There are eight basic systems of the human body—(i) Skeletal System (ii) Muscular System (iii) Circulatory System (iv) Nervous System (v) Respiratory System (vi) Digestive system (vii) Excretory System (viii) Reproductive System. We shall discuss these one by one.
THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
The bony skeleton supporting the human body is constructed to strengthen the muscles which produce movement in the body to give shape. The forelimbs of the human body are supported by bones forming a shoulder girdle and similarly the leg bones are connected to others forming a pelvic girdle. Ribs connected to the backbone (including those connected to the breast bone) serve to protect certain internal organs, including the heart and the lungs. Man’s structural superiority over other animals is due to the straight femur or thigh bone and the erect pose of the head
The above features enable the man to’ walk in an erect position so that his hands are free to perform other functions. These structural advantages and the formation of his skull and lower jaw are responsible for an increase in brain power and intelligence in man, as compared with the other animals.
The human system consists of 206 bones of various sizes. The bones are composed of cells, which are softer in early childhood than in adult life. Where bones meet there is a joint which may simply be an immovable joint as in the bones of the skull or may be movable joint as that of the knee. The movable joints are necessary for the motion of human body.
MUSCULAR SYSTEM
Muscles are attached to the bones and consist of bundles of fleshly fibres, capable of contraction or shortening. When required such contractions help the various limbs of the body to move. The muscles are of two kinds namely, the voluntary muscles whose movements are controlled by human will, and the involuntary muscles which perform their function without any conscious effort of the will.
These include the heart, the muscles of the stomach and those of the intestines. Their movements are rhythmic and we are not conscious of their action.
THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
This system comprises the blood and heart and their functions. The blood is continuously propelled by the contraction of the heart and is derived into the arteries. The arteries are elastic tubes which by their recoil aid the distribution of the blood to all parts. The blood is a clear fluid comprising innumberable solid bodies called corpuscles. The corpuscles are of two kinds—red and white—and are cellular shaped. The red corpuscles carry haemoglobin which constitutes protein and a little iron.
When combined with oxygen haemoglobin forms a bright red substance. The white corpuscles are living organisms, small jelly like creatures each with a nucleus. They are of great importance as they eat up the disease germs that enter the body. They are capable of independent movement in the blood stream and within the tissue and can swallow up dead bacteria and foreign particles.
The main functions of blood are the following:
It carries oxygen to every part of the body that requires it.
It carries impurities from all parts of the body to the excretory organs namely the lungs, the kidneys and the skin.
It carries food from the digestive system to all tissues.
It carries heat to all parts of the body.
The heart is a hollow, muscular and somewhat conical four chambered force pump enclosed in a fibrous bag. It is situated in the chest between the lungs and weigh from 10 to 12 ounces. The heart is divided into two parts by a wall running from top to bottom with no direct connection between the parts. These parts are themselves divided into parts, upper and lower but have valves between them. The upper portions are called Auricles and the lower ones Ventricles.
When the blood reaches the tissues it loses all its oxygen and is loaded with waste materials especially carbon dioxide from the tissues. The impure blood reaches the heart by means of capillaries and veins. With the beat of the heart, it enters into the Right Auricle and then to the Right Ventricle from where it is taken by the pulmonary Artery to the lungs. In the lungs capillaries, the blood comes into contact with oxygen and is purified (oxygenated). The purified blood is now brought back to heart by means of Pulmonary Vein. It now enters the Left Auricle and when auricles are contracted during the heart beat, the blood passes to the Left Ventricle and then commences its journey again to all parts of the body. Thus with the contraction of right and left auricles, the venous blood from the body ana aerated (oxygenated) blood from the lungs is pumped into their respective ventricles. And when the right and left ventricles contract, venous blood is pumped into the lungs and the aerated blood into the main vessels. These rhythmic contractions and dilations followed by an equivalent pause are called pulse or heart beat.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
It is the most important system as it commands rest of the body what to do and how to work together. While the central nervous system resides in the skull and the spine, the nerves are spread all over the body. The nervous system of a man is a network pervading the whole body, having two way connection with the central control and enabling the individual to give a coordinated response to any stimulus from outside. Thus nerves that carry the messages to the muscles with orders to perform a particular action are called Motor Nerves.
