Female Reproductive System Essay

The aim of the female reproductive system is to produce mature oocytes which match with the male spermatocyte to create offspring. Fertilisation most commonly occurs in the fallopian tubes, though this can also occur later in a female’s menstrual cycle if the egg has already moved down into the uterus, though there is a higher chance of miscarriage as the lining of the womb may continue to shed. The external female reproduction features have two functions; to allow insemination and to also protect against infection and injury. These structures include; the labia majora, which contains glands that produce sweat, the labia minora which surrounds the opening of the vagina and urethra, bartholin's glands which are just behind the vaginal
The uterus is made up of extremely flexible tissues that can stretch at a rapid rate to accommodate foetal growth. The female reproductive system also has ovaries which release ova whilst producing and regulate hormones, and fallopian tubes with connect the uterus to the ovaries and provide transportation for the oocyte to the womb.
Once a female reaches reproductive adolescence hormonal activity will begin and the maturation of egg cells will commence. These cycles tend to be 28 days long on average, though some females may experience shorter or longer intervals between periods. Each period prepares the body for pregnancy and happens in three phases; follicular, ovulatory and luteal. The follicular phase is around fourteen days in length and initiates the release of both the follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These hormones ready around twenty immature oocytes for maturation and also promote the release of oestrogen; this ensures that only a certain amount of oocyte-containing follicles mature. As this phase continues, generally around one follicle in each ovary is the strongest and the growth of the dominant