Pituitary gland. Ovaries.
Pituitary gland. The pituitary gland lies in a bony saddle of the skull, under the brain and near the middle of the head. It is no larger than a small lima bean, yet it is a major control gland that sends chemical signals through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. These signals are in the form of chemical substances called hormones. Through a complex relay system, these pituitary hormones control many functions, including growth of bone and body. Medical research indicates that the pituitary gland responds to signals from a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This means that the amount of some of our hormones can be indirectly, but partially, governed by what we think or by our attitudes. At puberty a girl’s pituitary gland actively secretes two main female hormones that arouse the reproductive organs to matunty. The internal organs, which lie inside the protective pelvic bones, begin their response just before the external organs of sex give evidence of beginning maturity.
Especially note the location of P.C. muscles, which provide an important part of the support for the reproductive organs. Controlled contraction of these muscles gives added sexual pleasure for both husband and wife.
Ovaries. The word ovary comes from the Latin word ova, which means eggs The ovaries are the main target organs for the pituitary hormones. At puberty the pituitary secretions carried by the bloodstream signal the ovaries to begin to develop eggs. Soon the ovaries will be in full production to continue for thirty or more years. There are two ovaries, each suspended near the internal center of the lower body about four to five inches below the waist, halfway between the back of the pelvis and the groin. Each ovary is about the size of a robin’s egg. At the time of puberty, the surface of the ovary is smooth. Shimmering through the surface there are many tiny glistening droplets called follicles. Each of these ovarian follicles holds an immature egg, or ovum, that is the female cell of reproduction. The eggs in the droplets are so small they would be only barely visible. They are smaller than the dot on an i, and it would take at least two million of them to fill a sewing thimble.
The ovaries have another equally vital function: to produce at least two important hormones of their own. These work together with the pituitary hormones to bring the rest of the reproductive system to maturity and then to keep it in working order.
This shows the relationship between the various organs of reproduction. Notice here and in figure 1 that the urethra lies between the vagina and the pubic bone. Thus it can be easily bruised during coitus
When a baby girl is born there are about three to four hundred thousand follicles in the ovaries, although only about three to four hundred eggs will ever actually reach maturity and be released from the ovaries. If two ova, or eggs, are released at one time and both ova are fertilized, a twin pregnancy may result. These babies would not be identical twins, but would be fraternal twins—merely siblings born at nearly the same time. Identical twins come from the division of a single fertilized egg, and this always produces identical babies of the same sex.
Posted in Understanding the Basics
To Ed Wheat Sr. and Gladys Gibson Wheat, whose commitment, devotion, warmth, generosity, and integrity stood for fifty years as a beautiful picture of genuine agape love.