Female Reproductive Organs Flashcards
Three parts of the uterus
Fundus- Top
Body- Uterine Cavity
Cervix
Key points of the uterus
Muscular organs
Receives right and left Fallopian tubes
Lined by epithelium
Pear shaped and opens to the vagina
Key parts of the clitoris
Small external part, the glans and a good and a bigger part inside.
Covered by thin epidermis
The hood is called the clitoral prepuce
Mons pubis
Skin with coarse hair and a pad of subcutaneous fat.
Lies over the symphysis pubis
Vulva
Labia Majora- subcutaneous fat and hair follicles with smooth muscle fibre.
Lots of sebaceous glands
Labia Minora- No hair follicles but many sebaceous glands
Key points of the vagina
7/9 cm
At an angle of 90 degrees
Capable of distension and elongation
pH from 3.8 to 4.5
Walls touch at rest
Key points of the uterus
Musclular organ
Receives right and left Fallopian tubes
Lined by simple epithelium
Pear shaped and opens into the vagina
Corpus Luteum
A hormone secreted structure (mostly progesterone) that develops in an ovary after an ovum has been discharged but degenerates after a few days unless pregnancy has began
Body of the Cervix
3 layers
Peritoneum- thin external layer of peritoneum (serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity)
Myometrium- smooth muscle layer
Endometrium- thin mucous membrane
3 layers of the endometrium (a thin internal mucous membrane)
Compact layer- densely packed connective tissue around uterine glands
Spongy layer- edematous connective tissue (swollen) containing uterine glands
Basal layer- contains blind ends of the interior glands (this does not shed every month, the others do).
Uterine body and fundus properties during pregnancy
Both have thick walls (myometrium)
Myometrium is Oenone sensitive- hypertrophy (increase cell size) and hyperplasia (increased production rate of cells)
Blood vessels- arterial and venous- substantially dilate and thicken
Uterus body lined by endometrium which is made up of glands and stroma .
Endometrium function= create a welcome environment for fertilised egg
This is to form abundant nutrient rich glands and extensive vascular supply incase of fertilisation, if not it sheds
Endometrium function
create a welcome environment for fertilised egg
Involution
Returns to normal size
How many layers does the endometrium (inner linings of the uterus) have during reproductive life?
2- a deep basal later and a superficial functional layer which lines the lumen.
What happens to the endometrium if fertilisation occurs?
If this happens it does not shed and forms the decidua (mucosal lining prepares for pregnancy)
Does the basal layer and the functional layer shed?
The basal layer does not shed at menstruation. It allows the functional layer to regenerate using a cellular reserve.
The functional layer will shed if there is no fertilisation
Is the functional layer hormone responsive?
Yes and it undergoes the menstrual cycle
Does the endometrium respond evenly to ovarian hormonal stimulation?
No
What is another name for the Fallopian tubes?
Uterine tubes
What is the purpose of the Uterine (Fallopian) Tubes?
Takes ova from the ovary to the lumen is the uterus
Site of fertilisation
Moves the fertilised ovum to the endometrial cavity for implantation.
10/12 cm long from the open dilated end to the narrow portion.
4 sections with different functions
What is storma ?
Supportive tissue of an epithelial organ consisting of connective tissue and blood vessels
The four uterine tube segments
Muscular tube with epithelial lining (every section varies in appearance)
Infundibulum- (with a fringe of fimbriae)- these sweep the egg into the tube.
Ampulla- thin with narrow walls, fertilisation normally occurs here.
Isthmus- narrower and thicker and leads to the intramural.
Intramural- continuous with the isthmus that leads into the uterus.