The brain is the chief centre of the nervous system and is contained within the skull. The brain susbstance consists of grey and white matter. The grey matter forming a thin, superficial layer (cortex). It consists of three parts: (a) the cerebrum or bigger brain, which governs our consciousness, thought, emotions, will, sight, hearing, sensation of pain and memory through the grey matter, (b) the cerebellum or the smaller brain is connected with the coordination of the actions, nervous and muscular, by which the movement of the body are carried on, (c) Medulla Oblongata houses the centre of nervous tissue connected with reflex action consisting of movements that take place automatically, such as breathing or walking.
The spinal cord consist mostly of nerves. This is like a continuation of the medulla and runs down the back, surrounded by the bony arch of the spinal column. This organ is capable of making simple decisions, called the reflex action.
THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
This system comprises lungs and the passages leading to them.
The purpose of respiration (breathing) is the entry and exit of air to and from the lungs. The object of breathing is to bring oxygen of the air into contact with the blood with the purpose of (a) giving some oxygen to the blood and (b) taking out waste products from the blood.
The air, in going to the lungs, has to go through various passages. They are nose or mouth, and the larynx or voice box.
We breathe through nose or through mouth. There are two passages leading downwards from nose and mouth into the body one takes food and water to the stomach and the other takes air to the lungs.
Larynx or voice box is commonly known as ‘Adam’s Apple’ and can easily be felt in the throat. It is a cavity (inthroat) holding vocal cords. Vibration of cords produces vocal sounds. The air passes from the voice box to the lungs by means of wind pipe which is about four inches long and one inch wide. The wind pipe at the lower end, is divided into two branches that go to the lungs.
The functioning of the lungs has already been described while discussing the Excretory System. The functioning of lungs as the respiratory organ is slightly more complicated. In the lungs, the air gets very close to the blood, that comes from the whole body through heart. The impure blood, dark red in colour, has too much carbon dioxide in it. This blood comes from the tissues, which have taken the oxygen from it but have loaded it with carbon dioxide. In the tissues, oxygen is used every minute to bum up the food material, resulting in production of considerable quantity of carbon dioxide. The lung’s function is to reverse this state of affairs, i.e. restoring its oxygen quota and expelling the excess carbon dioxide. Thus the venous blood (the impure blood) is rendered arterial (bright red in colour) in its passage through the lung capillaries. It goes back to the heart and is ready to do its work again. The fresh oxygen, taken by the blood all over the body, is picked up again by its muscles which need it for their normal functioning.
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The food that we take comprises proteins, sugars and starches, vitamins, salts, fats and oils. Only a part of these substances is useful to the body and the rest, which is indigestible, must be get rid of. The foot is broken up by the teeth and after getting mixed with saliva, it is swallowed. Saliva is an alkaline fluid which is also common to the air passage at this level. It then passes into the gullet. Like stomach and intestines, the gullet is a muscular organ and can force the food along if necessary. With the help of the muscle, a man can drink even if he is standing on his head. About nine inches long, the gullet ends in the stomach. It is here that the second stage of digestion takes place.
From this position the food reaches stomach which is a hollow muscular organ lined by a glandular mucus membrane which secretes the gastric juice containing hydrochloric acid, salts, pepsin and water. The stomach mixes the food well by moving it round and round. At one stage the proteins are changed to a form in which they can pass through the stomach well and be absorbed, at once, ready to nourish the body.
Starches and proteins are now acted upon, though not digested completely. Fat and oil are broken up and oil is set free. In the stomach, digestion may take two to three hours. The food then goes to small intestine which is a long tube which, when uncoiled, may measure about one feet. Here, we have to consider the action of three different digestive juices, e.g., the pancreatic juice, the bile generated by the liver and the intestinal juice, which is the secretion of the small glands of the bowel lining. Food passes through the intestine and finally nutrients are absorbed and carried into the blood. The bile and the pancreatic juices are produced by the liver and pancreas respectively.
Liver is the largest organ in the body, which is situated just underneath the diaphragm rather on the right side. Its weight is about three to four pounds. There are fine tubes in the liver called bile ducts into which the cells of the liver secrete vile, and the bile ducts join together and form Hepatic duct which carries the bile to the duodenum (also known as first part of small intestine).
