Female reproductive system Flashcards
What begins to develop in the 5th week?
gonads in both sexes begin to develop as masses of intermediate mesoderm called gonadal ridges
Where do gonadal ridges form?
dorsal abdominal wall
Mesonephric ducts
future male ducts
Paramesonephric ducts
future female ducts
Week 5 and 6 mark?
the indifferent stage
both sexes have identical internal and external primordial structures
female embryos
sexual differentiation begins in week 8
ovarian follicles
formed from cortical portion of immature ovaries
Paramesonephric ducts become?
uterus
uterine tubes
superior part of vagina
mesonephric ducts degenerate
genital tubercle
projection on their external perineal surface in both sexes during the indifferent stage
The urogenital sinus
future urethra and bladder lies deep to the tubercle
Urethral groove
serves as the external opening of the urogenital sinus, runs between the genital tubercle and anus and is laterally flanked by the urethral folds and labioscrotal swellings
Week 8
rapid development of external genitalia
week 8 in females
genital tubercle becomes the clitoris
urethral folds become labia minora
labioscrotal swellings become the labia majora
urethral groove persists as the vestibule
week 8 in males
genital tubercle enlarges
urethral folds fuse in the midline to form the penile urethra
labioscrotal swellings join midline and become the scrotum
Mons pubis
rounded fatty eminence overlying the pubic symphysis
Labia majora
prominent outer folds of the skin that contain subcutaneous fat and the termination of the round ligament of the uterus
external aspect covered with pigmented skin containing sebaceous glands
Labia minora
inner folds of fat-free skin
have a core of spongy connective tissue that contains erectile tissue and many small blood vessels
internal aspect contains many sensory endings
Clitoris
an erectile organ located where the labia minora meet anteriorly
consists of a root and a body which are composed of 2 cura, 2 corpora cavernosa, and the glans of the clitoris covered by a prepuce
Vestibule
space surrounded by the labia minora that contains the openings of the urethra, vagina, and the ducts of the greater and lesser vestibular glands
Bulbs of vestibule
paired masses of elongated erectile tissue situated along the sides of the vaginal orifice deep to bulbospongiosus
homologous with the bulb of the penis and corpus spongiosum
Vestibular glands
greater vestibular glands on each side of the vestibule posterior to the vaginal orifice
glands open into the vestibule and secrete mucus during sexual arousal
lesser vestibular glands open between the urethral and vaginal orifices and secrete mucus
Ischiocavernosus
maintains erection of the clitoris by compressing outflow veins
Bulbospobgiosus
“sphincter” of the vagina
assists in the erection of the clitoris and bulb of the vestibule and compresses the greater vestibular gland
Superficial transverse perineal muscle
supports and fixes the perineal body and pelvic floor to support viscera
Vagina
a mostly subperitoneal musculomembranous tube that extends from the cervix of the uterus to the vestibule of the vagina
serves as a canal for menstrual fluid
forms the inferior part of birth canal
Vaginal fornix
recess around the protruding cervix
has anterior, posterior, and lateral parts
Arteries of the vagina
supplying the superior part of the vagina derive from the uterine arteries
middle and inferior parts derive from the vaginal and internal pudendal arteries
Veins of the vagina
form plexuses along the sides of the vagina and within the vaginal mucosa and drain into the internal iliac veins via the uterine veins
structures of the ovaries
small organs held in place by ligaments and mesenteries
Ovaries
almond-shaped organs typically found near the attachment of the broad ligament to the lateral pelvic walls
How are the ovaries suspended?
suspended by peritoneal folds:
mesovarium and suspensory ligament of the ovary
Uterus
a hollow thick-walled muscular organ
receives, retains, and nourishes the fertilized egg
Body of uterus
includes the rounded fundus, relatively constricted isthmus and the uterine horns; freely movable
Cervix
the cylindrical, narrow inferior part of the uterus
Perimetrium
outer serous coat, consists of peritoneum and ct
Myometrium
middle muscular coat that distends significantly during pregnancy, the main branches of blood vessels and nerves located here
Endometrium
inner mucous layer, which adheres firmly to the myometrium and is involved in the menstrual cycle
if conception occurs the blastocyst is implanted here otherwise the inner surface of this coat is shed during menstruation
Where do the fallopian tubes extend?
extend laterally from the uterine horns and open into the peritoneal cavity near the ovaries
Uterine tubes have no contact with the ovaries; ovulated oocyte is cast into the peritoneal cavity
Infundibulum (part of fallopian tube)
funnel-shaped distal end opens into the peritoneal cavity (fimbriae)
Ampulla (part of the fallopian tubes)
Widest and longest parts
Isthmus (fallopian tubes)
Enters uterine horn
Uterine portion (fallopian tubes)
short intramural segment
Broad ligament of the uterus
a double layer of peritoneum that extends from the sides of the uterus to the lateral walls and floor of the pelvis
What does the broad ligament contain?
ovaries
uterine tubes
vasculature that serves them
suspensory ligament of the ovary
a lateral extension of the broad ligament over the ovarian vessels
Mesovarium
the portion of the broad ligament suspending the ovary
Mesosalpinx
suspends the uterine tube
Mesometrium
the major part of the broad ligament of the uterus
Mammary glands
modified sweat glands found in superficial body wall
Suspensory ligaments of breast
thickenings of fascia that anchor breast to skin and separate glandular and fat lobules
Lobules drain into….
lactiferous ducts which open on the nipple
retromammary space
a potential space b/n breast and underlying deep pectoral fascia- allows some degree of movement of breast
Pelvic floor injury
Structures susceptible to injury: levator ani and pelvic fascia
Hysterectomy
excision of the uterus is performed thru the lower abdominal wall or the vagina
