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Course: Class 12 Biology (India) > Unit 3
Lesson 3: The Female Reproductive SystemFemale external genitalia and mammary glands review
Overview of the anatomy and function of parts of the female reproductive system.
This article reviews the structure and function of human female external genitalia and mammary glands.
The female reproductive system
Human females need to produce eggs, support fertilized embryos, and care for babies after they are born. The female reproductive system is equipped with external and internal parts that help carry out all these functions. Check out this review of the human reproductive system to learn about the latter, and get a peek at the male reproductive sytem.
This review takes a brief look at the external genitalia and glands that female humans have.
External genitalia
The image below illustrates both the internal and external parts of the female reproductive system.
Zooming in on the external genitalia alone:
| Structure | Description |
|---|---|
| mons pubis | cushion of fatty tissue that covers the pubic bone |
| labia majora (singular labium majus) | fleshy folds that extend from the mons pubis and enclose the other external organs |
| labia minora (singular labium minus) | smaller pair of tissue folds under the labia majora that cover the vagina |
| hymen | thin membrane that partially covers the vaginal opening |
| clitoris | small structure found at the meeting of the labia minora |
Mammary glands
The diagram below illustrates a section of a mammary gland.
Mammary glands, or breasts in humans, are paired structures that produce milk in mammals.
- Mammary glands are made up of fatty and glandular tissues, the latter of which is divided into mammary lobes.
- Each lobe contains bunches of cells called alveoli that have cavities which can store milk.
- Mammary tubules from the alveoli join to form mammary ducts, which in turn open into a wider mammary ampulla.
- Milk is suckled through the lactiferous duct that connects to the ampulla.