty).
Androgens are mainly responsible for this.

9. Electrolyte balance
Cause sodium and water retention by the kidney
tubules

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Functions of
progesterone
Their effect on:
1. Uterus

Promote endometrium to increase

secretion
Decreases frequency and intensity of
uterine contraction

2. Fallopian tubes
3. Breasts

Promotes development of the lobulus

and alveoli of the breast
Promote breast to swell
But does not cause to secrete milk

4. Electrolyte balance

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Adrenal androgens influence

female secondary sex
characteristics
Pubic and axilary (armpit)
hair growth , and
libido (sex drive)

Female sexual act

Female sexual desire
Is affected
by estrogen levels
and adrenal androgen
Similar with male sexual act.
Stimulation (psychic and local ) of the
female sexual act
Erogenous zone
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Erogenous
zone

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Female sexual act

Female erection
Erectile tissue
Parasimpathetic nerve
(that pass through
the nervi erigentes
from sacral plexus to
the external genitalia)
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Female sexual act

Lubrication (by Bartholin)
Parasympathetic signal also pass to
the bilateral Bartholins glands
located beneath the labia minora
and cause them to secrete mucus
immediately inside the introitus
Is responsible for much of lubrication
during sexual intercourse,
to avoid irritation sensation

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 Female orgasm
When local sexual stimulation
reaches maximum intensity, and
supported by appropriate psychic
conditioning (cerebrum reflex)
During the orgasm, the perineal
muscles contract rhytmicaly,
which results from spinal cord
reflexes.
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Female orgasm
The walls of vagina and uterus contract
Seems to cause dilatation of cervical
canal (30), allowing easy transport of the
sperm

The intense sexual sensations also pass

to the cerebrum and cause intense
muscle tension throughout the body,
than resolution
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Menopause
The period during which the monthly
cycles cease and the female sex
hormones diminish to almost none.
At age 45-55 years
At the age of about 45 years, only a few
primordial follicle remain to be stimulated
by FSH and LH
As the remaining primordial follicle
become atretic, the production of
estrogens by the ovaries falls virtually to
zero
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Menopause

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Summary
1. Female reproduction is a
complicated topic due to the
cyclic nature of gamete
production in the ovary
2. Female produce gametes in
monthly cycles
3. Female sexual act is similar with
male, and affected by to some
extent by estrogen and adrenal
androgen levels
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Refferences
1. Guyton & Hall. 2011. Textbook of
Physiology
2. Silverthorn, D.U. 2001. Textbook of
Human Physiology, an integrated
approach 2nd Ed.

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Thank you

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