Anatomy of female genital system Flashcards
What is the Vulva?
Female external genital structures are collectively called the vulva and consists of:
- Mons veneris
- Clitoris
- Labia Majora
- Labia Minora
- Vestibule
- Hymen
What is Mons Veneris?
is a pad of fat overlying the symphysis pubis and covered by skin & hairs
What is Clitoris
an erectile cavernous structure situated below the symphysis pubis. It is homologous to the penis in the male, and Is formed of a small glans (sensitive structure) and a body (formed of two corpora cavernous).
What is Labia Majora?
-The outer two skin folds, raised by underlying fat.
-Passing back from the monis veneris to perineum.
- The outer skin is covered by hair while the inner medial surface is smooth, hairless and contains sebaceous and sweat glands.
What is Labia Minora?
- They are homologous to the scrotum in the male, and contain fat and Bartholin Gland
- These are two thin folds of modified skin situated medial to the labia majora,
-The labia minora are very vascular and become turgid during coitus.
Anatomy of Labia minora
Anteriorly: they divide Into two folds (prepuce and frenulum of glans).
- Posteriorly: they meet to form the fourchette that is separated from the hymen by a depression known as the ‘fossa navicularis”.
What is the vestibule?
- The vestibule is the area between the inner aspects of the labia rninora and the fourchette.
- It is continuous posteriorly with the vaginal opening (vaginal orifice or introitus),
Structure that open in the vestibule
1.The urethra.
2. The vagina
3. Bartholln’s glands duct
What is the hymen
The hymen is a membrane, situated about 2 cm from the vestibule that demarcates the external from the internal genital organs, and partially closes the vaginal orifice.
When does the hymen penetrate?
The hymen Is usually torn by the first Intercourse unless the opening is unusually large or the hymen itself is elastic, Further lacerations occur on repeated Intercourse.
Remnants of the hymen In parous women are called
carunculae myrtiformis
Bartholin Glands situated in
Labia Majora (at the junction of its posterior and middle third)
Bartholin Glands open in
between the hymen and labia minora
Function of bartholine glands
They secrete mucus during sexual excitement to apt as a lubricant.
An obstructed bartholin gland may develop:
Bartholine cyst or abscess
Length of female urethra
4 cm
Vulva arterial Supply
- Internal Pudendal Artery
- Branches of Femoral Artery
- Superficial and deep external pudendal artery
Vulval nerve supply
Mainly by:
- Pudendal N. (S2,3,4)
Additional sensory nerve from:
1. Ilioinguinal n. L1
2. Genital branch of genitofemoral n. L1,2
3. Posterior cutaneous n. of the thigh
Length of the vagina
Anterior wall: 8-9 cm
Posterior wall: 10 cm
Why does vagina’s mucous membrane is into rugae
vaginal mucous membrane is folded into rugae to allow the vagina to be distended during delivery
Vaginal arterial supply
Mainly by:
- Vaginal artery (branch of internal iliac artery)
Additional branches to lower branches:
1. middle rectal artery
2. inferior rectal artery
Vaginal venous drainage
Vaginal plexus into internal iliac vein
Vaginal Lymphatic drainage
Upper 2/3: External Iliac, Internal Iliac and Sacral LN
Lower 1/3: Superficial Inguinal LN
Vaginal Nerve supply
Pudendal Nerve
Ligaments attached to upper vagina
- Pubocervical (Ant.)
- Mackrodent’s (Lat.)
- Uterosacral (Post.)
Applied anatomy of vaginal posterior fornix
offers a passage to the Douglas pouch to perform culdoscopy, culdocentesis or drainage of pelvic abscess.
Landmark of performing pudendal nerve block
Ischial spine
Structures attached to uterus Cornu
- Round ligament (anteriorly)
- Fallobian Tube (centrally)
3.Ovarian ligament (posteriorly)
[collectively known as Adnexa]
What is the cervix?
is the elongated lower part of the uterus measuring 2.5-3 cm
Normal position of the uterus
Anteverted ante flexed
Anatomical relations of the body of the uterus
Anteriorly: Bladder - vesicouterine pouch
Posteriorly: Douglas Pouch
Laterally: The broad ligament
