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The female genital system also consists of several structures:
Once an oocyte is ‘mature’, it leaves the ovary and is ‘caught’ by the fimbriae and led, by peristaltic contractions, into and through the fallopian tube towards the uterine cavity.
The (miniscule) embryo is further transported into the uterus where it settles against the inner wall of the uterus; the endometrium. Pregnancy has started!
The external genitalia consist of:
After puberty, the labia majora and the surrounding area are covered with hair.
Note that, in contrast to the male genitalia, the urethra and the vagina remain separate all the way to the outside world.
We probably all now that the clitoris is the most sensitive part of the female genitalia. In fact, it is comparable to the penis gland in males.
What is often unknown is that behind the clitoris and the labia’s, there is a whole genital system in women!
The female internal genitalia consist of:
The crura of the clitoris are two “legs” running from the clitoral gland, hidden by the skin and the labial folds and surrounding the urethra and the vagina.
We need to say a few words about the hymen. This, because there are so many false ideas about this rather small structure.
The hymen is actually a folded superficial tissue that (partially) surrounds the vaginal opening. It is also rich in nervous endings and blood vessels, which makes it sensitive to stretch and damage.
The appearance of the hymen is very variable, from very small to a larger structure surrounding the whole vaginal opening.
When, for the first time, coitus is performed, or an object inserted in the vagina, then the hymen is usually torn which may be painful and cause (some) bleeding.
But in many women, the hymen is too small, and penetration does not cause any bleeding.
In very rare cases, the hymen covers (nearly all) of the vaginal opening (see ‘imperforata’ in the diagram), which may interfere with the monthly menstrual blood loss.
The hymen has little physiological significance but, unfortunately, in several societies, has acquired enormous significance.
And, in some societies, it is even possible to restore a ‘broken’ hymen by surgery.
This is called hymenoplasty! This is sometimes used in some societies/religions when a woman must be a ‘virgin’ before she can marry!
As you know, and in contrast to the male genital system, the female genital system shows a biological cycle that last approx. 24 days.
These hormones are:
This increase in FSH stimulates the development of an ovarian follicle. This activated follicle will, in turn, produce oestrogen.
The increase in oestrogen, in turn, will, gradually, decrease the secretion of FSH (negative feed-back).
As FSH is decreasing, the secretion of LH is increasing. This will induce ovulation (the ‘liberation’ of a mature ovum), which occurs about hallway the female cycle.
The structure that is left in the ovarium becomes a ‘corpus luteum’ (yellow body). This is the beginning of the second phase; the luteal phase.
Now the corpus luteum secretes increasing levels of progesterone, together with increasing levels of oestrogen. These two hormones help in a further and final development of the endometrium (just in case fertilization has occurred and implantation is required).
11.
However, after several days, if nothing has happened, the LH will gradually decrease, the corpus luteum will gradually disintegrate leading to a decrease in oestrogen and progesterone.
12.
The decrease in these hormones will no longer be able to maintain the thick endometrium which will gradually disintegrate; leading to menstruation and the start of a new cycle.
Female genital mutilation involves the (partial) removal of (some) parts of the external genitalia.
These terrible procedures are performed for non-medical reasons, such as religion, society, etc.
In many of these mutilations, the clitoris is removed by cutting it off (type 1).
In other types, the minor and/or the major labia are cut away (type 2 and 3). In the ‘worst’ case, the remaining tissue is then sutured to avoid any possible insertion and leaving a small hole as an outlet for urine and menstrual blood.
If the girl survives such injuries, she is also at high risk of future problems caused by the initial injury.
