Anatomy Flashcards
Where does the female reproductive system lie?
Within both the pelvic cavity and the perineum
What features of the female reproductive system lie within the pelvic cavity?
- ovaries
- uterine tubes
- uterus
- superior part of vagina
What features of the female reproductive system lie within the perineum?
- inferior part of vagina
- perineal muscles
- bartholins glands
- clitoris
- labia
What separates the true and false pelvis?
Separated by an imaginary line that link sacral promontory and the pubic symphysis anteriorly
What is the only true / primary organ of reproduction in females?
Ovary
The inferior part of the parietal peritoneum forms what?
- floor of peritoneal cavity
- roof over pelvic organs
Name the pouches created by the parietal peritoneum in females
- vesico-uterine
- recto-uterine (pouch of douglas)
What is the broad ligament of the uterus composed of and where is it found?
- composed of a double layer of peritoneum
- extends between the uterus and the lateral walls and floor of the pelvis
What is the role of the broad ligament of the uterus and what is contained within it?
- helps maintain the uterus in its correct midline position
- contains within it the uterine tubes and the proximal part of the round ligament
- draped over uterine tubes
What is the round ligament of the uterus composed of and where is it found?
- it is an embryological remnant (remnant of gubernaculum)
- attaches to the uterine horns laterally
- passes through the deep inguinal ring and the inguinal canal to attach to the superficial tissue of the female perineum
- specifically the fatty superficial fascia of the labia medura
Name the three layers of the body of the uterus
- perimetrium
- myometrium
- endometrium
Where does implantation of the zygote occur?
Implantation occurs in the body of uterus
Where does the cervix prroject?
Projects into superior aspect of vagina
What is the most common position of the uterus?
- anteverted and anteflexed
- anteverted; cervix tipped anteriorly relative to the axis of the vagina
- anteflexed; uterus tipped anteriorly relative to the axis of the cervix (the mass of the uterus lies over the bladder)
Describe normal variations of the position of the uterus
- retroverted and retroflexed
- retroverted; cervix is tipped posteriorly relative to the axis of the vagina
- retroflexed; uterus tipped posteriorly relative to the axis of the cervix
The uterus is held in position by what 3 levels of support?
- number of strong ligaments (e.g. uterosacral ligaments)
- endopelvic fascia
- muscles of the pelvic floor (e.g. levator ani)
What junction is sampled during cervical smear?
The squamo-columnar junction (transformation zone)
The opening into the cervix from the vagina is called what?
External cervical os
Where does fertilisation occur?
In the ampulla of the uterine tubes
What is a bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy?
Removal of both uterine tubes and ovaries
What is a unilateral salpingectomy?
Removal of one of the uterine tubes
What is the ostium of the uterine tube?
The opening though which the egg will pass from ovary into uterine tube, this opens into the peritoneal cavity
What is the thickest walled section of the uterine tubes?
The isthmus
What is the role of hysterosalpingograms?
To assess the patency of the uterus and uterine tubes
What do the ovaries secrete?
Oestrogen and progesterone in response to anterior pituitary hormones FSH and LH
Where do the ovaries develop and where do they move to?
- develop on the posterior abdominal wall
- move onto the lateral wall of the pelvis
What is the vagina?
A muscular tube whose walls are normally in contact (except superiorly where the cervix holds them apart forming a fornix)
What are the four parts of the fornix?
- anterior
- posterior
- 2 x lateral
What is the fornix?
Space around the cervix, separates cervix from superior vagina
How can the position of the uterus be assessed?
By bimanual palpation
What are the adnexae?
Both the uterine tubes and ovaries together
Describe palpation of the adnexae
- uterine tubes and ovaries
- place examining fingers into lateral fornix
- press deeply with other hand in the iliac fossa on the same side
- repeat on other side
- can detect large masses or tenderness affecting these structures
Describe palpation of the ischial spines
- laterally
- 4 and 8 o clock positions
What is the perineum?
Shallow space between pelvic diaphragm (levator ani) and the skin
What forms the floor or the pelvis and the roof of the the perineum?