Bile is a yellow fluid, containing mucus, water and some salts (called bile salts). It acts on the fats and oils and breaks them up into very small particles.
Liver is also a storehouse for sugar which it puts in the blood, when it is required by the body. About seven inches long, there is another large gland reddish in colour and known as Pancreas. It lies behind the stomach, and tube from it called the Pancreatic duct enters the intestine near where the bile duct enters. The pancreatic juices act on the protein the starches and the fats.
The intestine is an organ of digestion as well as of absorption. The food, now digested, can pass through the walls of the intestine and is taken into the blood. It is then distributed allover the body. Food remains in the small intestine for about 12 hours and is slowly passed on towards the large intestine.
The large intestine is a 6 feet long tube. It is little concerned with the digestion or absorption of food, for more of this has already been done. Food remains here from 24 to 36 hours. Due to loss of water, the material in the large intestine now hardens as it reaches the rectum. Finally, the ingestible remnant is turned out.
THE EXCRETORY SYSTEM
It comprises the kidney, skin, lungs and bowels. The system is designed to help get rid of the waste matter in the body when all juices have been extracted from the digestive food. There are two kidneys, situated one on each side of the backbone in the small portion of the back or loin. It has the renal artery which brings blood to it and the renal vein which takes it away. In addition, there are the usual nerves, the lymphatic vessels and the ureter, the tube that takes urine from the kidney to the bladder which is the reservoir for urine.
Urine, a pale yellow fluid, carrying the waste nitrogen from our protein foods, and also mineral salts, secreted into the two kidneys. The kidney may be regarded as a pair of filters, through which about 2 pints of blood circulates every minute. In fact, the whole blood in the body passes down to the kidneys in five to six minutes. Urine is propelled down along the ureters from the kidneys to the bladder by successive veins of contraction in the muscular walls of these channels.
The bladder is an elastic membrance serving as temporary reservoir for urine, secreted by the kidneys. The normal adult capacity is about 1 pint. The urine is discharged into the bladder in intermittent jets every 20 seconds or so. The outlet below the bladder is normally closed by a tight ring of muscle called sphincter. In emptying, the bladder contracts and the sphincter relaxes to allow efflux of urine.
Another important agent for excretion of the waste material from the body is skin. It has two layers, the top one called the epidermis and dermis or true skin below the epidemics.
The latter is richly supplied with blood vessels. The skin is designed to:
protect the body;
act as an organ of excretion by means of sweat glands. It thus helps to regulate the temperature of the body and;
to give the sense of touch.
The skin has hair and sense organs. The latter are little lumps in the dermis which are nerve ending. They report to the nervous system when anything comes into their contant. The skin also has two kinds of glands, the Sebaceous glands, which secrete an oily substance serving as lubricant to the skin and the sweat glands which make the skin as an excretory organ. The function of the latter is to take up sweat from the blood and pour it out on the skin. Though mostly water, the sweat contains, salts, fats and tiny bits of skin.
Bowels are the intestines, both large and small, which serve to complete the digestion of food and to allow its absorption into the blood stream. The useless or undigested food remains are gradually moved onwards and are hardened in the large intestine where from they are ready to be thrown out. The failure of the bowel function is called constipation.
Lungs comprise two elastic spongy masses, almost filling the chest cavity. These are import agents to cleanse the system of impurity. Lungs throw off carbon dioxide, water (in the shape of vapour) and also some organic matter.
They are, therefore, organs of excretion in addition to being the organs of respiration
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
Sex is an act preformed emotionaly and physically sex organs play an important role. Hope is the description of sex organs:
Male Organs
The sex organs of a male are quite complicated form of a reproductive system. They produce semen, store it and release into the woman’s vagina at the time of ejaculation. Procreation, therefore, is the result of the union of the sperm cell and the ovum.
