The female reproductive system is made up of external and internal organs. The external organs lie in an area called the vulva, and they include the labia, the clitoris, and the vaginal opening. The internal reproductive organs can be found within the pelvic cavity, and they include the ovaries, which produce the female sex cells, called oocytes, as well as sex hormones estrogen and progesterone; the uterine tubes, which carry the fertilized oocyte to the uterine cavity; the uterus, which houses the growing fetus during pregnancy; and the vagina, which is involved both in intercourse and fetal delivery.

Now, the ovaries, uterine tubes, and uterus lie within the pelvis and are covered by a double sheet of peritoneum called the broad ligament. This extends from the sides of the uterus to the lateral wall and floor of the pelvis. To visualize the broad ligament, imagine yourself standing with your arms outstretched holding a ball in each hand, your body is the uterus, your arms are the uterine tubes and the balls are the ovaries. Now, a sheet is draped over you and this sheet represents the peritoneum. You can see now how the broad ligament of the uterus is a double fold. Now the broad ligament has three mesenteries; the mesovarium which is associated with the ovaries, the mesosalpinx which covers the uterine tubes and mesometrium which covers the uterus.

Let’s now look at each of the organs of the female reproductive system starting with the ovaries. The ovaries are the site of egg production, or oogenesis, and also release progesterone and estrogen during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. The ovaries usually sit near the lateral pelvic wall where the broad ligament attaches, and are suspended by a subdivision of the broad ligament called the mesovarium and the suspensory ligament of the ovary, which is a continuation of the mesovarium.