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The fallopian tubes are conduits in women (also in female mammals) that serve an essential purpose in fertilization.
Essentially, they provide a connection between the ovaries and the uterus. This allows the egg or ovum to travel through the tube of an ovary, which occurs in the uterus, where it could later become a fetus.
The fallopian tubes extend from the uterus to the ovaries and measure about 8 to 10 cm (4-6 inches) in length. The ends of the tubes extend as feathers, and these in turn in a class of fringes called fimbriae (Latin for “tips” or “fingers”). Millions of tiny cilia line the fimbria and the inside of the fallopian tubes. The cilia vibrate hundreds of times per second to control the egg in the ovulation process and move it through the tube to the uterine cavity.
Once inside the fallopian tube, the egg and sperm meet, and the ovule is fertilized. If an egg is not fertilized within 24 to 36 hours after ovulation, it deteriorates and is eliminated by the immune system, like any other dead cell in the body.
It is important to note that the fallopian tubes are not directly attached to the ovaries, as they are often depicted in the drawings. They open up in the peritoneal or abdominal cavity close to the ovaries. Even this can happen before ovulation every month. Some studies on the woman’s reproductive system have captured images of the fallopian tubes that extend into the upper part of the uterus on one side or each side.
