Video Transcript
A front view of the human female reproductive system is shown in the figure. Which letter on the diagram is the cervix?
This question requires us to identify the cervix, a structure involved in the human female reproductive system. To answer our question correctly, let’s briefly review some organs involved in the system. The female reproductive system is made up of several organs. The largest of these is called the uterus, and it’s marked by the letter A. The uterus is the location where a fertilized egg cell can implant and develop into an embryo.
Egg cells, or ova, are released by another structure of the female reproductive system. The organs responsible for releasing mature egg cells are called the ovaries. And one of these is marked by the letter E. Ovaries are also responsible for releasing important hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone.
You might remember that a mature egg cell travels via another important structure on its way to the uterus. This is called the Fallopian tube, and it’s marked by the letter C. You can see where one of the two Fallopian tubes meets the uterus labeled by the letter B. Did you know that fertilization usually occurs in the Fallopian tubes? Sometimes a fertilized egg cell will accidentally implant in the Fallopian tube instead of the uterus. This results in an ectopic pregnancy, and it can cause serious complications.
The last important structure in the female reproductive system connects the uterus to the vaginal canal. This is called the cervix, and it’s pointed out by the letter D. During intercourse, sperm might be released into the vaginal canal. The sperm then begin their long journey up through the cervix, uterus, and Fallopian tubes in search of an egg cell to fertilize.
Now that we’ve discussed some basic structures involved in the female reproductive system, we are able to answer our question correctly. This question asks, which letter on the diagram is the cervix? And we know that the correct letter is D.
