In this article you will get information about female reproductive organs and their functions. We will talk about the functioning of the womb or uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. The womb or uterus is pear shaped organs of heavy muscular walls. The virgin uterus measures about two to three quarters of inches in length and two inches wide. Its elastic muscles expand considerably during pregnancy with the growth of the baby. Its upper part is connected with ovaries by two ducts called fallopian tubes. The organ is supported in the pelvis by strong ligaments. Its position is at right angles to the vagina, the upper, heavy and being directed forward towards the front of the pelvis. The small end (cervis) opens into the vagina and closes its upper end. After childbirth, the organ gradually retracts to its former size. The organ has powerful muscles to help push the baby out through vagina. During pregnancy the uterus retains and supplies nourishment to the growing baby till the delivery.



The upper ends of the uterus are joined by the fallopian tubes each about five and a half inch long, which extend right and left to the ovaries. The function of the fallopian tube is to conduct ovum from the ovaries to the uterus. This is achieved through contractile action of the tubes finger like fringes called fimbria. The sweeping motion of fimbria is in one direction, which helps egg cells in moving towards uterus. In most cases, the fertilization of an egg cell or ovum takes place during its journey through the fallopian tube. The process of passing of an egg cell through the tube is called ovulation. The fertilized egg is then moved down the tube towards the womb.

The ovaries produce the female reproductive cells, the ova or eggs, and internal secretions. Situated at the outer ends of the tubes, one on each side of the uterus, an ovary is about the size and shape of a large almond in the shell. Though they are comparable to the testes in their function, the hormone function of the ovaries is apparently more complete than that of the testes of the male. In addition to the internal secretion which governs the development of the specific female character and help to sustain the normal functioning of the individual as an organism, the ovaries elaborate other chemical substances which control the reproductive functions. Just like the castration performed on male, if the ovaries are removed before puberty the development of the individual get will drastically altered.

When a girl is born, her ovaries already contain these egg cells of ova in thousands. But then these are not mature. With the onset of puberty the ovaries start their work of maturing ovum. During the life time of woman about 400-500 egg cells mature. From the time of puberty till menopause, every month a mature egg is produced by one of the ovaries. The mature egg cells passes through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If an egg is fertilized it starts growing before it enters the velventry lined uterus which nourishes the egg, it remains alive for about 20-24 hours after entering the tube and then it disintegrates and gets absorbed into the body.

When the egg cell is not fertilized, the monthly preparation by the womb to receive a fertilized egg cell goes a waste and the debris is cast out- the whole process is known as menstruation. Menstruation generally continues for three to five days but even longer in few cases.