Female Genitalia Flashcards
What structures make up the vulva? (8)
mons pubis labia majora labia minora clitoris vestibular glands vaginal vestibule vaginal orifice urethral opening
The clitoris is tucked between the ____ and the ____.
frenulum and the prepuce
Posteriorly the labia minor meet as two judges that fuse to form the _____.
fourchette
The labia minor enclose the area designated as the _____.
vestibule
What are the 6 openings of the vestibule?
urethra
vagina
2 ducts of Bartholin glands
2 ducts of Skene glands
Which ducts drain a group of urethral glands and open onto the vestibule on each side of the urethra?
Skene ducts
Which glands open onto the sides of the vestibule in the groove between the labia minor and the hymen?
Batholin glands
What is the connective tissue that separate the anterior wall of the vagina from the bladder and urethra?
vesicovaginal septum
What separates the posterior vaginal wall from the rectum?
rectovaginal septum
The pocket formed around the cervix is divided into what?
anterior, posterior and lateral fornices
What is the deep recess formed by the peritoneum as it covers the lower posterior wall of the uterus and the upper portion of the vagina separating it from the rectum
rectouterine cul de sac (pouch of Douglas)
The uterus is a flattened _____ and usually inclines forward at a ____ degree angle.
anteroposteriorly
45 degree
What is the size of the uterus in nulliparous patients?
5.5 to 8 cm long
3.5 to 4cm wide
2-2.5 cm thick
weighs: 40-50g
How does the uterus differ in a parous pt compared to a nulliparous patient?
parous patient may be larger by 2 to 3 cm in any dimension
weighs 20-30 MORE than nulliparous patient
The uterus is divided anatomically into the ___ and the ____.
corpus and cervix
What are the 2 parts of the corpus?
the funds and the isthmus
The ____ extends from the isthmus into the vagina.
cervix
The uterus opens into the vagina via the _____
external cervical os
What comprises the adnexa of the uterus?
Fallopian tubes and ovaries
Each Fallopian tubes ranges from ___ to ___ cm long and is supported by a fold of the broad ligament called the ______.
8 to 14 cm long
mesosalpinx
The isthmus end of the Fallopian tube opens into the _____
uterine cavity
What transports the ovum to the uterus?
rhythmic contractions of the tubal musculature
The ovaries are at the level of the ____ iliac spine.
anterosuperior
How big is an ovary during the reproductive years?
3cm x 2cm x 1cm
What happens during the menstrual phase days 1-4 at the ovary?
estrogen levels begin to rise, preparing follicle and egg for next cycle.
What happens during the menstrual phase days 1-4 in the uterus?
(decreased?) progesterone stimulates endometrial prostaglandins that cause vasoconstriction; upper layers of endometrium shed
What happens during the menstrual phase days 1-4 in the breast?
cellular activity in the alveoli decreases; breast ducts shrink
What happens during the menstrual phase days 1-4 with the CNS hormones?
FSH and LH decrease
What happens during the post menstrual, preovulatory phase (days 5-12) in the ovary?
ovary and maturing follicle produce estrogen; follicular phase (egg develops within follicle)
What happens during the post menstrual, preovulatory phase (days 5-12) in the uterus?
Proliferative phase-uterine lining thickens
What happens during the post menstrual, preovulatory phase (days 5-12) in the breast?
parenchymal and proliferation of breast ducts occurs
What happens during the post menstrual, preovulatory phase (days 5-12) with the CNS hormones?
FSH stimulates ovarian follicular growth
What happens during ovulation (day 13 or 14) in the ovary?
egg is expelled from follicle into abdominal cavity and drawn into the fallopian tine by fimbriae and cilia. follicle closes and begins to form corpus lute; fertilization of egg may occur in outer third of tube if sperm are unimpeded
What happens during ovulation (day 13 or 14) in the uterus?
end of proliferative phase; progesterone causes further thinking of the uterine wall
What happens during ovulation (day 13 or 14) with the CNS hormones?
LH and estrogen levels increase rapidly; LH surge stimulates release of egg
What are the symptoms during ovulation (day 13 or 14) ?
Mittelschmerz may occur with ovulation; cervical mucus is increased and is stringy and elastic (spinnbarkeit)
What happens during the secretory phase (days 15-20) in the ovary?
egg (ovum) is moved by cilia into the uterus
What happens during the secretory phase (days 15-20) in the uterus?
after the egg is released, the follicle becomes a corpus luteum; secretion of progesterone increases and predominates
What happens during the secretory phase (days 15-20) with the CNS hormones?
LH and FSH decrease
What happens during the premenstrual, luteal phase (days 21-28) in the ovary?
if implantation does not occur, the corpus lute degenerates; progesterone production decreases and estrogen production drops and then begins to rise as a new follicle develops
What happens during the premenstrual, luteal phase (days 21-28) in the uterus?
menstruation starts around day 28, which begins day 1 of the menstrual cycle
What happens during the premenstrual, luteal phase (days 21-28) in the breast?
alveolar breast cells differentiate into secretory cells
What happens during the premenstrual, luteal phase (days 21-28) with the CNS hormones?
increases levels of GnRH cause increased secretion of FSH
What are the symptoms during the premenstrual, luteal phase (days 21-28)?
vascular engorgement and water retention may occur
What are the 4 ligaments that support the internal genitalia?
cardinal
uterosacral
round
broad ligaments
What is necessary to support the pregnancy for uterine enlargement during the first trimester?
high levels of estrogen and progesterone
After the third month what is the primary cause of uterine enlargement?
mechanical pressure of the growing fetus
At term the uterus will have increased more than ____ fold and the capacity increases ____ to ___ times that go the non pregnant uterus.
