Middle School Life Science: Reproductive Systems and Life Stages - Female Reproductive System — Flashcards

Two functions of the female reproductive system are producing eggs and secreting estrogen, which is the main sex hormone in females. Estrogen has two major roles. During adolescence, estrogen causes the changes of puberty. It causes the reproductive organs to mature and other female traits to develop. During adulthood, estrogen is needed for a woman to release eggs from the ovaries. The female reproductive system has another important function. It supports a baby as it develops before birth and gives birth to the baby at the end of pregnancy.    
The female reproductive organs include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, and vagina. The two ovaries are small, oval organs on either side of the abdomen. Each ovary contains thousands of eggs. However, the eggs do not develop fully until a female has gone through puberty. Then, about once a month, an egg is released by one of the ovaries.    
The ovaries also secrete estrogen. The two fallopian tubes are thin tubes that are connected to the uterus and extend almost to the ovaries. The upper end of each fallopian tube has “fingers” called fimbriae that sweep an egg into the fallopian tube when it is released by the ovary. The egg then passes through the fallopian tube to the uterus. If an egg is fertilized, this normally occurs in the fallopian tube.    
The uterus is a hollow organ with muscular walls. The uterus is where a baby develops until birth. The walls of the uterus stretch to accommodate the growing fetus. The muscles in the walls contract to push the baby out during birth. The uterus is connected to the vagina by a small opening called the cervix. The vagina is a cylinder-shaped organ that opens to the outside of the body. The other end joins with the uterus. Sperm deposited in the vagina swim up through the cervix into the uterus, and from there into a fallopian tube. During birth, a baby passes from the uterus through the vagina to leave the mother's body.