Testes
The male organs comprise of the two testes of testicles hung side by side in a sac called the scrotum, behind the penis in its relaxed state. The testes are oval in shape and about an inch long and inch wide, have two different functions. These are made up of a series of lobes composed of minute tubules in which the sperm cells the spermatozoa are formed and liberated. The internal secretion of sex hormones which create sex impulses and cause the essential male characteristics in the individual and play its role with the other secretory glands in the body in sustaining the normal functioning of the body, are achieved by it. In case this function is impaired before puberty, the development of the individual becomes seriously altered in form, temperament and impulses. Since it is directly absorbed into the blood, these secretions are termed as internal secretions.
In the seminal discharge the male sperms formed in the testes are the vital elements because these sperms have the power of fertilising the egg of the woman to conceive a new life. These highly vitalized cells consist of a head, neck and long tail. It is in this head that the nucleus is contained which transmit the hereditary characteristics of the individual. Having the power of independent motion these sperms propel themselves in the liquid secretion in which it floats, it requires an hour or more for the sperm to reach the cavity of the uterus and a few hours to gain the oviduct or the tube where it fertilises an ovum (egg). When the released female egg encounters one male sperm or spermatozoa it penetrates the cell wall of the egg in an complex series of rearrangement of both cells, known as fertilisation. Though, in single male organism about 200 to 500 million sperms are discharged, only one is able to reach the walls of the cell. The remaining cells are cast out along with the other residues of the physiological process. The spermatozoa are being slowly formed and released in the testicles all the time.
The Epididymis and Vas Deferens
Each of the cluster of convoluted tubes in the lobes of the testes in which the sperm cells are formed merges into a single tube and the resulting mass of tubes in turn forms a complex network which constitutes a large annexe to the body of the testes. It is known as epididymis. The network of the tubes of epididymis unite in turn to form the seminal duct or vas defrens. From the epididymis each seminal duct passes upwards in the scrotal sac and enters the pelvis cavity where it continues its upward course, then curves forward and downward to enter the urethra which conducts the urine from the bladder.
Seminal Vesicles
The vas two in number, issuing from each testes takes a round of the bladder and then empty into the seminal vesicles. These vesicles are two small pouches, situated just behind the urinary bladder. The function of seminal vesicles is to store the semen and secrete a gelatinus substance which by mixing with the sperm thickens the semen and increases its volume. The secretion, the sperm thickens the semen and increases its volume. The secretion also provides nourishment and strength to sperms.
Since these testes and seminal vesicles are always secreting and manufacturing semen, sometimes the vesicles are filled to capacity and the nature empties them in the form of nocturnal emissions as is in the process orgasm. The phenomenon is usually accompanied by erotic dreams and pleasurable sex feelings of an orgasm.
It is a mistaken belief of old theories that nocturnal emissions or wet dreams are a sign of weaknes. These are natural, harmless occurrence to be expected in most normal men, particularly between the ages of fourteen and thirty-five. There is nothing to worry about. Untold mental torture and unnecessary expense has been caused to millions of men through the misrepresentation of quacks and fear of men in these matters.
Seminal emissions vary greatly in frequency of occurrence between different men and in the same man at different times. Within the normal the frequency may range between once a month to several times a week. Many factors, physical, mental and temperamental are responsible for it. There are some young men who rarely or never experience nocturnal emissions. Though the occurrence of emissions are natural, their absence does not necessarily indicate any abnormality. It is quite possible in their case that the contents naturally ooze out in the ducts aided by bowel movements, to be thrown out with the urine from the bladder.
Nocturnal emissions generally occur when a man sleeps on his back. The reason being that in this position the weight of the partly filled or full bladder resting upon the vesicles increases the irritation to set of the reflexes ejuculating semen. To avoid this, heavy food should not be taken before going to bed and constipation should not be allowed.
Prostate Gland
It is shaped like a horse chest nut. Surrounding the neck of the bladder and the junction of the urinary and spermatic ducts, into which juncture the prostate empties its contents through some thirty outlets. The prostrate secretion is also added to the semen before it is ejaculated in the vagina. Thus semen is a combined product of all these glands. Each of these glands imparts to the semen its many peculiar characteristics. The prostate is also a sexual gland, which is situated below the urinary bladder. During coital climax, the prostate cntracts and mixes its own secretion in the semen. To sustain sexual vigour and strength, it is considered necessary that the prostate functions properly. The prostate secretes a thin milky, alkaline fluid the function of which is similar to the products of the vesicles. The alkalinity serves to protect the spermatozoa against acidity arising from the urine. The acidity damages the vitality of the sperm cells.
