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| Vaginal
Anatomy
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Lady Secret Serum
Tighten and Restore the Grip of Vagina
Vaginal Anatomy :
Anatomically, the female reproductive system consists of
essential and accessory organs. The ovaries are essential to the production
of eggs and hormones that initiate female secondary sexual characteristics
and maintain normal reproductive function. The Fallopian tubes conduct
the egg or (fertilized egg, the zygote) from the ovary to the uterus
that is monthly changed into a habitable place for a fertilized egg.
The cervix (narrowest portion of the uterus) serves as a gatekeeper
to the body of the uterus. The vagina opens to the exterior in association
with the external genitalia. Accessory glands participate in normal
reproductive function. These include glands that produce mucus to
lubricate the vagina and urethral opening.

• Ovaries
These small oval-shaped glands are located on either side of the
uterus supported by several ligaments. The ovary consists of 3 areas:
1) cortex, 2) medulla, 3) hilum. The cortex contains supportive
cells, blood vessels, and developing follicles. The medulla contains
connective tissue, smooth muscle, blood and lymph vessels and nerves.
Nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue are found in the innermost
portion, the hilum. The ovaries produce eggs(ova) and hormones.
• Uterus
The pear-shaped uterus opens to the vagina at the cervix and then
widens toward the top where the Fallopian tubes enter the uterus.
The uterus is a very muscular organ containing 3 layers of tissues.
The interior layer, the endometrium, changes in thickness and secretory
capability due to the influence of ovarian hormones over the course
of the menstrual cycle. The myometrium, or muscle, is composed of
4 poorly defined layers of smooth muscle that is thickest at the
top of the uterus. This makes for greater force during labor and
delivery. The exterior of the uterus is covered with connective
tissue. During pregnancy the baby (fetus) develops inside the uterus
causing it to expand tremendously.
• Fallopian Tubes
These narrow muscular tubes are attached to the upper outer angles
of the uterus and serve as tunnels for the egg (ova) to travel from
the ovaries to the uterus. Ova are captured by the infundibulum
which has a wide webbed finger-like appearance, called fimbriae,
near the ovary. Wave-like contractions create a current that moves
the ovulated egg towards the tubular opening. Conception normally
occurs in the tubes, with the fertilized egg then propelled to the
uterus by the peristaltic contractions of the tubes and ciliary
beating of the tubular epithlium to the uterus for implantation.
Sometimes implantation will occur in the Fallopian tubes. Such an
ectopic pregnancy is undesirable and must be treated immediately
before the growing embryo causes rupture of the tube.
This muscular canal extends from the midpoint of the cervix to its
opening located between the urethra and rectum. The mucous membrane
lining the vagina and musculature are continuous with the uterus.
The epithelium lining the vagina thickens and produces lubricating
substances in response to estrogen. These secretions aid in sexual
intercourse.
• Mammary Glands
The breasts are milk producing glands located over the pectoral
muscles consisting of a nipple, lobes,
ducts and fibrous and fatty tissue. The nipple is surrounded by
a pigmented, circular area (areola) and contains ductal openings.
Nipple erection is produced with stimulation. The 15 to 25 lobes
of each breast are further divided in lobules that are separated
and supported by fibrous tissue. Each lobule contains
small saclike aveoli surrounded by milk producing cells and small
muscular cells. The muscular cells contract to express the milk
during lactation. The lobules are drained by ducts that empty into
a larger reservoir that lies just below the nipple. Reproductive
hormones are important in the development of the breast in puberty
and in lactation. Estrogen promotes the growth of the gland and
ducts while progesterone stimulates the development of milk producing
cells. Prolactin, released from the anterior pituitary, stimulates
milk production. Oxytocin, released from the posterior pituitary
in response to suckling, causes milk ejection from the lactating
breast.
• Hormones & The Cycle
Females have four major hormones involved in the menstrual cycle:
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen
(estradiol) and progesterone. FSH and LH are protein hormones produced
by cells of the anterior pituitary within the brain, in response
to small peptide hormones from the hypothalamus (hypothalamic releasing
factors). These pituitary hormones travel in the blood to the ovary
where they stimulate the development of one or more eggs, each within
a follicle. A follicle consists of an ovum surrounded by cells responsible
for the growth and nurturing of the ovum. As the cycle progresses,
one follicle becomes dominant and all others regress. Estrogen,
and progesterone to a lesser degree, are steroid hormones produced
by cells of the developing follicle. Estrogen causes the endometrium
to increase in thickness and vascularization (i.e.blood supply).
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After ovulation (at the midpoint of the cycle), under the influence
of LH, these same follicular cells shift to the production of progesterone.
Progesterone causes the endometrial lining to become secretory and
nutritive in anticipation of implantation of a fertilized egg. These
four hormones are in a constant balance that shifts during progress
through the menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days,
however only a very small percentage of cycles are exactly 28 days,
most cycles range from 25-36 days.
The menstrual cycle can be divided into three phases: the follicular
phase, the ovulatory phase, and the luteal phase. The follicular
phase begins with the first day of menses (menstrual flow) and continues
to approximately day 13 or 14 when ovulation takes place. During
the follicular phase, FSH and LH are slowly rising in preparation
for the LH surge (very high level of LH) at the time of ovulation.
FSH is stimulating the growth of follicles in the ovary. Estrogen
and progesterone are relatively low throughout this time but slowly
begin to rise toward the end of this phase.
LH surges and peaks during the ovulatory phase (around day 14) and
estrogen peaks at the same time. These peaks trigger ovulation.
The ovum lives about 72 hours after ovulation, but it is fertilizable
for only about 36 hours. Just before ovulation, progesterone levels
begin to rise rapidly. Changes in cervical mucus accompany ovulation.
The amount of mucus increases and it becomes clear and thin. This
facilitates conception by aiding the passage of sperm through the
cervical canal. Sperm can live for up to 72 hours in the female
reproductive system. Therefore, the fertile period during a 28-day
cycle is only about 4-5 days.
After the egg is released, the remainder of the follicle stays intact
in the ovary and produces both estrogen and progesterone. This is
called the corpus luteum (hence the luteal phase). The corpus luteum
remains intact for the remainder of the cycle. The breast swelling,
tenderness and pain experience by some is most likely due to the
effects of progesterone on breast tissue.
Right after ovulation, the luteal phase begins and during this phase,
progesterone levels are very high--progesterone is important during
this phase because if the egg is fertilized, and implanted in the
uterus, progesterone keeps the uterus intact so that the pregnancy
is maintained. The continued health of the corpus luteum (progesterone
secretion) is assured by the production of human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG) by the implanted embryo, until the placenta develops and can
take over. The detection of hCG in urine is the basis of laboratory
and Home | pregnancy tests.
If fertilization and implantation have occurred, than the corpus
luteum will be stimulated by hCG to continue its production of estrogen
and progesterone to maintain the pregnancy. This is important because
the corpus luteum dies 14-22 days after ovulation if fertilization
and implantation do not occur. With no progesterone to keep it intact,
the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) is then shed, resulting
in the monthly menstrual flow that normally lasts about 5 days.
A variety of feminine Products | are available to help women during
menses, including absorptive pads and tampons, deoderants, and vaginal
cleansers. |
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