Female repro anatomy Flashcards
What lies within the pelvic cavity?
Ovaries (only true organ of female reproduction)
Uterine tubes
Uterus
Superior part of vagina
Perineum?
Inferior part of vagina
Perineal muscles
Bartholin’s glands
Clitoris
Labia
Name arrowed areas
What shape is pelvic floor?
Funnel shaped
Where does pelvic floor attach?
Walls of lesser pelvis - seperates the pelvic cavity from perineum inferiorly
Name the hiatus’ in the pelvic floor
Urogenital
Rectal
Urogenital hiatus?
Anteriorly situated gap
Allows passage of urethra (and vagina in females)
Rectal hiatus?
Centrally positioned gap
Passage of anal canal
Perineal body?
Between urogenital hiatus and anal canal
A fibrous node which joins pelvis floor to perineum
Muscles of pelvic floor?
Levator ani
Coccygeus
What are the levator ani muscles?
Composed of 3 seperate muscles
Pubococcygeus, puborectalis, iliococcygeus
Where do levator ani muscles attach?
Anteriorly - pubic bodies of pelvic bone
Laterally - thickened fascia of obturator internus muscle (tendinous arch)
Posteriorly - ischial spines of pelvic bones
What is the innervation of the levator ani muscles?
S2, S3, S4
Innervation of coccygeus?
Anterior rami of S4 and S5
Where does coccygeus originate from?
Ischial spines
Position and size of coccygeus compared to levator ani?
Coccygeus is smaller, most posterior
Role of pelvic floor muscles?
Support of abdominopelvic viscera (bladder, intestines, uterus etc.) through their tonic contraction.
Resistance to increases in intra-pelvic/abdominal pressure during activities such as coughing or lifting heavy objects.
Urinary and faecal continence.
What pouches does peritoneum form?
Vesico-uterine (utero-vesico)
Recto-uterine (pouch of douglas)
Name the pouches
Name the areas on this superior view of female pelvis
What drapes over the pelvic organs?
Peritoneum
What is the broad ligament?
Double layer of peritoneum
How is the broad ligament formed?
As peritoneum drapes over uterine tubes anteriorly and posteriorly –> forms double layer = broad ligament
Where does broad ligament extend?
Between uterus and lateral walls of floor & pelvis
Function of broad ligament?
Maintain uterus in correct midline position
Contains within it the uterine tubes and (proximal part) of round ligament
What is the round ligament of the uterus?
Embryological remnant
Where does round ligament attach?
Lateral aspect of the uterus
Where does round ligament pass through?
Deep inguinal ring to attach to superficial tissue of female perineum
Where is the proximal part of the round ligament contained?
Within broad ligament
Name the ligaments
Is skeletal muscle in levaotor ani voluntary or involuntary control?
Voluntary
What do the fascial coverings of the levator ani form?
Most of the pelvic diapragm
How does levator ani provide continual support for pelvic organs?
Tonic contraction
Refelexively contracts further during situations of inc abdominal pressure
Which nerve supplies the levator ani?
Nerve to levator ani - S3, S4, S5 sacral plexus
AND fibres from pudendal nerve (S2, S3, S4)
Perineal muscles - superficial or deep?
BOTH
Nerve supply of perineal muscles?
Pudendal nerve
THE NERVE OF THE PERINEUM
What is the perineal body?
Bundle of colagenous and elastic tissue into which the perineal muscles attach
Importance of perineal body?
Pelvic floor strength
Bartholin’s/ Greater vestibular glands?
Glands located at posterior end of rectal tissue
Secrete lubricating fluid
Can enlarge - infection
Name areas of the perineum
What does labium minus cover?
The vestibule