10
500-1000x
What level is the uterus at 20 weeks?
level of the umbilicus
When does the uterus reach into the abdominal cavity?
12 weeks
Immediately after delivery the uterus is the size of what?
20 week pregnancy (umbilicus level)
How big is the uterus 1 week after delivery?
12 week pregnancy and palpable at the symphysis pubis
What is responsible for the softening of the pelvic cartilage and the strengthening of the pelvic ligaments?
relaxin and progesterone
What is the result of the pelvic joints separating from relaxin and progesterone?
waddle gait
When does the symphysis pubs return to the prepregnancy state postpartum?
within 2-5 months
during pregnancy what is the result of increased uterine blood flow and lymph?
pelvic congestion and edema
the uterus, cervix, and isthmus soften and the cervix takes on a bluish color
What is it called when the isthmus softens during pregnancy?
Goodell sign
What is it called when the cervix takes on a blue color in pregnancy?
Chadwick sign
The cervical canal is obstructed by ____ ___ soon after conception, protecting the infant from infection.
thick mucus
When the thick mucus plug dislodges at the beginning of labor what is that sign called?
bloody show
What causes the increased length of vaginal walls so that at times they can be seen protruding from the vulvar opening?
mucosa of the vaginal walls and the connective tissue thicken and smooth muscle cells hypertrophy
In pregnant females the papillae of the mucosa have what appearance?
hobnailed appearance
What causes an increase in vaginal pH during pregnancy?
an increase in lactic acid production by the vaginal epithelium to keep bacteria from multiplying but may cause Candida infection
What is the median age of menopause in the US?
51 years
What is menopause defined as?
1 year with no menses (amenorrhea)
What is the result of a decrease in estrogen levels in menopause?
the labia and cliotris become smaller
What might account for the decrease in libido and in muscle mass in menopause?
both adrenal androgens and ovarian testosterone markedly decrease after menopause
What happens to the vagina after menopause?
the vaginal Introits gradually constricts. The vagina narrows, shortens and loses its rugae and the mucosa becomes thin, pale and dry which can result in dyspareunia (pain with intercourse)
What happens to the cervix after menopause?
smaller and paler
What happens to the uterus after menopause?
it decreases in size and the endometrium thins
What happens to the ovaries after menopause?
they decrease in size to 1-2 cm, follicles gradually disappear and the surface od the ovary convolutes
What are the systemic effects of menopause?
increase in body far and intraabdominal deposition of body fat
levels of total and LDL cholesterol increase
thermoregulation is altered producing hot flashes
What is the absence of menstruation?
amenorrhea
shortened interval between periods-less than 19-21 days?
polymenorrhea
lengthened internal between periods- more than 35 days?
oligomenorrhea
excessive flow during normal duration of regular periods?
hypermenorrhea
decreased flow during normal duration of regular periods?
hypomenorrhea
regular and normal interval between periods, excessive flow and duration?
menorrhagia
irregular intervals between periods, prolonged duration with expected amounts
metrorrhagia
irregular or excessive bleeding during periods and between periods?
menometrorrhagia
What are the risk factors for cervical cancer? (12)
HPV Infection (16,18,31,33,45) No HPV Vaccination Lack of pap smear three or more full term pregnancies patients younger than 17 cigarette smoking HIV infection Chlamydia infection Overweight (less fruits and veggies) DES exposure Long term OCP use Low socioeconomic status
What are the risk factors for ovarian cancer? (10)
increased age BRCA1 BRCA2 or PTEn gene family history obesity nulliparity or parity after 35 use of fertility drugs increased with h/o breast, endometrial or colon cancers hormone replacement therapy 50% reduction with OCPs High fat diet
What are the risk factors of endometrial cancer? (11)
# of menstrual cycles nulliparity obesity tamoxifen estrogen replacement therapy Ovarian diseases (polycystic ovaries, granulosas) high animal fat diet increased age FMH of endometrial, breast or ovarian, or colorectal cancers BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene prior pelvic radiation therapy
What is the size of the clitoris?
2cm or less and 0.5cm in diameter
What is a bright red polypoid growth that protrudes from the urethral meatus; and usually cause no symptoms
caruncle
Discharge from the scene glands or the urethra usually indicate what?
an infection-most commonly gonococcal
What indicates a Bartholin cysts?
a nontender mass
What indicates a Bartholin infection?
painful, hot to the touch and fluctuant that is usually filled with pus (gonococcal or staphylococcal)
What is a pale cervix associated with?
anemia
What is a blue cervic associated with?
increased vascularity and may be a sign of pregnancy
A cervix that is pointing anteriorly indicates a ____ uterus.
retroverted uterus
A cervix that is pointing posterior indicates an ____uterus
anteverted uterus
If the cervix is not midline and deviates to the left or right, what might that indicate?
a pelvic mass
uterine adhesions
pregnancy
If the cervix projects greater than ____ it may indicate a pelvic or uterine mass.
3 cm
What is the size of the cervix at child bearing age?
2-3 cm in diameter
What is the transformation zone of the cervix?
the junction of squamous and columnar epithelium
When does cervical ectropion occur?
when eversion of the endocervix exposes columnar epithelium