Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the functions of the female reproductive system?
produces secondary oocytes and hormones
provides sites of fertilisation, implantation and development and the delivery of the foetus.
What are the functions of the uterus
- Pathway for sperm to reach the fallopian tubes
- To receive, retain, protect and nourish the fertilised ovum and developing embryo / fetus
- To expel the mature foetus at the end of pregnancy
What is the structure and position of the uterus?
- Hollow, muscular organ within the
pelvis - Pear shaped.
- Positioned anterior to the rectum
and posterior to the bladder in non pregnant females - It lies mostly within the pelvis cavity
- In non pregnant women it measures approximately 7.5cm in length and 5cm in diameter.
- It is nearly 2.5cm thick.
What are the divisions of the uterus?
• Fundus – top part
• Body / corpus – central part
• Cervix – lower part projecting into the vagina
The body of the uterus is divided into 3 layers, what are they?
- Endometrium – inner mucosal layer which undergoes the cyclic changes during the menstrual cycle and is shed during menstruation
- Myometrium – the thick muscular middle layer responsible for uterine contractions
during menstruation and childbirth - Serosa (perimetrium) – the outermost think peritoneal later covering the uterus
What is the position of the uterus?
It is held in place by ligaments – 2 of each
• Uterosacral ligaments from posterior cervix to sacrum
• Cardinal ligaments from side of cervix to ischial spines
• Pubocervical ligament
• From side of cervix to pubic symph
Whet is the blood supply to the uterus?
- Arterial blood passes into the internal iliac artery and then into the uterine arteries.
- The uterus has an extensive blood supply which is essential to support regrowth of the endometrium and implantation of the ovum and development of the placenta.
What are the functions of the cervix
Acts as a mechanical barrier
to infectious microorganisms
present in the vagina
The external os is a very small
opening with thick sticky
mucous – plug
During ovulation, the plug
becomes watery to facilitate
sperm travel under the
influence of oestrogen
What is the cervix
This is the lower part of the
uterus situated between the
external os and the internal os
* The cervical canal connects
the interior of the vagina and
the cavity of the body of the
uterus
* It is 2-3cm in length
* Width depends on age – widest in premenopausal
women at 8mm
what does the cervical canal contain
It dips into the vagina forming the fornices (anterior, posterior and lateral)
The cervical canal contains The internal and external os The hymen
cervix anatomy- internal os
- The opening of the cervix into the body of the uterus
cervix anatomy- external os
- The opening of the cervix into the vaginal.
- Its shape and size varies widely with age, hormonal state and if a woman has had a vaginal birth.
- In non parous women it is a small circular opening
- In parous women it is wider
what are the fallopian tubes and their function?
what is the anatomy of the fallopian tube?
- Infundibulum – funnel shaped segment
- Ampulla – longest segment
- Isthmus – thicker walled segment close to the uterus
- The fallopian tubes are approximately 10cm in length and 1cm wide
- They run laterally from the uterus through the peritoneum
blood supply to the fallopian tubes?
- Blood supply is from branches of the ovarian and uterine
- arteries
- Blood drainage is via the ovarian and uterine veins
how do the fallopian tubes work?
- An oocyte is released from the ovary into the
peritoneal cavity - The fimbriae of the tubes drape over the ovary
- The oocyte is captured by the fimbriae and swept into the tube
- Cilia line the fallopian tubes
- The cilia move in a beating movement in the direction of the uterus to create current in the surrounding peritoneal fluid towards the ampulla
- The smooth muscles of the fallopian tube generate peristalsis movements which move the ovum along the tube towards the uterus
what are the 2 main functions of the ovaries?
Oogenesi:
- production and release of mature ova (egg)
Endocrine function:
- Secretion of hormones
-Oestrogen
-Progesterone
what is the basic anatomy of the ovaries?
- Bilateral, almond shaped organs situated laterally in the peritoneal cavity
- Measure approximately 3x3x2cm but size depends on age and hormonal status
- Double in size during pregnancy
- Smaller and then atrophic during / after menopause
what is each ovary divided into?
- An outer fibrous coat
- Cortex – contains up to 2 million primary oocytes at birth
how many follicles mature each cycle, and what happens to the others>
- Approximately 10 mature each cycle, only 1 becomes the dominant follicles
- The primary follicle becomes the Graafian follicle
- The other follicles close down Medulla
- The central part containing blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerve
what are the ovaries held by?
They are held in place by ligaments that anchor them to the pelvis wall and uterus. They are suspended in a double fold of the peritoneum called mesovarian.
blood and nerve supply to the ovaries
- Nerve supply to the ovaries runs with the vasculature and enters at the hilum
- Lymphatic drainage is to the lateral aortic and iliac nodes
- Blood supply is via the ovarian artery which branches form the descending aorta
- The ovarian artery and vein enter at the hilum
- Left ovary drains into the left renal
vein - The right ovary drains into the inferior vena cava
what is the pathophysiology of follicle development
- small groups of follicles mature under the influence of FSH after puberty.
- follicle develops from primordial f, to a secondary f and then 1 f becomes the tertiary or Graafian f.
- the Graafian f contains primary oocyte and fluid
- primary oocyte divides by meiosis to form secondary oocyte- released into abdominal cavity (ovulation).
- Graafian f ruptures and released oocyte is caught and transported to uterus
- tissue left from Graafian f forms into mass called corpus lute, this will persist if there is fertilisation and implantation, or regress into fibrous scar.
what is it like imaging the ovaries using ultrasound
- On ultrasound the ovaries look like elliptical / oval structures with an echogenic focus.
- During the early menstrual cycle, multiple anechoic follicles can be seen