Urethra
A small duct called urethra runs through the centre of the penis down to its glands from the urinary bladder. This duct serves the double purpose—it empties the urine from the bladder and ejaculates the semen from the seminal vesicles. Thus, urethra is connected with both the systems of seminal discharge and urine elimination. The urethra in penis discharges both semen and urine but sex mechanism of male body is such that both the actions cannot take place together. During seminal discharge a special valve automatically shuts off the urine.
Penis
A child’s penis is small which grows long with the other organ of the body after the onset of puberty. Penis through which the bladder is emptied and the sperm is discharged during intercourse, is normally three to four inches long and in normal flaccid state about one and a quarter to two inches in diameter. When a man is sexually aroused his penis grows erect and organ measures about one and a half inches in diameter and five to six inches in length along its upper side. It is made up in part of spongy tissue which becomes gorged with blood, making the organ hard and rigid , In excited state it stands out an angle from the body to confirm in general to the normal vagina angle of the woman. The erection is essential in order to achieve the penetration of the vagina. In response to mechanical or psychic stimulation, the erction is achieved through a nervous mechanism which causes a rush of blood into the organ and at the same time greatly restricts its flow thus, causing rigid distention of the penis, Like the size, the shape also varies from man to man. Penis is the male copulating organ which conducts the semen into vagina. There is no correlation betwen the size of a penis and a man’s sexual strength and capacity. The erect size also does not make much difference because vagina has such an elastic cavity to accommodate any size of penis. The most sensitive nerve ending in a vagina is the clitoris which can always be reached by any penis howsoever it be small.
Glans Penis
The foremost end of the penis round like a knob is called glans penis. It is slight thicker than the rest of the shaft. In the flaccid state of the penis the head or glans penis is partly or wholly by a loose layer of the skin, in the uncirumcised, called the prepuce of foreskin. This is retract for the purpose of cleaning and it becomes natural retracted after entry in coitus. The surface of the foreskin is somewhat mucus owing to the glans which secrete a substance called smegna. It is an irritating secretion and should be regularly cleaned, otherwise it makes the forepart of the penis become chessy in appearance by breeding germs. It should be daily washed with soap. The glans penis has the most sensitive nerve endings. A slight soft touch is enough to excite a man and to make the penis erect. It is mainly the glans penis on which a little rubbing whether by hand or by vaginal contact sends the sex waves in the entire body, culminating in orgasm or ejaculation.
Erection and Ejaculation
As also referred to earlier, the effect of the sexual arousal in man is physically manifest in the erection of the penis. A direct and gently stimulation of the penis almost always causes erection. This is borne out of reflex action and may occur in sleep. Erection may be caused without any rubbing of the penis, just by erotic thoughts or dreams it goes erect. In the early morning it may be aroused becuse of the urge to urinate. Most such erections terminate without any discharge.
Ejaculation is the culmination of sexual stimulation in man. Having entered the vagina, the most sensitive nerve endings of which the penis is made up, become tense and excited on account of the friction against the walls of vagina, the cozy heat it may experience further fanned by the secretion of the fluid in the vagina. To and fro movements of the penis add on the arousal. The tension gets higher and higher till it reaches the climax and the release of the seminal fluids is known as ejaculation. The basic difference between the sex mechanism of the man and the woman is, in man the climax and ejaculation or orgasm take place simultaneously while in woman these are two different states. At the time of the climaxic height orgasm the seminal discharge takes place through the penis in a number of spurts.The number of the spurts varies from 4 to 20 just as the first menses indicates the onset of puberty in a girl,the first ejaculation marks the boy’s entrance into adolescence.
Female Organs
The female organs are more complicated because they are confined in the body and not openly visible. Because of the apparent invisibility most of the girls are unaware about their internal sex organs. Hence , it is all the more necessary that full knowledge about the female organs structure and their function be discussed in full details.
Vulva
The two visibly fleshy folds, covered with hair are the outer lips or labia majora. When parted they reveal two smaller or inner lips of labia. The insides of the inner labia are covered with mucous membrnae. The inner lips or labia are one of the several sexual sensation centres. In sexual intercourse these labia remain constantly massaged by the rubbing of penis. In some women the inner lips protrude somewhat. The inner lips meet their upper ends which when separated look like the form of wish bone of a hen.
