http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Human Biology
FIGURE 1.131
This drawing shows the organs of the
female reproductive system. It shows the
organs from the front. Find each organ
in the drawing as you read about it in the
text.into the vagina. If this occurs, the sperm will move through the vagina and into the uterus. During birth, a
baby passes from the uterus to the vagina to leave the body.- Theuterusis a hollow organ with muscular walls. The part that connects the vagina with the uterus is called
thecervix. The uterus is where a baby develops until birth. The walls of the uterus grow bigger as the baby
grows. The muscular walls of the uterus push the baby out during birth. - The twoovariesare small, oval organs on either side of the uterus. Each ovary contains thousands of eggs.
The eggs do not fully develop until a female has gone through puberty. About once a month, an egg is released
by the ovary. The ovaries also secreteestrogen, the main female sex hormone. - The twofallopian tubesare narrow tubes that open off from the uterus. Each tube reaches for one of the
ovaries, but the tubes are not attached to the ovaries. The end of each fallopian tube by the ovary has “fingers”
(Figure1.131). They sweep an egg into the fallopian tube. Then the egg passes through the fallopian tube to
the uterus.
Vocabulary
- cervix: Lower, narrower end of the uterus that connects with the vagina.
- estrogen: Main sex hormone in females.
- fallopian tube: Female reproductive organ that carries eggs from the ovary to the uterus.
- ovary: Female reproductive organ in which eggs form.
- uterus: Female reproductive organ in which the baby develops until birth.
- vagina: Female reproductive organ that receives sperm during sexual intercourse and provides a passageway
for a baby to leave the mother’s body during birth.
Summary
- Female reproductive organs include the vagina, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.
- The ovaries release the eggs and secrete estrogen.