Disease of the Female and Male Genital Tract Flashcards
(140 cards)
What is the Vagina?
Muscular canal that connects the uterus to the outside world
What is the Cervix?
Interior top portion of the vagina, which is part of the uterus itself. Protrudes into the vagina. Connects the vagina to the Uterus
What is the Uterus?
A muscular organ that is responsive to hormones and nurtures the developing fetus
What are the Fallopian Tubes?
Two tubular structures that extend from the uterus onto the ovary itself. They allow for the passage of an egg, and ultimately fertilization within the tube and travel of the egg into the uterus
What are the Ovaries?
Two pair organs that produce hormones, and store and release eggs within the female genital tract
What are the 3 layers of the Cervix?
- Endocervix
- Ectocervix
- Transformation Zone
What is the Transformation Zone?
Area of squamous metaplasia where there is a transition from squamous epithelium to glandular (endocervical) epithelium
What is the Endocervix made of?
glandular epithelium
What is the Ectocervix made of?
Squamous epithelium
What is the Cervical Os?
Entrance into the cervix
What is the most common site for cervical neoplasia to occur?
Transformation Zone
How can Cervical Dysplasia be detected?
By a pap test
What are the two different types of Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (SIL)?
- low grade
- high grade
What are low grade SILs?
- lesions that are low risk of progression to invasive cancer
- responsible for HPV 6, and 11
- also genital warts
What are high grade SILs?
- lesions that are precursor to invasive cancer
- responsible for HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, and 35
What are the major causes of SIL and invasive carcinomas?
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- sexually transmitted infection
What are the preventions for SIL and Invasive Carcinomas?
- safe sex practices (ex. condom use)
- HPV vaccination
- Cervical screening: pap test
What are the risk factors for HPV infection? (9)
- Young age at first intercourse
- Multiple sex partners
- unprotected intercourse
- smoking
- oral contraceptive use
- pregnancy
- diabetes
- immunosuppression
- poor hygiene
What occurs if a patient has low grade lesions?
Repeat pap test in 6 months since many low grade lesions spontaneously regress
What occurs if a patient has high grade lesions?
- investigated by colposcopy
- direct examination of cervix under magnification and biopsy confirmation
What are 90% of cervical cancers?
squamous cell carcinomas
What are the signs of cervical cancer?
abnormal vaginal bleeding, especially post-coital spotting
How does Cervical Cancer spread?
invades locally into the vagina, rectum, and bladder and metastasize to regional lymph nodes
How are early invasive cervical cancer cases treated?
- local excised (cone excision)
- treated with radical surgery (hysterectomy)