3- The female reproductive system.

3.1. The female reproductive organs.

Most of the female reproductive organs are internal.They are located in the lower abdomen.

1. The ovaries produce female reproductive cells called ova.One ovum matures each month. Women are born with all the ova they will need for the rest of their life.
2. The fallopian tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus.
3-The uterus is an organ with muscular walls. During pregnancy a fertilised cell develops into a baby in the uterus. The main function of the uterus is to nourish the developing fetus prior to birth.
4-The vagina is a muscular tube which connects the uterus to the outside of the body. The vulva is on the outside of the body and covers the opening to the vagina.

3.2.- Puberty in girls.
When girls are between 10 and 16 years old their bodies experience a series of changes: the breasts begin to develop, pubic hair grows, they grow taller, their body fills out, glands in the skin and scalp produce more oil which can cause spots or acne, armpit hair begins to grow and menstruation typically starts between 10 and 15 years of age.

3.3.- The menstrual cycle
Once a girl reaches puberty, the ovaries start to release ova. An ovum is released from the ovaries into one of the fallopian tubes about every 28 days. This process is called ovulation. The walls of the uterus get thicker with extra blood and tissue prepare for fertilisation. If fertilisation does not happen, the ovum dries up and leaves the body through the vagina about two weeks later and women experience menstruation.