5) The Female Reproductive System Flashcards
How do the ovaries arise?
Develop within mesonephric ridge
Female gonads
Describe the decent of the ovaries
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
How large are the ovaries & what is their function?
Almond shaped & sized
Oocyte development
Production of reproductive hormones
How are the ovaries suspended?
Short ovarian ligament, tethers ovary to uterus
Lies medially within mesovarium (short peritoneal fold)
What surrounds the ovaries?
Tunica albuginea
which is covered by a smooth layer of ovarian mesothelium
What is the arterial supply of the ovaries?
Abdominal aorta > Ovarian artery
What is the venous drainage of the ovaries?
Asymmetrical
Right ovarian vein > Inferior vena cava
Left ovarian vein > Left renal vein > Inferior vena cava
What is the lymphatic drainage of the ovaries?
Para-aortic nodes
What are the 4 main components of the uterus
Uterine tubes
Fundus
Body
Cervix
What are the relationships of the uterus?
Uterovesical pouch anteriorly
Rectouterine (Pouch of Douglas) posteriorly
Posterior fornix of vagina
What are the layers of the uterus?
Peritoneum - serous membrane covers the uterus
Myometrium - smooth muscle uterine wall
Endometrium - internal mucous membrane, lines the uterine cavity
What are the differences between the two layers of endometrium in the uterine cavity?
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
What happens during the proliferative phase of the endometrium?
Oestrogen secreted during folliculogenesis stimulates growth & proliferation of endometrium
What happens during the secretory phase of the endometrium?
After ovulation the CL secretes progesterone
Stimulates endometrial glands to secrete glycogen
Causes extensive coiling of glands, enriching vascular supply to mucous membrane
Describe the position of the uterus
AnteVerted in relation to the Vagina
AntefleXed in relation to the cerviX
What are the 4 main ligaments of the uterus and ovary?
Broad ligament
Round ligament of uterus
Ovarian ligament
Suspensory ligament of ovary
What is the broad ligament of the uterus?
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
What 3 regions can the broad ligament be divided into?
Mesometrium
Mesovarium
Mesosalpinx
What is the round ligament of the uterus?
Embryological remnant of the gubernaculum
Attached to ovary & labium majus
Travels through inguinal canal
What is the lymphatic drainage of the fundus of the uterus?
Aortic nodes
embryological derivation