Female Perineum

Question 1

Are the greater vestibular glands usually palpable?

Answer 1

No, but are palpable when infected.

Question 2

What is the name for inflammation of the greater vestibular glands?

Answer 2

Bartholinitis

Question 3

Infected glands may impinge on ____.

Answer 3

the rectum

Question 4

The greater vestibular glands are the most common site of ______ cancers.

Answer 4

vulvar adenocarcinomas

Question 5

Occlusion of the greater vestibular glands glands can lead to accumulation of ____ called ________.

Answer 5

mucin, Bartholin gland cyst

Question 6

What is performed to relieve perineal pain during childbirth?

Answer 6

pudendal nerve block anesthesia

Question 7

Where is the pudendal nerve block injected?

Answer 7

near the ischial spine (where the sacrospinous ligament attaches)

Question 8

Because the fetus’s head is usually stationed ________at this stage, it is important that the physician’s finger is always positioned between the needle tip and the baby’s head during the procedure.

Answer 8

within the lesser pelvis

Question 9

What is performed to abolish sensation from the anterior part of the perineum?

Answer 9

an ilioinguinal nerve block

Question 10

When patients continue to complain of pain sensation after proper administration of a pudendal or pudendal and ilioinguinal nerve blocks, it is usually the result of overlapping innervation by the _____ branch at the _______________.

Answer 10

overlapping innervation by the perineal branch at the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh.

Question 11

What are the three perineal muscles that cover the pelvic outlet?

Answer 11

The superficial transverse perineal muscle, bulbospongiosus, and external anal sphincter..

Question 12

What is the common attachment site for the three muscles covering the pelvic outlet?

Answer 12

perineal body.

Question 13

Why are the perineal muscles typically stronger in males?

Answer 13

urination, penile erection, and ejaculation

Question 14

What functions to the perineal muscles serve for women?

Answer 14

support the pelvic viscera, help prevent urinary stress incontinence and postpartum prolapse of pelvic viscera.

Question 15

What exercises do many gynecologists recommend that women practice before childbirth, and give an example?

Answer 15

Kegel exercises, such as successive interruption of the urine flow during urination.

Question 16

Why do Kegel exercises help with childbirth?

Answer 16

learning to voluntarily contract and relax the perineal muscles helps women to resist the tendency to contract the perineal muscles during contractions, allowing a less obstructed passage for the fetus and decreasing the likelihood of tearing the perineal muscles.