Female Anatomy

Question 0

What does the gubernaculum do?

Answer 0

Connects inferior pole of ovary to the labioscrotal folds

Question 1

Describe the descent of the ovaries.

Answer 1

• Develop in the mesonephric ridge
• Descend through abdomen
• Stop in pelvis (due to uterus)

Question 2

What does the gubernaculum become?

Answer 2

Round ligament

Question 3

Describe the ovaries

Answer 3

• Almond shaped and sized gonads in which oocytes develop

- Endocrine gland that produces reproductive hormones

Question 4

What are the ovaries suspended by?

Answer 4

Mesovarium

Question 5

What tethers the ovary to the uterus?

Answer 5

Ovarian ligament

Question 6

What does the ovarian ligament do?

Answer 6

Tethers ovary to uterus

Question 7

Describe the structure of the uterus.

Answer 7

• Thick wall, muscular organ

- Fundus, body, cervix, uterine tubes

Question 8

What lies anteriorly to the uterus?

Answer 8

utero-vesical pouch

Question 9

What lies posterior to uterus?

Answer 9

Recto-uterine pouch a.k.a. Pouch of Douglas

Question 10

What changes occur to the myometrium?

Answer 10

SMC undergo considerable hypertrophy and hyperplasia during pregnancy in prep to expel fetus at birth

Question 11

Describe the structure of the endometrium (uterus).

Answer 11

• Tubular glands that extend from surface to connective tissue
• Can be split into stratum functionalis and stratum basalis

Question 12

What is the function of stratum functionalis?

Answer 12

Cyclical growth, degeneration, shedding of tissues

Question 13

What is the function of stratum basilis?

Answer 13

Regeneration of upper endometrium

Question 14

What happens in the proliferation phase?

Answer 14

Growth and proliferation of endometrium stimulated by oestrogen secreted from folliculargenesis

Question 15

What happens in the secretory phase?

Answer 15

Secretion of glycogen by endometrial glands stimulated by progesterone secreted from corpus luteum

Question 16

What happens in the menstrual phase?

Answer 16

Failure to implant and withdrawal of hormonal support… Menstruation

Question 17

What are the ligaments of the uterus?

Answer 17

• Broad ligament

- Round ligament

Question 18

What is the broad ligament comprised of?

Answer 18

• Mesometrium
• Mesosalpinx
• Mesovarium

Question 19

Describe the distribution and function of the broad ligament.

Answer 19

• Extends from the sides of the uterus to the lateral walls and floor of pelvis.
• Assists in keeping uterus in position

Question 20

What is the round ligament?

Answer 20

The embryological remnant of the gubernaculum

Question 21

Throughout which structure does the round ligament travel?

Answer 21

Inguinal canal

Question 22

What are the attachments of the round ligament?

Answer 22

Labia majora and ovary

Question 23

Describe the structure of the uterine tubes

Answer 23

Thin muscular tube that is narrow medially and opens into the abdominal cavity

Question 24

What can the uterine tubes be split into?

Answer 24

• Ostium
• Fimbria
• Infundibulum
• Ampulla
• Isthmus

Question 25

Describe the cervix.

Answer 25

Fibromuscular neck of uterus containing the endocervical canal

Question 26

What is the function of the cervix?

Answer 26

• Allow sperm to enter uterine cavity

- Protect from bacterial invasion

Question 27

Describe the histology of the endocervix.

Answer 27

• Columnar epithelium
• Basal nucleus
• Mucus secreting

Question 28

Describe the histology of the exocervix.

Answer 28

• Stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium

Question 29

What is the point of change in epithelium in the cervix known as?

Answer 29

Transformation zone

Question 30

Describe the vagina.

Answer 30

Distensible muscular tube extending from the vestibule of external genitalia to the cervix of the uterus

Question 31

What are the three layers of the vagina?

Answer 31

• Mucous membrane
• Muscular layer
• Adventitia

Question 32

What is the mucous membrane of the vagina made up of?

Answer 32

• Stratified squamous epithelium

- Lamina propria

Question 33

What is Lamina propria? Describe its distribution in the vagina.

Answer 33

A dense connective tissue. Becomes looser towards the muscular layer

Question 34

What is the pelvic floor formed by?

Answer 34

Pelvic diaphragm and superficial muscles and structures

Question 35

What is the pelvic diaphragm made up of?

Answer 35

Coccygeus and levator ani

Question 36

What makes up the superficial muscles and structures in the pelvic floor?

Answer 36

Anterior and posterior perineum

Question 37

What is the anterior perineum also known as?

Answer 37

Urogenital perineum

Question 38

What is the posterior perineum also known as?

Answer 38

Anal perineum

Question 39

What muscles make up levator ani?

Answer 39

• Puborectalis
• Pubococcygeus
• Iliococcygeus

Question 40

What is the blood supply to the ovaries?

Answer 40

Ovarian arteries.

Question 41

What is the blood supply to the uterus?

Answer 41

Uterine artery.

Abd aorta ➡️ common iliac ➡️ int. iliac ➡️ ant. division of int. iliac ➡️ uterine artery

Question 42

What is the blood supply of the vagina?

Answer 42

• Pudendal artery (branch of ant. division of int. iliac artery)
• Vaginal artery (branch of uterine artery)

Question 43

Describe the ovarian venous return.

Answer 43

• Right ovarian vein drains into the IVC

- Left ovarian vein drains into the left renal vein and then IVC

Question 44

Describe the uterine venous drainage

Answer 44

Uterine venous plexus drains into the uterine vein which drains into int. iliac vein then common iliac vein then IVC

Question 45

Describe the vaginal venous drainage.

Answer 45

Vaginal venous plexus drains into vaginal vein, then uterine vein, then int. iliac vein, then common iliac vein, then IVC