Female repro organs Flashcards
(61 cards)
What three structures constitute the birth canal?
Vagina
Fallopian tubes
Uterus
Label
What are the 3 layers of the uterus
Endometrium: inner lining
Myometrium: muscle layer; smooth muscle cells
Serosa/perimetrium: thin, outer layer, epithelial cells
As pregnancy advances the uterus physiologically has an ‘upper’ segment and a ‘lower segment’
what area of the uterine body does the lower segment develop from
Isthmus of the uterus
When a caesarean delivery is done which part of the uterus is opened to deliver the baby?
Lower segment of the uterus
What is the normal position of the uterus?
Anterflexed and antiverted
What could happen if the position of the uterus is very retroverted and retroflexed, particularly in early pregnancy? Think of the position of the other organs…
When abdominal pressure increases the vagina is more likely to prolapse into the uterus as the vagina is directly inferior to the uterus
Label
What are the fornices of the vagina? How many are there?
Recesses of the vagina, around the cervix
- Anterior fornix
- Posterior fornix
- Lateral fornix
Through which vaginal fornix you can access the rectouterine pouch? What is the clinical significance of this?
Posterior fornix is closely related to the rectouterine pouch
This is a way of clearing an infection of the rectouterine pouch
Describe the broad ligament
Flat sheet of peritoneum associated with the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries
Extends from the lateral pelvic walls on both sides, and folds over the internal female genitalia, covering their surface anteriorly and posteriorly.
The ovarian, roud and suspensory ligament all lie within the broad ligament
Label
What ligaments are attached to the ovary & from where
Ovarian ligament: Inferiorly, attaches ovary to the side of the uterus. It joins the uterus just below the origin of the fallopian tubes.
Suspensory ligament: Extends outwards from the ovary to the lateral abdominal wall
Name 3 ligaments associated with the uterus
Superior aspect: supported by broad ligament and round ligament
Middle aspect: supported by cardinal, pubocervical and uterosacral ligaments
What is the round ligament a remnant of?
Embryonic gubernaculum
Describe the round ligament of the uterus
The round ligament is a remnant of the embryonic gubernaculum.
It originates at the uterine horns (the points at which the fallopian tubes enter the uterus), and attaches to the labia majora, passing through the inguinal canal.
Which ligament (part of the pelvic fascia, which is one of the main supports of the uterus) is called the cardinal ligament of the uterus?
Transverse cervical ligament
The cardinal ligament (or Mackenrodt’s ligament, lateral cervical ligament, or transverse cervical ligament) is a major ligament of the uterus. It is located at the base of the broad ligament of the uterus. There are a pair of cardinal ligaments in the female human body.
Apart from pelvic fascia, what other structure in the pelvis is also an important support of the uterus?
Pelvic diaphragm (levator ani & coccygeus)
The uterine tubes are divided into 4 parts, what are these & label
- Fimbriae – finger-like, ciliated projections which capture the ovum from the surface of the ovary.
- Infundibulum – funnel-shaped opening near the ovary to which fimbriae are attached.
- Ampulla – widest section of the uterine tubes. Fertilization usually occurs here.
- Isthmus – narrow section of the uterine tubes connecting the ampulla to the uterine cavity.
Which part of the uterine tube does fertilization occur?
The ampulla
What is meant by an ectopic pregnancy?
what might a cornual ectopic pregnancy be?
- fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in a fallopian tube
An ectopic pregnancy is an uncommon, but important clinical diagnosis to be aware of an requires urgent surgery due to the risk of blood loss
- Rare form of ectopic pregnancy where implantation occurs in the cavity of a rudimentary horn of the uterus (point where the uterus and fallopian tubes meet)
What ligaments attaches the ovary to the lateral pelvic wall and to the uterus
Ovarian ligament: uterus to ovary (1)
Suspensory ligament: ovary to lateral pelvic wall (2)
The blood supply to the gonads and genitalia is via which two major branches from the aorta
The ovarian (gonadal) and the internal iliac arteries
The ovarian artery corresponds to the male testicular artery, in that they are branches directly from the abdominal aorta
What vertebral level do the ovarian arteries originate?
L2 vertebrae
As it descends the artery passes within the suspensory ligament to supply the ovaries via the broad ligament.
Note that this vessel freely anastomoses with the uterine artery.
