Video Transcript
If a female becomes pregnant, which
part of the female reproductive system will the baby develop in?
This question is asking us about
the female reproductive system and where the baby develops. In order to answer this, let’s
review its anatomy.
The genitals are the outside parts
of the reproductive system. In females, the genitals are called
the vulva. The vagina is the muscular tube
that extends from the external genitals. This is where semen can be
ejaculated during sexual intercourse. The semen contains sperm cells that
need to combine with egg cells. These egg cells, or ova, are
produced by the ovaries.
In general, one egg cell is
released every month during a process called ovulation. The ovum is released to a tube
called the Fallopian tube. Inside the Fallopian tube, an ovum
can be combined with, or fertilized by, a sperm cell that was released by the male
during sexual intercourse. The fertilized egg makes its way
toward the part of the female reproductive system called the uterus.
Once inside the uterus, the
fertilized egg can implant into the wall of the uterus. This starts a pregnancy. The baby develops inside the uterus
for approximately nine months until it is born. Finally, the cervix is the opening
from the vagina to the uterus and keeps the baby in place until childbirth.
Therefore, the part of the female
reproductive system where the baby develops is called the uterus.
