Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the primary organs of the female?
The ovaries
What are the accessory structures of the female repro system?
Uterine tube, uterus and vagina
Name the 3 parts of the broad ligament
Mesosalpinx (down from uterine tube)
mesovarium (ovary)
mesometrium (connects all to uterus)
What is the mesovarium also called? What does it contain?
Ovarian ligament
Contains ovarian vessels and nerves
Describe the round ligament of the uterus
Attaches to body of uterus and runs within broad ligament to the inguinal canal. Fibres eventually dissipate in the labia majora (comes anterior)
Where do the ovaries lie?
In parietal peritoneum of the side wall of the pelvic cavity between the internal and external iliac vessels. Close to the obturator artery
Where is pain from ovaries sometimes referred to and why?
If ovaries press on obturator artery the pain is referred along the medial aspect of the thigh
Other pain is to the T10 dermatome
Name the parts of the uterine tube
Fimbriae Ingundibulum Ampulla Isthmus Intramural
Function of fimbriae?
Guide the oocyte from ovary into the lumen of the uterine tube
What is polycystic ovary syndrome?
Cysts of many follicles developing at the same time, too much oestrogen is the released
What does nulliparous mean?
Of someone who has never given birth
Name the parts of the uterus
Fundus (superior to openings of uterine tubes)
Body
Cervix
Where does a normal uterus sit?
Facing anteriorly, antiflexion relative to cervix and anteversion relative to vagina
What is the internal os?
Junction between the body of the uterus and the cervix
What is the external os?
Where the cervix meets the vagina
What epithelium lines the cervical canal?
Simple columnar mucus secreting epithelium
What is the ectocervix?
The part of the cervix which projects into the vagina, covered by stratified squamous non keratinising epithelium (transformation zone)
When are you able to palpate the uterus in the abdomen?
By 12 weeks of pregnancy, just above pubic symphysis
When does the uterus reach the umbilicus?
By 24 weeks pregnancy
Where does the fundus of the uterus project at 36 weeks?
Xiphisternum
How long does it take the uterus to return to normal size after parturition?
6 weeks
What is different in a virgin’s vagina?
The vestibular opening is partially covered by the membrane of the hymen, with a small hymeneal orifice
What is the lymphatic drainage of the vagina?
Above hymen- nodes around internal iliac
Below hymen- superficial inguinal nodes
What may be palpated in a vaginal examination anteriorly?
The bladder and urethra
What may be palpated in a vaginal examination posteriorly?
Rectum, perineal body, loops of interstine
What may be palpated in a vaginal examination laterally?
Ovaries and uterine tube
Where does lymph drain from the uterus?
Fundus-> alongside ovarian vessels-> para-aortic
Body and cervix-> internal and external iliac
Where are the likely sites of endometrial metastasis?
Abdomen and local lymph nodes
Describe the nerve supply of the uterus
Uterovaginal plexus
Symp- T11-L2
Para- S2-S4
Pudendal nerve- lower vagina (symp+Visceral)
Only lower part of vagina sensitive to touch and temperature
How does pain from the fundus and body of the uterus travel?
Sympathetics, T11&12
How does pain from the lower uterus, cervix and vagina travel?
Parasympathetics-> pelvic splanchnic-> S2-4
What does the uterus look like in post-menopausal women?
Fibrosed and scarred, smaller
What is a bicornuate uterus?
Heart shaped uterus
Fusion of upper part of paramesonephric duct is altered in development, upper part is bifurcated
Name some sites of ectopic pregnancies
Cervix, vagina, uterine tube (95%), ovary, peritoneal cavity, abdominal cavity, broad ligament
How is an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed?
Vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, amenorrhea and shoulder pain sue to haemorrhage in abdomen
With a HCG test and sonography
What artery is found in the broad ligament?
Uterine artery
Anastamoses with ovarian artery
What is a cytosele?
When the bladder herniates into vagina (after childbirth?)
What is the treatment for a cytosele?
Surgery
Pessary (device placed in vagina to hold bladder in place, removable)
What is a pessary?
A removable device placed in the vagina to hold bladder in place
Treatment for a cytosele
What is the name for the female external genitalia?
Vulva
What is the labia majora?
Fold of hair bearing skin which join anteriorly in the mons pubis and posteriorly between vaginal and anal orifices
What is the pudendal cleft?
Lies between medial margins of the labia majora
camel toe
What is the labia minora?
Two thin folds of skin within the labia majora
What is the vestibule?
Area between labia minora’s inner surfaces
Urethral and vaginal canals open into it
What do the urethral and vaginal canals open into?
The vestibule
What is the clitoris?
Small body of erectile tissue anterior and superior to the urethral orifice, partly covered by the anterior margins of the labia minora
What surgery can be done in childbirth to avoid tearing?
Episiotomy
What is an episiotomy?
Surgical incision of soft tissue of vaginal orifice done during childbirth to reduce risk of tearing. Done before head emerges
