Female Internal Reproductive Organs Flashcards
What are the female internal reproductive organs?
- ovary
- uterine tube
- uterus
- vagina
What are the ovaries?
paired organs which produce oocytes after puberty and which also have an endocrine function
What hormones are secreted by the ovaries?
- estrogen
- progesterone
- relaxin
Where is the ovary located?
- on the posterior aspect of the broad ligament on the lateral wall of the true pelvis
- lies within the ovarian fossa
- ovary comes out of the fossa during pregnancy
What is the ovarian fossa bounded by?
- obliterated umbilical artery (anteriorly)
- ureter and internal iliac vessels (posteriorly)
Is the ovary covered by peritoneum?
no
How does the oocyte leave the ovary?
it is expelled into the peritoneal cavity before entering the uterine tube
What is the ligament of ovary?
attaches the ovary to the body of the uterus
What is the suspensory ligament of ovary?
extends from the ovary to the pelvic brim and contains the ovarian vessels
What is the blood supply to the ovaries?
- ovarian artery (from the abdominal aorta)
- ovarian branch of the uterine artery (from internal iliac artery)
What is the general blood supply to female internal reproductive organs?
In general, every structure gets two sources of blood:
- from abdomen
- from pelvic region
What is the innervation of the ovary?
ovarian plexus
Where are the uterine tubes?
extend from the peritoneal cavity near the ovary to the cavity of the uterus
What do the uterine tubes do?
- transport oocytes from the ovary to the uterus through ciliary action and muscular contraction
- the passage of the oocyte takes 3-4 days
- they transport sperm in the opposite direction
What are the four parts of the uterine tube?
- uterine part: the portion of the tube which lies inside the uterus
- isthmus: the narrowest external part, nearest the uterus
- ampulla: the longest and widest part of the uterine tube
- infundibulum: the funnel-shaped portion nearest the ovary
What is the abdominal ostium?
the opening of the uterine tube near the ovary
Is the abdominal ostium connected to the ovary?
no; there is a gap between them
What are fimbriae?
- fingerlike projections around the margin of the infundibulum
- when an oocyte is discharged from the ovary, it is caught by the fimbriae and passes through the abdominal ostium
- contain smooth muscle
What is the ovarian fimbria?
a long fimbria which is attached to the ovary
Where is the most common site of fertilization?
ampulla
Where is the second most common site of fertilization? What problems may result?
- infundibulum
- could lead to an ectopic pregnancy
What is the blood supply to the uterine tube?
- tubal branches of the uterine artery
- tubal branches of the ovarian artery
What is the innervation to the uterine tube?
- ovarian plexus
- inferior hypogastric plexus
What is ectopic pregnancy?
- the development of the fetus at some site other than the uterine cavity
- the most common type is tubal ectopic pregnancy: development of the fetus in the uterine tube
- usually results in rupture of the uterine tube with severe hemorrhage
- tubal pregnancy usually results from inflammation or blockage of the uterine tube
- risk factors:
1. sexually transmitted diseases
2. reversal of tubal ligation
3. endometriosus - abdominal ectopic pregnancy: implantation in the rectouterine pouch
- other types: mesenteric and cervical ectopic pregnancy
What is the uterus?
the organ in which the fertilized oocyte normally becomes embedded and in which fetal development takes place
What forms the birth canal?
the cavites of the uterus and vagina
What is the appearance of the uterus?
variable in shape, size, location, and structure depending on age and the number of pregnancies
What is the uterus like in the nulliparous woman (one with no children)?
the walls of the uterus are thick and muscular and the organ is shaped like an inverted pear
How does the uterus change after menopause?
increase in fibrous tissue and cysts