This site is designed to support and expand the Hillendale Health Curriculum.
	Learning about how your body grows and develops and how to take care of your body is an important part of Hillendale Health class. The following information deals with the changes that occur to a girl's body especially the reproductive system as girls go through puberty. Find information by reading the information below or click on the contents button to look for answers to specific questions.

Female Reproductive System What is the female reproductive system? The female reproductive system is made up of some special organs (female reproductive diagram A). An organ is a part of the body designed to perform a certain function, such as the heart, which has the job of pumping blood. The female reproductive organs make it possible for a woman to have a baby. The uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and the vagina are the main structures of the female reproductive system. uterus ovaries egg cells fallopian tubes vagina What are the different parts of the female reproductive system? female reproductive diagram B The vagina is a tube about four to five inches long. It connects the uterus with the outside of the body. The part of the uterus that meets the vagina is called the cervix. The cervix is a very tiny opening that leads into the uterus. The uterus is about the size and shape of an upside-down pear. Sometimes you might hear the uterus called the womb. The womb or the uterus is where a baby grows and develops inside the mother. The uterus is a hollow organ with muscular walls. The inside lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. The uterus is located inside of a females body between the hips. On each side of the uterus there are small organs called ovaries. The ovaries contain thousands of egg cells. These egg cells are only about the size of a tiny grain of sand. The egg cells formed inside of a girl's ovaries before she is even born. During puberty these egg cells will begin to mature and be released from the ovary. When an egg cell is released from an ovary it must travel to the uterus. Directly next to each ovary is a thin tube through which the egg cell travels to get to the uterus. These thin tubes are called fallopian tubes. The interior of a fallopian tube is only the thickness of two human hairs. What changes occur to the reproductive organs during puberty? As a females body begins the process of puberty special hormones are released that create changes to the internal reproductive organs inside of a girl's body. The vagina becomes deeper,and girls may notice some wetness, called vaginal discharge, on their panties. The color of the discharge is usually clear to whitish and, it's normal in small amounts, so it's nothing to worry about. The uterus becomes longer and the lining of the uterus becomes thicker. The ovaries enlarge and the egg cells inside the ovaries begin to grow and develop getting ready for a special monthly event called ovulation. Table of Contents What is ovulation? What is fertilization? Where does a baby grow inside of the mother? What is menstruation? Puberty | Contents | Glossary | Phys Ed | Health | Site Map | HES Index | Being Born Male Reproductive System | Female Reproductive System | Review