5) The Female Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

How do the ovaries arise?

A

Develop within mesonephric ridge

Female gonads

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2
Q

Describe the decent of the ovaries

A

Descend through abdomen, stop in pelvis
Inferior pole of ovary connected by gubernaculum to labioscrotal folds
Mesonephric ducts fuse to form uterus, stops ovaries descent

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3
Q

How large are the ovaries & what is their function?

A

Almond shaped & sized
Oocyte development
Production of reproductive hormones

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4
Q

How are the ovaries suspended?

A

Short ovarian ligament, tethers ovary to uterus

Lies medially within mesovarium (short peritoneal fold)

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5
Q

What surrounds the ovaries?

A

Tunica albuginea

which is covered by a smooth layer of ovarian mesothelium

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6
Q

What is the arterial supply of the ovaries?

A

Abdominal aorta > Ovarian artery

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7
Q

What is the venous drainage of the ovaries?

A

Asymmetrical
Right ovarian vein > Inferior vena cava
Left ovarian vein > Left renal vein > Inferior vena cava

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8
Q

What is the lymphatic drainage of the ovaries?

A

Para-aortic nodes

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9
Q

What are the 4 main components of the uterus

A

Uterine tubes
Fundus
Body
Cervix

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10
Q

What are the relationships of the uterus?

A

Uterovesical pouch anteriorly
Rectouterine (Pouch of Douglas) posteriorly
Posterior fornix of vagina

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11
Q

What are the layers of the uterus?

A

Peritoneum - serous membrane covers the uterus
Myometrium - smooth muscle uterine wall
Endometrium - internal mucous membrane, lines the uterine cavity

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12
Q

What are the differences between the two layers of endometrium in the uterine cavity?

A

Stratum functionalis - superficial layer, subject to cyclical growth, degeneration & shedding of dead tissues

Stratus basalis - deep layer, no cyclical changes, responsible for regeneration of upper endometrium

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13
Q

What happens during the proliferative phase of the endometrium?

A

Oestrogen secreted during folliculogenesis stimulates growth & proliferation of endometrium

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14
Q

What happens during the secretory phase of the endometrium?

A

After ovulation the CL secretes progesterone
Stimulates endometrial glands to secrete glycogen
Causes extensive coiling of glands, enriching vascular supply to mucous membrane

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15
Q

Describe the position of the uterus

A

AnteVerted in relation to the Vagina

AntefleXed in relation to the cerviX

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16
Q

What are the 4 main ligaments of the uterus and ovary?

A

Broad ligament
Round ligament of uterus
Ovarian ligament
Suspensory ligament of ovary

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17
Q

What is the broad ligament of the uterus?

A

Double layer of peritoneum (mesentery)
Extends from sides of uterus to lateral walls & floor of pelvis
Comprised of the mesentary of the uterus, uterine tube & ovary
Assists in keeping the uterus in position

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18
Q

What 3 regions can the broad ligament be divided into?

A

Mesometrium
Mesovarium
Mesosalpinx

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19
Q

What is the round ligament of the uterus?

A

Embryological remnant of the gubernaculum
Attached to ovary & labium majus
Travels through inguinal canal

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20
Q

What is the lymphatic drainage of the fundus of the uterus?

A

Aortic nodes

embryological derivation

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21
Q

Name the sections of the uterine (Fallopian) tubes

A
Ovary
Fimbria (finger-like projections)
Infundibulum
Ampulla
Isthmus (narrow)
Uterine cavity
22
Q

What is the function of the cervix?

A

Allow sperms to enter uterine cavity to proceed to site of fertilisation
Protect the uterus & upper genital tract from bacterial invasion

23
Q

Describe the structure of the cervix

A

2 regions - endocervix & exocervix
Endocervix - tall columnar ep., basally placed nuclei, cytoplasm filled with mucus
Mucosa contains large glands with mucus-secreting columnar cells
Exocervix - stratified squamous non-keratinised ep.
Remainder of cervix smooth muscle & dense c.t.

24
Q

What is the transformation zone in the cervix?

A

Abrupt change from columnar to stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium
Majority of neoplasms form here

25
Q

What is the arterial supply to the uterus?

A

Abdominal aorta > Common Iliac > Anterior division of Internal Iliac > Uterine artery

26
Q

What does the saying “water under the bridge” refer to?