The pelvic diaphragm
Where is the perineum found?
In the urogenital triangle (pubic symphysis, to ischial spines and then posteriorly to the coccyx)
What type of muscle if levator ani?
- skeletal muscle
- voluntary control
What are the roles of the levator ani muscle?
- forms majority of pelvic diaphragm with its fascial coverings
- provides continual support for the pelvic organs
- tonic contraction
- reflexively contracts further during situations of increased intra-abdominal pressure
What nerve supplies the levator ani muscle?
- S3, 4, 5 sacral nerves
- also fibres from pudendal nerve S2,3,4
The perineal muscles are supplied by what nerve?
The pudendal nerve
Describe the perineal body
- bundle of collagenous and elastic tissue into which the perineal muscles attach
- important for pelvic floor strength
- can be disrupted during labour
- located just deep to the skin
- ball shaped bundle between urogenital and anal triangle
What are the bartholins glands?
- greater vestibular glands
- located at posterior end of erectile tissue
- secrete a lubricating fluid
- roughly pea sized normally
The bed of the female breast extends from where?
- from ribs 2-6
- lateral border of sternum to midaxillary line (axillary tail, extension of fatty tissue)
What lies posterior to the female breast?
- lie on deep fascia covering the pec major and serratus anterior
- retromammary space lies between fascia and breast
The female breast is firmly attached to the skin via what?
Suspensory ligaments
What is the role of the retromammary space?
Lets breast tissue move relative to underlying muscle
How are lumps in the female breast described / assessed?
- position is described in relation to the four quadrants or a clock face
- assess whether it s fixed to any underlying tissue, e.g. the pectoral fascia
- both the axilla and supraclavicular area should be assessed
- fixed or mobile can be assessed by asking the patient to put hands on hips to engage pectoral muscles
What are the four quadrants of the breast?
- upper inner
- lower inner
- lower outer
- upper outer
Most lymph (>75%) from the breast drains to where?
- the ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes
- then to the supraclavicular nodes
Lymph from inner breast quadrants can drain to where?
The parasternal lymph nodes
Lymph from the lower inner breast quadrant can drain to where?
The abdominal lymph nodes
What are the three levels of axillary node clearance?
- all levels are based on the pectoralis minor
- level one; inferior and lateral to the pectoralis minor
- level two; deep to pectoralis minor
- level three; superior and medial to pectoralis minor
What is the blood supply (mainly) to the medial aspect of the female breast?
- branch of the subclavian
- internal thoracic (also called the internal mammary)
What is the blood supply to the lateral aspect of the female breast?
- thoracic and thoracoacromial arteries
- these are branches of axillary artery
- also the posterior intercostal artery in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th intercostal spaces (also known as lateral mammary branches)
Describe the venous drainage of the female breast
- drainage mirrors arterial supply, mainly axillary vein and some internal thoracic vein to go back up to subclavian
What separates the pelvic cavity from the perineum?
Pelvic floor
What are the three layers of the pelvic floor?
- pelvic diaphragm
- muscles of perineal pouches
- perineal membrane
The pelvic floor plays what roles?
- important role in providing support to pelvic organs
- plays an important role in maintaining both faecal and urinary incontinence
What is the deepest layer of the pelvic floor?
The pelvic diaphragm
The pelvic diaphragm consists of what and has what appearance?
- consists of two muscle groups; levator ani and coccygeus
- levaotr ani is more medial and anterior
- coccygeus is more lateral and posterior
- has the appearance of a sling
What is the urogenital hiatus?
- anterior gap between the medial borders of the pelvic diaphragm
- allows for the passage of urethra (both males and females) and vagina
What are the attachment points of the levator ani?
- pubic bones, ischial spines and tendinous arch of levator ani
- perineal body, coccyx and walls of organs in midline
Name the three parts of levator ani
- puborectalis; most medial, fibres around the rectum area and attached to pubic bone
- pubococcygeus; pubic bone to midline organs and coccyx
- iliococcygeus; ileus to coccyx and midline organs
Additional support to the pelvic organs comes from where?
