Anatomy - Pelvic organs Flashcards
What is the perineum?
An anaotmical space located below the pelvic diaphragm; it is diamond shaped and contains urinary, GI and reproductive viscera.
What divides the perineum into anterior and posterior triangles?
An imaginary line drawn between the ischial tuberosities.
What 2 triangles are formed by the imaginary line dividing the perineum?
- The posterior anal triangle. 2. The anterior urogenital triangle.
What line separates the deep and superficial perineal pouches in the urogenital triangle?
The perineal membrane - a sheet of fibrous tissue.
Where will urine accumulate if the male urethra is ruptured?
In the superficial perineal pouch.
What does the superficial perineal pouch contain?
Erectile tissue that forms the penis and the clitoris.
What is the deep perineal pouch?
A space deep to the perineal membrane. It contains part of the urethra.
What is the superficial perineal pouch?
An area superficial to the urogenital diaphragm.
True or False: the perineal membrane covers the urogenital diaphragm?
True.
What perforates the perineal membrane?
The urethra and the vagina.
What is the perineal body?
The centre of the perineum located at the junction between the urogenital and anal triangles.
Why does the uterus need to be capable of expansion?
So it can accommodate the growth of a foetus.
What are the 3 sub-divisions of the uterus?
- Fundus. 2. Body. 3. Cervix.
What is a fornix?
A space between the vagina and the cervix.
What are the 2 orifices of the cervix?
- The internal orifice - communicates with the uterus. 2. The external orifice - communicates with the vagina.
The uterus is described as anteverted with respect to the vagina, what does this mean?
It is rotated towards the anterior surface of the body.
How does the uterus lie with respect to the bladder?
Posterior-superior.
What are the three tissue layers that make up the uterus?
- Peritoneum. 2. Myometrium: smooth muscle layer. 3. Endometrium: inner mucous membrane lining.
What are the two divisions of the endometrium?
- Stratum basalis. 2. Stratum functionalis.
Which layer of the endometrium is shred in menstruation?
The stratum functionalis.
What is the broad ligament?
A double peritoneum layer that attaches the uterus to the pelvis; it acts a mesentery.
What is the round ligament and what is its function?
A remnant of the gubernaculum. Its function is to maintain the anteverted position of the uterus.
What does the cardinal ligament contain?
The uterine artery and vein.
What is the uterine artery a branch of?
The internal iliac artery.
What ligament do the uterine tubes lie in?
The broad ligament.
What is the function of the uterine tubes?
They assist in the transport and transfer of ovum from the ovary to the uterus.
Give 2 ways in which the uterine tube is adapted for the transport of ovum to the uterus.
- Ciliated columnar epithelium wafts the ovum to the uterus. 2. Contraction of the smooth muscle layer.
What is the most medial part of the uterine tube?
The isthmus.
Where in the uterine tube does fertilisation normally occur?
In the ampulla, this is the widest part of the tube and is lateral to the isthmus.
What is the final part of the uterine tube?
The fimbriae, finger-like projections coming off the infundibulum.
What is the function of the fimbriae?
To capture the ovum.
What is the blood supply to the uterine tubes?
The ovarian and uterine arteries.
What is the ovarian artery a branch of?
The abdominal aorta.
What forms the ovarian fossa?
The angle between the internal and external iliac arteries.
What are the female gonads?
The ovaries.
Where do the ovaries lie in relation to the broad ligament?
Posterior.
Give 2 functions of the ovaries.
- To produce oocytes. 2. To produce oestrogen and progesterone.
Where are the follicles containing oocytes found in the ovary?
In the cortex.
What is the epithelium surface of the ovary?
Simple cuboidal epithelium.
What area of the ovary contains the neurovascular tissues?
The medulla.
What does the ovarian ligament connect?
The ovary to the uterus.
What is the blood supply to the ovaries?
Ovarian arteries (branch of the abdominal aorta).
What does the left ovarian vein drain into?
The left renal vein.
What ligament does the neurovasculature tissue travel through to reach the hilum of the ovary?
The suspensory ligament of the ovary.
Give 3 functions of the vagina.
- It receives the penis in sexual intercourse. 2. It expands providing a delivery channel in childbirth. 3. It serves as a canal for menstrual fluid to leave the body.
What 2 things comprise the vaginal mucosa?
- Stratified squamous epithelium. 2. Elastic lamina propria.
What is the blood supply to the vagina?
Uterine and vaginal arteries (branches of the internal iliac artery).
What 2 structures combine to form the ejaculatory ducts?
The vas deferens and the seminal vesicle.
List in sequence the tubular structures along with spermatozoa pass to the exterior?
Testes -> epididymis -> vas deferens (goes through inguinal canal and along the lateral pelvic wall to the posterior bladder) -> seminal vesicle -> ejaculatory duct -> prostate gland -> prostatic urethra -> membranous urethra -> penile urethra.
What is the ampulla of vas?
A large dilation of the vas deferens on the posterior aspect of the bladder.
True or False: the seminal vesicles store spermatozoa.
False - they do NOT store spermatozoa.
What is the function of the prostate glands?
They secrete proteolytic enzymes which break down clotting factors in the ejaculate and so allowing the semen to remain fluid.
What does the prostate lie inferior to?
The neck of the bladder.
What does the prostate lie superior to?
The external urethral sphincter.
What is the blood supply to the prostate?
Prostatic arteries (derived from internal iliac arteries).
Name 2 vessels that pierce the prostate.
The urethra and the ejaculatory ducts.
Why might inflammation of the ovary cause medial thigh pain?
Inflammation may irritate the obtruator nerve causing medial thigh pain - REFERRED PAIN!
What is a retroverted uterus?
One that is rotated towards the posterior abdominal wall, it would lie on the rectum.
Give some signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland.
An enlarged prostate would press on the bladder and so cause an increase in urinary frequency, urinary urgency, dribbling, and difficulty initiating micturition.
Why might a malignant tumour of the prostate spread to the vertebral column?
The prostatic venous plexus of veins is in direct continuation with the venous plexus of the vertebra and so this represents a possible route of tumour spread.
