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Photo Lilly Dalton
Lilly Dalton - Age 17
Title Anatomy - I wish I knew more about how my body works.

As young women we all have questions about our changing bodies. It is important for young women to know about their bodies in order to make informed decisions, healthy choices and respect themselves and their bodies.

-Lilly

Reproductive Organs:
Anatomy


On the Inside:

A. Vagina: The external opening which leads to the uterus.
It is 3-5 inches long in a grown woman.

J. Ovaries: Walnut-sized glands at the end of each
fallopian tube which produce two important hormones:
estrogen and progesterone, beginning at puberty.  Eggs,
also called ova, are released from the ovaries each month during ovulation.

Graphic - Drawing of the Reproductive Organs - Inside view

K. Uterus: “the womb” a pear shaped organ that is able to expand to
accommodate a growing fetus.

B. Cervix: Area between the vagina and the uterus. It is a small
hole no bigger than the size of a straw. During delivery of a baby,
the cervix dilates to 10cm to let the babies head pass.

H. Fallopian Tubes: These connect the ovaries to the uterus.
The egg, also called the ovum, travels down these tubes to the uterus.
They are about the size of spaghetti.

On the Outside:

Vulva: “covering” It describes all of the external genital area.

Hymen:  A thin tissue which partially covers the vaginal opening.
It is different in all women, but usually it becomes stretched,
torn or bleeds during the first sexual experience.

Graphic - Drawing of the Reproductive Organs - Outside view
Clitoris: Located toward the front of the vulva, it is a small sensory
organ functioning in sexual arousal.

A. Urethra: Tubes which connect the bladder to the urinary opening,
which is found between the vagina and clitoris.

B. Labia Majora: “the outer lips”

C. Labia Minora: “the inner lips”

So how does it work?
Physiology
Graphic - Start
Graphic - Many environmental factors affect the onset of getting your period: body weight, stress, diet, and exercise. These triggers send information to the . . . 		Graphic - Arrow right Graphic - Hypothalmus, a part of the brain which releases Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone that acts on the... Graphic - Arrow right Graphic - Pituitary Gland, another part of the brain which releases two hormones: Luiteni-zing hormone and Follicle Stimulating Hormone
  Graphic -The Menstrual Cycle   Graphic - Arrow down
Graphic - End       Graphic - Ovaries: where the follicle (cells around the egg) are stimulated to release the egg. Estrogen is released into the bloodstream by the follicle, causing the lining of the uterus, the endometrium to thicken.
Graphic - When the corpus lutiem dies because the egg has not been fertilized, prog-esterone levels drop and the lining of the uterus is shed: menstruation Graphic - Arrow up and to the left Graphic - Progesterone is released into the bloodstream by the follicle, now called the corpus lutiem, and causes the lining of the uterus, the endometrium to prepare for a fertilized egg by producing secretions.   Graphic - Arrow down and to the left
Graphic - Arrow left Graphic - Ovulation: the egg is released and travels to the uterus via the fallopian tubes.

All girls cycles are different, but in a 28-day cycle, here are the main events:
Day 1: Menstruation begins
Day 6: Endometrium begins to thicken to receive egg
Day 14: Ovulation Occurs
Day 21: Implantation would occur if fertilization had taken place
Day 28: Last day of cycle


Resources:

"Reproductive Health." GirlsHealth. Feb. 2007. 6 July 2007 <http://www.girlshealth.gov/body/reproductive_health.htm>.
Dr. Jaffe, Les. "Periods, Cramps, and Hormones." Smith College , Northampton , MA . 3 July 2007.
Barone, Jenn. "Our Amazing Bodies." Smith College , Northampton , MA . 3 July 2007.

"Female Reporductive System." KidsHealth. May 2004. 6 July 2007
<http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/changing_body/female_repro.html>.

 "All About Menstruation." TeensHealth. May 2007. 7 July 2007
<http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/menstruation.html>.

Reproductive Organs Images: Courtesy of BG4G 2006 - Orginial Drawings Mandi Waits
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