Female Anatomy Flashcards
What does the gubernaculum do?
Connects inferior pole of ovary to the labioscrotal folds
Describe the descent of the ovaries.
- Develop in the mesonephric ridge
- Descend through abdomen
- Stop in pelvis (due to uterus)
What does the gubernaculum become?
Round ligament
Describe the ovaries
- Almond shaped and sized gonads in which oocytes develop
- Endocrine gland that produces reproductive hormones
What are the ovaries suspended by?
Mesovarium
What tethers the ovary to the uterus?
Ovarian ligament
What does the ovarian ligament do?
Tethers ovary to uterus
Describe the structure of the uterus.
- Thick wall, muscular organ
- Fundus, body, cervix, uterine tubes
What lies anteriorly to the uterus?
utero-vesical pouch
What lies posterior to uterus?
Recto-uterine pouch a.k.a. Pouch of Douglas
What changes occur to the myometrium?
SMC undergo considerable hypertrophy and hyperplasia during pregnancy in prep to expel fetus at birth
Describe the structure of the endometrium (uterus).
- Tubular glands that extend from surface to connective tissue
- Can be split into stratum functionalis and stratum basalis
What is the function of stratum functionalis?
Cyclical growth, degeneration, shedding of tissues
What is the function of stratum basilis?
Regeneration of upper endometrium
What happens in the proliferation phase?
Growth and proliferation of endometrium stimulated by oestrogen secreted from folliculargenesis
What happens in the secretory phase?
Secretion of glycogen by endometrial glands stimulated by progesterone secreted from corpus luteum
What happens in the menstrual phase?
Failure to implant and withdrawal of hormonal support… Menstruation
What are the ligaments of the uterus?
- Broad ligament
- Round ligament
What is the broad ligament comprised of?
- Mesometrium
- Mesosalpinx
- Mesovarium
Describe the distribution and function of the broad ligament.
- Extends from the sides of the uterus to the lateral walls and floor of pelvis.
- Assists in keeping uterus in position
What is the round ligament?
The embryological remnant of the gubernaculum
Throughout which structure does the round ligament travel?
Inguinal canal
What are the attachments of the round ligament?
Labia majora and ovary
Describe the structure of the uterine tubes
Thin muscular tube that is narrow medially and opens into the abdominal cavity
What can the uterine tubes be split into?
- Ostium
- Fimbria
- Infundibulum
- Ampulla
- Isthmus
Describe the cervix.
Fibromuscular neck of uterus containing the endocervical canal
What is the function of the cervix?
- Allow sperm to enter uterine cavity
- Protect from bacterial invasion
Describe the histology of the endocervix.
- Columnar epithelium
- Basal nucleus
- Mucus secreting
Describe the histology of the exocervix.
- Stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium
What is the point of change in epithelium in the cervix known as?
Transformation zone
Describe the vagina.
Distensible muscular tube extending from the vestibule of external genitalia to the cervix of the uterus
What are the three layers of the vagina?
- Mucous membrane
- Muscular layer
- Adventitia
What is the mucous membrane of the vagina made up of?
- Stratified squamous epithelium
- Lamina propria
What is Lamina propria? Describe its distribution in the vagina.
A dense connective tissue. Becomes looser towards the muscular layer
What is the pelvic floor formed by?
Pelvic diaphragm and superficial muscles and structures
What is the pelvic diaphragm made up of?
Coccygeus and levator ani
What makes up the superficial muscles and structures in the pelvic floor?
Anterior and posterior perineum
What is the anterior perineum also known as?
Urogenital perineum
What is the posterior perineum also known as?
Anal perineum
What muscles make up levator ani?
- Puborectalis
- Pubococcygeus
- Iliococcygeus
What is the blood supply to the ovaries?
Ovarian arteries.
What is the blood supply to the uterus?
Uterine artery.
Abd aorta ➡️ common iliac ➡️ int. iliac ➡️ ant. division of int. iliac ➡️ uterine artery
What is the blood supply of the vagina?
- Pudendal artery (branch of ant. division of int. iliac artery)
- Vaginal artery (branch of uterine artery)
Describe the ovarian venous return.
- Right ovarian vein drains into the IVC
- Left ovarian vein drains into the left renal vein and then IVC
Describe the uterine venous drainage
Uterine venous plexus drains into the uterine vein which drains into int. iliac vein then common iliac vein then IVC
Describe the vaginal venous drainage.
Vaginal venous plexus drains into vaginal vein, then uterine vein, then int. iliac vein, then common iliac vein, then IVC
