Anatomy of the Reproductive System Part 3: Blood Supply and Innervation

Question 1

Arterial supply

outline how the external and internal iliac arteries are formed starting with the abdominal aorta

think bifurcation

Answer 1

abdominal aorta –> bifurcates into right and left common iliac arteries at L4 vertebral level –> common iliac arteries bifucate into internal and external iliac arteries

Question 2

arterial supply

waht do the internal iliac arteries supply and what do the external iliac arteries supply

think pelvis for internal, think limbs around the longest bone in the body for external

Answer 2

Internal iliac arteries supply:
- pelvic region

External iliac arteries:
- travel towards lower limbs and become the femoral arteries

Question 3

anterior trunk of interal iliac artery

what are 8 arterial branches of the anterior trunk of the internal iliac artery?

think UOS VIU MI

(1 of them is exclusive to women and 1 is variable depending on if it is a man or woman)

Answer 3

• umbilical artery
• obturator artery
• superior vesical artery
• vaginal/inferior vesical artery (only vaginal in women)
• Internal pudendal artery
• Uterine artery (women only)
• middle rectal artery
• inferior gluteal artery

Question 4

anterior trunk of internal iliac artery

where is venous drainage of the pelvic organs?

Answer 4

into the internal iliac veins

Question 5

innervation of the perineum

what nerve provides somatic innervation and where does this nerve come from?

Answer 5

• pudendal nerve provides somatic innervation
• nerve comes form sacral plexus of anterior rami of S2-S4 spinal nerves

Question 6

innnervation of the perineum

how does the pudendal nerve exit and reenter the pelvic cavity

Answer 6

exits via: greater sciatic foramen

re-enters: via lesser sciatic foramen

Question 7

innervation of pelvic organs

what 2 places does sympathetic innervation of the pelvic organs come from

Answer 7

1. from T10-L2 lumbar splanchnic nerves via hypogastric plexi
2. from L1-L2/3 sacral splanchnic nerves via sympathetic chain and inferior hypogastric plexus

Question 8

innervation of pelvic organs

from where do pelvic organs receive parasympathetic innervation

Answer 8

• from S2-S4 pelvic splanchnic nerves via inferior hypogastric plexus

Question 9

autonomic innervation of pelvic organs

what 4 things can sympathetic innervation of pelvic organs cause

think ejaculation, contraction of a sphincter in males, contraction of smooth muscle in a layer in women and constriction of blood vessels

Answer 9

• secretion (ejaculation)
• contraction of interal urethral sphincter in males
• contracts smooth muscle in myometrium in women
• causes vasocontriction

Question 10

autonomic innervation of pelvic organs

what 4 things can parasympathetic innervation of pelvic organs cause

think bladder, relaxation of a sphincter in males, contraction of a smooth muscle in women and opening of blood vessels

Answer 10

• bladder contraction
• relaxation of internal urethral sphincter in males
• contracts uterine smooth muscle in cervix in women
• vasodilation