- endopelvic fascia; some loose areolar tissue, some fibrous (collagen and elastic fibres) Pelvic ligaments e.g. - fibrous endo-pelvic fascia - uterosacral (attaches to cervix) - transverse cervical (cardinal) - lateral ligament of the bladder - lateral rectal ligaments
Where does the deep perineal pouch lie?
- lies below the fascia covering the inferior aspect of the pelvic diaphragm
- lies above the perineal membrane
What does the deep perineal pouch contain?
- contains part of the urethra (and vagina in females)
- bulbourethral glands in males
- neurovascular bundle for penis / clitoris
- extensions of the ischioanal fat pads
- smooth muscle (females)
- deep transverse perineal muscle (males)
- external urethral sphincter
- compressor urethrae
What do bulbourethral glands screte?
- in males
- also referred to as cowpers glands
- secrete lubricating mucus into male urethra
What is the perineal membrane?
- thin sheet of tough, deep fascia
Where the is the perineal membrane located and what are its attachments?
- superficial to deep perineal pouch
- attaches laterally to the sides of the pubic arch, closing the urogenital triangle
Where is the superficial perineal pouch found in both males and females?
Lies below the perineal membrane
What is contained within the superficial perineal pouch in females?
- contains female erectile tissue and associated muscle
- clitoris and crura; corpus cavernosum
- bulbs of vestibule; paired
- associated muscles; bulbopsongiosus and ischiocavernosus
- also contains greater vestibular glands, superficial transverse perineal muscle and branches of internal pudendal vessels and pudendal nerve
What do bartholins glands secrete?
Lubricating mucus
The superficial perineal pouch contains what in males?
- contains root of penis
- bulb; corpus spongiosum, crura, corpus cavernosum -
- associated muscles; bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus
- also contains proximal spongy (penile) urethra, superficial transverse perineal muscles and branches of internal pudendal vessels and pudendal nerve
Name the layer of the pelvic floor from deep to superficial
- pelvic diaphragm
- deep peroneal pouch
- perineal membrane
- superficial perineal pouch
- muscles of the superficial perineal pouch
What is the role of puborectalis?
- forms a sling around anorectum junction
- when contracts creates a bend
- this prevents faeces from progressing passed this bend
Describe how injury can occur to the pelvic floor
- pregnancy
- childbirth; stretching or tearing, pudendal nerve damage
- chronic constipation
- obesity
- heavy lifting
- chronic cough or sneeze
- previous injury to pelvis / pelvic floor
- menopause
What does urinary continence depend on?
- urinary bladder neck support
- external urethral sphincter
- smooth muscle in urethral wall
Describe a vaginal prolapse
- herniation of urethra, bladder, rectum or rectouterine pouch through supporting fascia
- presents as a lump in vaginal wall
- urethrocele, cystocele (bladder herniation), rectocele, enterocele (pouch of douglas herniation)
What are the classic symptoms of uterine prolapse?
- dragging sensation
- feeling of ‘lump’
- urinary incontinence
What are the 4 degrees of vaginal prolapse?
- 1st; when cervix is dropping into vagina
- 2nd; cervix is now dropping to level just inside the opening of the vagina
- 3rd; cervix is now outside the vagina
- 4th; entire uterus is outside the vagina
Describe sacrospinous fixation as a treatment of vaginal prolapse
- sutures placed in sacrospinous ligament
- just medial to the ischial spine
- to repair cervical / vault descent
- performed vaginally
- risk of injruy to pudendal NVB and sciatic nerve
Describe incontinence repair surgery in females
- trans-obturator approach
- mesh through obturator canal
- space in obturator foramen for passage of obturator NVB
- creates a sling around the urethra
- incisions though vagina and groin
What are the primary male reproductive organs?
The testes
Name the male accessory reproductive organs
- the vas deferens
- seminal glands
- prostate gland
- penis
How long is the male urethra?
Around 20cm long
What is the most anterior organ of the pelvis in the male?
The bladder (when empty)