The principle of the sex feeling, the clitoris is situated just above the junction of the inner lips. The clitoris looks like a mini penis having erectile tissue and a head and foreskin similar to the penis of the man. It is covered from above by a hood of skin. The clitoris is made up of highly sensitive nerves which respond very well to sexual stimulation. It is from this centre that the sexual feeling begins and permeates in the entire body through vulva and vagina. When erect the clitoris looks like the size of or shape of small bean. About an inch below the clitoris a small opening of the tube called urethra. Its duct conducts the urine from the bladder. The urethra has only the urinary function and no sexual function.
The muscous membrane above the clitoris , like the penis of a man, is covered with glands which secrete smegna. Owing to the structure, cleanliness in the woman is somewhat more difficult than it is in the man.
It is not hygeinically necessary to keep it clean but also for this reason that it emits smell which tend to inhbit sexual desire in the man.
Hymen
Just below the urinary passage is the entrance to vagina. In the normal virgin girl this opening remains partially close by a thin membrane called the hymen. Though it appears in different shapes but normally it looks like a crescent in shape appearing the forward extension of the black walls of the vagina. In many cases during the first intercourse when the hymen is ruptured there may be slight bleeding and pain. But this should not cause any alarm. It is a false notion which the orthodox still maintain that the hymen is the symbol of virginity. A nicked or stretched or tattered hymen does not mean that the body has been penetrated into. It could be ruptured on account of many a jerks or falls that a young girl might have experienced. Many girls may not have much of it or others may lose it in doing some kind of vigorous job. Sometimes the insertion of a finger into the vagina may prove too hard for any hymen. Occasionally a hymen is so tough that it remains intact even after several sessions of sexual intercourses. It all depends on the kind of hymen a girl is born with. Generally during the first coitus, the penis tear it till hardly a few shreds mark it former presence. At times in certain cases it was found to be so flexible that instead of breaking into pieces by the penile thrust, it merely bends and allows the penis to glide over it. It may in certain cases remain there even after delivering a child. In some cases the surgeon’s aid is obtained to slit open the membrane. But the bleeding and discomfort, when they occur are not of sufficient consequence to warrant fear on the part of the woman. This is psychologically important because this fear powerfully inhibits her sexual responses and the function of the lubricating glands, leaving the parts dry. This increases the probability of discomfort and bleeding and diminishes the possibility of experiencing any sex pleasure at the first coitus.
Vagina
It is a tube or canal extending from vulva to the neck of the uterus. It is three and half to 4 inches in length in its normal relaxed position. It is here that the penis in intercourse is sheathed with its elastic walls. It receives the seminal discharge and allows the sperm to travel forward towards the womb in search of the ovum. It is through this tube that a child passes to the outside world during pregnancy the vagina and its outlet becomes capable to great expansion, permitting the passage of the child from the womb without injury in many cases. In most instances, however more or less laceration of the muscular structure controlling the opening and of the vagina itself occurs. It should be vitally important that such tears receive prompt surgical attention. The use and control of the muslces about the vaginal opening of the entire pelvic floor are necessary to woman’s most effective participation in coitus. The relaxed condition and the loss of muscular control which results from the failure to repair perineal and vaginal teras may result in greatly diminishing sexual satisfaction in coitus for both partners and may render it impossible for the woman to achieve orgasm at all. The flexible walls of the vagina are lined moist and clean. It has a great relaxing and contracting power. It is because of this reason that the vagina, besides being made up of flexible walls, is able to accommodate must larger penis notwithstanding its small cavity.
Womb or Uterus
It is pear shaped organ of heavy muscular walls. The virgin uterus measures about two inches wide. Its elastic muscles expand considerably during pregnancy with the growth of the baby. Its upper part is connected with ovaries by two ducts called fallopian tubes. The organ is supported in the pelvis by strong ligaments, its position is at right angles to the vagina, the upper, heavy end being directed forward towards the front of the pelvis. The small end opens into the vagina and closes its upper end. After childbirth the organ gradually retracts to its normal size. The organ has powerful muscles to help push the baby out through the vagina. During pregnancy, the uterus retains and supplies nourishment to the growing baby till the delivery.
Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries
The upper end of the uterus as referred earlier are joined by the fallopian tubes, each about five and half inches long. Which extend right and left to the ovaries. The function of the fallopian tube is to conduct ovum from the ovaries to the uterus. This is achieved through contractile action of the tubes finger like fringes called fimbria. The sweeping motion of fimbria is in one direction, which helps the egg cells in moving towards uterus. In most cases, the fertilisation of an egg cell or ovum takes place during its journey through the fallopian tube. The process of passing an egg cell through the tube is called ovulation. The fertilised egg is then moved down the tube towards the womb.
The ovaries can be compared likened to the testes of the male. They produce the female reproductive cells, the ova (eggs) and internal secretions. Situated at the outer ends of the tubes, one on each side of the uterus, an ovary is about the size and shape of a large almond in the shell. Though they are comparable to the testes in their function, the hormone function of the ovaries is apparently more complex than that of the testes of the male. In addition to the internal secretion which governs development of the specific female character and help to sustain the normal functioning of the individual as an organism, the ovaries elaborate other chemical substances which control the reproductive functions. If the ovaries are removed before puberty the development of the individual gets drastically altered. Even after marriage, if ovary is removed for any reason, there could be certain changes felt physically and mentally.
When a girl is born, here ovaries already contain these egg cells or ova in tens of thousands. But then these are not mature. With the onset of puberty the ovaries start their work of maturing ovum. During the life time of woman about 400-500 of egg cells mature. From the time of puberty till menopause, every month a mature egg is produced by one of the ovaries. The mature egg cell passes through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If an egg is fertilised it starts growing before it enters the velvety lined uterus which nourishes the egg well. If the egg is not fertilised it remains alive for about 20-44 hours after entering the tube and then it disintegrates and gets absorbed into the body. In that case soft and velvety lining of uterus is not required, the blood and the blood vessels forming the protective lining are cast out through vagina.
Menstruation
When the egg cell is not fertilised, the monthly preparation by the womb to receive a fertilised egg cell gove a waste and the debris is cast out the whole process is known as menstruation. Menstruation generally continues for three to five days but even longer in few cases. While it is a normal physiological function, not to be regarded as a ‘sickness’ or being ‘unwell’ in several cases the general let down and the read justments of the entire organism do involve nervous tensions and in many cases a variety of aches and pains for which due consideretion is to be made in the social and personal circle of the individual. It should be clearly understood that a girl or woman during the periods, should not be considered an ‘untouchable’ . As a matter of fact, the underlying reason of this belief was sympathetic-that in a period of menstruation, a girl or a lady might feel weak so she should be given full rest-which has been mistakenly converted into a hygienic one. But now-a-days no educated girl or woman adhere to these obscurantic norms and treat the period days like any other day in their life. May be, because of better facilities to contain this blood into the sanitary napkins, the modern woman does not make it a show of it. It is not physically but emotionally a woman might feel disturbed during this period, for which she should be shown due consideration.
Breasts
Though the breasts do not strictly come under the categories of the organs we are discussing, they are being induced because of their special significance in manifestation of the sexual arousal of a woman. Specially their breasts’ nipples signify as one of the most erogenous zones. Squeezing, sucking, touching, caressing of the breasts, particularly the nipples give rise to strong and most favourable sexual desires. The sexologists say that in the initial stages of married life a woman derives more pleasure from any such stimulation of her breast than the actual coitus. Nipples, like clitoris have erectile tissues and very sensitive nerve endings. The tissues become firm and erect during erotic stimulation. It is for this reason that breasts or mammary glands are two very important sexual organs, whose development is dependent on the secretion of certain hormones of the female sex. Though, the breasts have their primary function in feeding a new born child there importance as an erotic and sensitive zone permeating with desire to mate has great significance in sexual relationship. Although their sizes vary from puberty to maturity and they grow large during pregnancy. The sexual undertones of this organ has influenced the loving onlookers most. An ideally formed breast has always been the most beautiful female symbol or characteristic. The another most important function of breasts is to feed child after delivery.
