Female Genitalia

Question 1

What is the uterus formed of

Answer 1

Fundus - usually expands during pregnancy and is covered by parietal peritoneum

Body

Cervix

Question 2

What are the tissue structures that form the uterus

Answer 2

Myometrium - smooth muscle

Endometrium - epithelium lined with simple columnar epithelium

Question 3

What recesses can be found anterior and posterior to the uterus - why are they significant

Answer 3

Recto-uterine pouch (Pouch of Douglas) - furthest point of abdominopelvic cavity -> site where fluid/infection collects

Vescio-uterine pouch

Question 4

What are the regions of the uterine tube

Answer 4

Fimbriae

Infundibulum

Ampulla - site of fertilisation

Isthmus

Question 5

How is the uterine tube specialised to move eggs down the tube

Answer 5

Fimbriae are motile and attract egg towards tube - one specialised fimbriae with a groove that channels the egg into the tube

Ciliated cells help move the egg down the tube

Question 6

What are the peritoneal ligaments that attach to the female reprodutive system

Answer 6

Broad ligament

Round ligament

Ovarian ligament

Suspensory ligament of the ovary

Question 7

What are the parts of the broad ligament and what do they do

Answer 7

Mesometrium - between uterus and pelvic walls

Mesosalpinx - encloses fallopian/uterine tubes

Mesovarium - encloses neurovascular supply to ovary

Question 8

What does the round ligament connect

Answer 8

Connects uterus to the labia major

Becomes stretched in pregnancy -> pain and discomfort

Question 9

What does the ovarian ligament connect

Answer 9

Connects ovary to the uterus

Question 10

What does the suspensory ligament of the ovary surround

Answer 10

Surrounds ovarian neurovasculature

Question 11

What is the cervix

Answer 11

The neck of the uterus

Question 12

What epithelium lines the cervix

Answer 12

Simple columnar epithelium that produces cervical mucosa

Question 13

What is the transformation zone of the cervix

Answer 13

The zone between the epithelium of the cervix and the vagina

Is seen in cervical cancers and cervical eversion

This zone is at most risk of malignant changes

Question 14

What are found at the connection between the cervix and the vagina

Answer 14

Anterior, posterior and lateral fornix recesses

Question 15

What are the arteries supplying the female reproductive system

Answer 15

Vaginal artery

Uterine artery

Ovarian atery

Internal pudendal artery

Question 16

What is the venous drainage of the structures of the female reproductive system

Answer 16

Right ovary - gonadal -> IVC

Left ovary - gonadal -> left renal

Uterus - uterine plexus

Cervix - internal iliac

Vagina - vaginal plexus -> internal iliac

Question 17

What is the lymphatic drainage of the female reproductive system

Answer 17

Right ovary - para-aortic nodes

Left ovary - para-aortic nodes

Uterus - iliac, sacral, aortic and inguinal nodes

Cervix - internal iliac nodes

Vagina - iliac and superficial inguinal nodes

Question 18

What is the ovary

Answer 18

A paired organ where oogenesis occurs

Question 19

What are found in the germinal epithelium

Answer 19

Stem cells are found in the germinal epithelium which produce follicles that mature to produce primary oocytes

Question 20

What epithelium covers the vagina

Answer 20

Stratified squamous epithelium

Question 21

How is the acidic pH of the vagina maintained

Answer 21

Vaginal epithelium is glycogen rich and this glycogen is used by lactobacilli to produce lactic acid -> lowers pH of the vagina to prevent microorganism growth

Question 22

What are the axes and terms used to describe the position of the vagina and uterus

Answer 22

Angle of anteversion - either anteverted or retroverted. Between vagina and cervix

Angle of anteflexion - either anteflexed or retroflexed. Between cervix and uterine body