Female Reproductive Anatomy Flashcards
What is the blood supply to the vulva?
The internal and external pudendal arteries
What is the mesentery of the uterus?
The broad ligament
What are the divisions of the broad ligament?
1) Mesovarium; 2) mesosalpinx; 3) mesometrium
What does the mesovarium cover?
The ovaries
What does the mesosalpinx cover?
The oviducts
What does the mesometrium cover?
The uterus
What are the two pouches found in the female pelvis?
1) Vesicouterine pouch; 2) rectouterine pouch (of Douglas)
What is the shape and size of an ovary?
Shape of an almond, 3cm in length
What is the name of the connective tissue capsule that contains the ovary?
The tunica albuginea of the ovary
What happens to the appearance of the ovary as a woman ages?
It becomes more scarred in appearance due to follicular rupture at ovulation
In what part of the ovary are the ovarian follicles found?
The ovarian cortex
What is contained within the ovarian medulla?
Loose connective tissue and blood vessels entering through the hilum
How many oocytes does a woman have at puberty?
300 000
How many oocytes will a woman ovulate in her lifetime?
450
How long is the process of oogenesis?
85 days
What is the short ovarian ligament?
A remnant of the ovarian gubernaculum
What is the suspensory ligament of ovary continuous with?
Mesovarium
What are the ligaments holding the ovary in place?
1) Short ovarian ligament; 2) suspensory ligament of ovary
What does the short ovarian ligament tether the ovary to?
The uterus
What are the divisions of the oviduct?
Infundibulum; ampulla; isthmus; uterine part
In what part of the oviduct does fertilisation occur?
Ampulla
What is the position of the uterus?
Anteverted and anteflexed
What does anteverted mean?
Tipped anteriosuperiorly relative to the axis of the vagina
What does anteflexed mean?
Flexed/bent anteriorly relative to the cervix
What are the parts of the uterus?
Body; funds; isthmus; cervix
How long is the cervix?
2.5cm
What are the different parts of the cervix?
The vaginal part; the supravaginal part
What is the length of the uterine cavity, from external os to fundus?
6cm
What are the layers of the uterine wall?
1) Perimetrium; 2) myometrium; 3) endometrium
How long is the vagina?
7-9cm
What are the layers of the vagina?
1) Mucosa; 2) muscular layer; 3) adventitia
What are the muscles that compress the vagina?
1) Pubovaginalis; 2) external urethral sphincter; 3) urethrovaginal sphincter; 4) bulbospongiosus
What is the ditty for the urethra in females?
‘Bridge over water’ - i.e. it lies below the uterine vessels, and thus is susceptible to damage during hysterectomy
What is the attachment of the round ligament of uterus?
The uterotubal junction anteroinferiorly
To where do the uterosacral ligaments attach?
Fromt he posterior sides of the cervix to the middle of the sacrum
To where do the cardinal/transverse cervical ligaments attach?
From the supravaginal cervix and lateral fornix of the vagina to the lateral walls of the pelvis
What is the function of the vestibular glands?
Secretion of mucus
At what age are menstrual cycles the shortest?
In a woman’s 30s
What are the phases of the menstrual cycle?
1) Follicular phase, 2) ovulation; 3) luteal phase
What % of cycles are 28 days long?
15%
