Female Pelvis Flashcards
What does the female reproduction organs do?
- Production of sex hormones
- Production of ova
- Serves to protect and support developing embryo
What is the uterus?
Hollow, pear shaped muscular organ, which takes care of
1. menstruation
2. pregnancy
3. labor
How many walls is the uterus comrpised of?
3 layers
How long is the uterus?
7-9 cm in length
How is the uterus divided?
5 anatomical regions
1. Cervix
2. Isthmus
3. Body (corpus)
4. Cornua
5. Fundas
What is the cervix?
Lowest inferior portion which projects into upper vagina in a fixed position
What is the isthmus?
Narrowed portion superior to cervix
What is the body (corpus) of the uterus
Largest portion of the uterus which is somewhat mobile
What is the fundus of the uterus?
Widest, rounded, superior portion of the uterus. It is also superior to the Fallopian tube insertion
How big is the endocervical canal?
2-3 in length
What is the internal OS of the endocervical canal?
Superior margin of the cervix which is also called the level of isthmus
What is the External OS of the endocervical canal
Inferior margin of cervix which opens into vagina
What does the uterine wall comprised of?
- Endomentrium
- Myometrium
- Perimetrium
What is the endometrium?
Innermost layer of the uterus which is highly vascular and composed of epithelial and glandular cells
What is the myometrium?
Middle layer of the uterus which is the thickest layer comprised of muscle
What is the perimetrium (serosa)
Thin outer layer of the uterine wall which contains serous peritoneum
Where is the uterine location?
- Anterior to rectum
- Inferior to peritoneum
- Medial to ovaries
- Posterior to bladder (full)
- Superior to bladder (empty)
What are some positions of the uterus?
- Anteverted uterus
- Antelexted uterus
- Retroverted
- Retroflexed
What is the anteverted uterus?
Anterior tilt of uterine body which formed an ~90 degree angle with cervix and vagina
What is a anteflexed uterus?
Anterior flex of body and fundus
What is a retroverted Uterus?
Body and fundus tilt posterior
What is a retroflexed uterus?
Body and fundus flex more posteriorly,
What is the vagina?
Long muscular tube which extends from cervix to external vaginal orifice. The spaces here form for fornices which upper canals encircle cervix
Where is the vagina located?
Between the bladder and rectum
What are some uterine variants?
- Uterus uterus
- Uterus didelphys (two of everything)
- Uterus Bicornis bicollis
- Uterus Bicornis unicollis (Heart shaped)
- Uterus sub septum
- Uterus unicornis (One tube)
What are the Fallopian tubes also known as?
Uterine tubes or oviducts
What are the Fallopian tubes?
Paired, muscular tubes that extend from cornea to the ovaries. Route for ovum to uterus and sperm to ovum, which is the location for fertilization.
How big the fallopian tubes?
3 mm or less diameter
What are the segments of the fallopian tubes?
- Interstitial or intramural
- Isthmus
- Ampulla
- Infundibulum
What is the interstitial or intramural segment of the Fallopian tubes?
Narrowest part and located within uterine cornua
What is the isthmus of the fallopian tubes?
Short, straight and narrow part which is adjacent to uterine wall
What is the ampulla of the Fallopian tubes?
Longest section of the Fallopian tubes which widens laterally, which is the usual area of fertilization
What is the infundibulum?
The funnel shaped lateral portion of the Fallopian tubes, which contain the fimbria
What is the fimbria of the infundibulum?
Finger like projections in which sweep the ovum towards the tube
What are the ovaries?
The bilateral, ellipsoid (almond) shape storehouse for ova. Size varies with age, menstrual phase, pregnancy status
What do the ovaries do?
Production of estrogen and progesterone
What is the ovarian size?
Post pubertal
Length: 3cm
Width: 2 cm
AP: 1cm (anterior to posterior)
What is the ovarian location?
Located in the true pelvis, specially in the adnexa. The position is variable
Typically: lateral to uterus and posterior to broad ligament
Anterior to ureter
Anterior to internal iliac artery
Anterior to gonadal vessels
In an ultrasound image in the reproductive ovary, how many anechoic follicles are normal
Multiple
Where are the arteries in the pelvis?
Uterine arteries branches off the internal iliac arteries, which join the ovarian arteries at the level of the fallopian tunes
What is the venous vasculature of the pelvis like?
Follows a similar course to the arteries
What are the ligaments of the female pelvis?
Folds of peritoneum that anchor and support the female pelvic anatomy
What is the board ligaments?
Not true ligaments which are the double fold of peritoneum that supports uterus and encloses the oviducts.
What does the board ligaments do?
Divides pelvis into anterior and posterior compartments which prevents side to side movements
What is the round ligaments?
Extends from lateral uterus to anterior pelvic wall, which is responsible for anterior tilt of uterus
What is the ovarian ligament?
Between the ovary and lateral uterus
What is the cervical (cardinal) ligament?
From lateral cervix to pelvic floor, which stabilizes cervix and prevents downward displacement of uterus
What are pelvic spaces?
Potential spaces formed by peritoneum draping over pelvic structures
Why must we be aware of pelvic spaces?
Awareness of these spaces can be important because fluid can drain into them
What is the anterior cul-de-sac space?
Vesicourterine pouch which is peritoneum draped between the posterior bladder wall and anterior surface of uterus
What is the posterior (curl-de-sac)
Also known as rectouterine pouch or pouch of Douglas. It has a peritoneum which drapes between the anterior rectum and posterior uterus, most depended portion of the pelvis
What is the space of retzuis
Also known as Retropubic or prevesicular space. This is located between the symphysis pubis and anterior bladder and is filled with extraperitoneal fat
