Lecture 45: Female Reproductive system I

Question 1

What structures make up the external ganglia?

Answer 1

• Mons pubic(pubic mountain) in front of the pubic symphysis
• Libia = major(larger and lateral) & minor(smaller and medial)
• vestibule = space between labia
• vestibular glands= deep to the liver are glands which lubricate the vaginal orifice
• clitoris = erectile tissue in front of the urethral opening
  = ALL of these STRUCTURES are known as the VULVA

Question 2

What are the two division of the of the female perineum?

how does it differ between males and females?

Answer 2

• Anterior: urogenital triangle ——> uretral/vaginal opening; external genitalia
• Posterior: anal triangle ——> anal canal and fat

The anterior urogenital triangle is much more complicated in females than males as it contains the external ganglia
- urogenital region of the perineum contains the external ganglia

Question 3

What are the structures that make up the female reproductive tract?

• what is the function of the female reproductive tract?

Answer 3

Structures
= vagina, cervix, uterus, uterine tubes, ovary, ligaments, blood and nerve supply
Function
- path for ovum and sperm to travel through, meet and fuse
- location for developing embryo to grow with appropriate support and nourishment

Question 4

What is the vagina?

• describe its structure
• where is it located?

Answer 4

• the vagina is a fibromuscular, distensible female copulatory organ = birth canal
• lies between the urinary bladder and rectum
• extends from the perineum to the cervix
• lined with stratified squamous epithelium

Question 5

What is the function of the uterus?

What are the three main components
What are the three layers of the uterus?

Answer 5

Function = receive a fertilised zygote, retain and nourish embryo throughout pregnancy and allow parturition
3 main components = fundus, body and cervix
3 layers of uterus wall
- perimetrium: outmost layer of CT
- myometrium: middle layer of smooth muscle
- endometrium: inner layer of columnar epithelium, uterine glands and arteries

Question 6

What are the ligaments that hole the uterus in position?

• what are the ligaments of the female reproductive system

Answer 6

= broad ligament - connect the side of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis
- meosmetrium, mesosalpinx and mesovarium
= Ovarian ligament
= Round ligament
= suspensory ligament

Question 7

Describe the blood supply to the reproductive tract:

• how is blood supplied to the uterus
• how is blood supplied to the vagina
• how is blood supplied to the ovaries

Answer 7

• The uterus is supplied by the uterine artery which branches off the internal iliac artery
• The vagina is supplied by the vaginal artery which branches off the internal iliac artery
• The ovaries are supplied by the ovarian arteries branch of the abdominal aorta and travel via the suspensory ligaments
  = there are anastomoses(connections between blood vessels) between all of these

Question 8

What 3 parts is the uterine tube divided into?

Answer 8

• Most medial portion is the isthmus; means narrow passage
• Mid portion is the ampulla; widest area where fertilisation takes place
• Most lateral portion is the infundibulum; funnel shaped and contains fimbriae which hover around the artery to help guide the ova into the opening/funnel of the uterine tubes - to the infundibulum

Question 9

Name the ligaments which hold the ovary in place

- ligaments which are associated with the ovary

Answer 9

• suspensory ligament extend out to the wall of the pelvis and contains ovary blood vessels & lymphatics
• the ovarian ligament connects the ovary to the uterus
• the mesovarium is part of the broad ligament that covers the ovaries
• the broad ligament extends to cover the ovaries in a section called the mesovarium

Question 10

What are the ovary?

What do they do?

Answer 10

The ovaries are the female gonads
= site of oogenesis
- the ovary has an outer cortex in which we find the ovarian follicles, this is where oogenesis takes place