A

The ureter (water) passes inferiorly to the uterine artery (bridge)

27
Q

What is the venous drainage of the uterus?

A

Uterine venous plexus > Uterine veins > Internal Iliac vein > Common Iliac vein > IVC

28
Q

What is the lymphatic drainage of the uterus?

A

Fundus > Aortic nodes
Body > External iliac nodes
Cervix > External & Internal iliac nodes & sacral nodes

29
Q

What are the 3 layers comprising the walls of the vagina?

A

Mucous membrane
Muscular coat
Fibrous connective tissue layer, adventitia

30
Q

Describe the mucous membrane of the vagina

A

Stratified squamous epithelium
Underlying lamina propria - dense c.t. with papillae projecting into the covering ep.
Lamina propria becomes looser towards the muscular layer & has large veins here

31
Q

How is the vagina lubricated?

A

No glands in the vagina

Mucus lubricating it originates from the cervical glands

32
Q

Describe the muscular layer of the vagina?

A

Smooth muscle bundles arranged circularly & longitudinally

Longitudinal bundles are numerous in the outer half of the muscle layer

33
Q

What are the vaginal fornices?

A

Anterior & posterior fornix

Recesses of vagina around the cervix

34
Q

What is the arterial supply to the vagina?

A

Abdominal aorta > Common Iliac > Internal Iliac > Anterior division of Internal Iliac > Uterine > Vaginal artery

Middle & Inferior parts of vagina:
Abdominal aorta > Common Iliac > Internal Iliac > Anterior division of Internal Iliac > Pudendal artery

35
Q

What is the venous drainage of the vagina?

A

Vaginal plexus > Vaginal vein > Uterine vein > Internal Iliac vein > Common Iliac vein > IVC

36
Q

Describe the innervation of the uterus & vagina

A

Inferior 1/5 of vagina - somatic innervation, Pudendal nerve (S2-4)
Superior 4/5 vagina & uterus - innervation from uterovaginal plexus

37
Q

How do pain afferents in the uterus & vagina vary?

A

Depend on pelvic pain line
Above line - Pain refers back up
Below line - Local pain

38
Q

Where do tumours of the ovary usually arise from?

A

Epithelial components

Germ cells

39
Q

What are ovarian cysts and how do they develop?

A
Fluid-filled sacs that develop on a woman's ovary
Usually derived from follicles
Polycystic ovaries (>10 cysts) usually associated with infertility
40
Q

What is salpingitis?

A

Inflammation of the uterine tube causes by microorganisms
Fusions or adhesions of mucosa
Partially/Completely block lumen - infertility
May result in ectopic pregnancy

41
Q

What is endometriosis?

A

Condition in which ectopic endometrial tissue is dispersed to various sites along peritoneal cavity & beyond (e.g. near umbilicus)
Ovaries/attachments of uterus associated
Dysmenorrhoea, infertility or both

42
Q

What is an endometrial carcinoma and where can it take place?

A
Malignancy of the endometrium
Cervix
Usually postmenopausal women
Junction - columnar cells of endocervix & squamous exocervix (transformation zone)
Abnormal uterine bleeding
43
Q

What happens during a cervical examination?

A

Use of a speculum to isolate the external os of cervix

44
Q

What is a bimanual examination?

A

2 fingers inserted into vagina until they isolate the cervix
Test of cervical motion tenderness (sign of PID)
Examiner palpates uterus

45
Q

What are the Bartholin glands (greater vestibular glands)?

A

Pea sized glands
Located slightly posterior and to the left and right of the opening of the vagina
Secrete mucus (slight vaginal lubrication)

46
Q

What irregularites can happen to the greater vestibular glands?

A

Bartholinitis (infection/inflammation)

Bartholin Gland Cyst (duct of gland blocked)

47
Q

What bacteria is present in the vagina & what is its function?

A

Lactobacillus
Normal vaginal flora
Utilise glycogen as a substrate for lactic acid production
Maintains low pH environment

48
Q

What is the technical term for inflammation of the vagina?

A

Vaginitis

49
Q

What is vaginismus?

A

Condition making any sort of vaginal penetration (sex, tampons) painful or impossible
Reflex of pubococcygeus muscle

50
Q

Where can an ectopic pregnancy take place?

A

Anywhere but body of uterus

51
Q

Describe the peritoneal cavity in the female

A

Peritoneal cavity is open via the ostium of the uterine tube

Potential route of infection