Female Reproductive System

Question 1

What is the abdominal-pelvic cavity?

Answer 1

Cavity that consists of the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity

Question 2

What is the pelvic diaphragm (or pelvic floor) and its role?

Answer 2

Muscular partition formed by the levatores ani and coccygei

May include the parietal pelvic fascia on their upper and lower aspects

Separates the pelvic cavity above from the perineal region below

Provides support for pelvis viscera (females)

Question 3

Where does the ovary develop from?

Answer 3

The gonadal ridge

Question 4

The ovary is fully enclosed by what?

Answer 4

Peritoneum

Becomes breached when the follicle ruptures = pain = parietal is somatic controlled

Question 5

What is an ovarian cyst?

Answer 5

Fluid-filled lesion

Benign or malignant

Pain = stretching of the peritoneum, rupture, torsion

Bloating

Question 6

Describe the structure of the uterus

Answer 6

Cervix – cervical canal running through centre

Body – superior wall is called the fundus

Uterine tube – isthmus, ampulla, infundibulum, fimbria

Opening of uterine tube

Question 7

What is the main part of the uterus that expands during pregnancy?

Answer 7

Fundus

Question 8

Outline the cervix

Answer 8

Fibrous structure

External and internal Os

No children = small external Os

Children = slit-like external Os

Question 9

What happens to the cervix under the influence of oestrogen?

Answer 9

It opens up

View epithelium lining cervical canal

Transitional zone = site where cervical cancer occurs (warty-like growths)

Question 10

How does the uterus expand as the foetus grows?

Answer 10

Fundus expands

Uterus goes as high as the xiphisternum

Question 11

What are some consequences mother faces due to foetal growth

Answer 11

Direct mechanical compression = reflux, constipation, incontinence

Hormones = relaxation of tissue = leaky sphincters

Question 12

Describe the anatomy of the uterine tubes

Answer 12

Fimbriae = waft egg to tube

Infundibulum = big surface area to catch the egg

Ampulla = site of fertilisation, common site of ectopic preg

Isthmus = Medial 3rd of the uterine tube

Question 13

If a young women presents with abdo pain what needs to take place?

Answer 13

Preg test = could be rupture ectopic preg

Question 14

What types of cells are present in the uterine tubes?

Answer 14

Cilia = wafting

Peg = secreting factors for maintaining the egg

Question 15

What is pneumoperitoneum?

Answer 15

Air within the peritoneum

Can happen during sex

Question 16

Where does the peritoneum sit in regards to the uterus?

Answer 16

Superiorly lays on top

Question 17

What is the round lig and lig of the ovary a remnant of?

Answer 17

Gubernaculum

Question 18

What is the suspensory ligament of the ovary?

Answer 18

Neurovascular pathway bulging into the peritoneum

Question 19

What is the role of the broad lig?

Answer 19

Double fold of peritoneum

Attaches the uterus to the pelvic walls

Question 20

What is the role of the round ligament?

Answer 20

Its role is to keep the uterus anteverted

Question 21

What is the ligament of the ovary?

Answer 21

Continuous with the round lig

Question 22

How does a neurovascular structure reach the uterus?

Answer 22

Runs between the double fold of peritoneum

Question 23

What is the Mesovarium

Answer 23

Double fold of peritoneum suspending the ovaries

Question 24

What is the Mesometrium

Answer 24

Double fold of peritoneum between the lateral pelvic wall and uterus

Question 25

What is the Mesosalpinx

Answer 25

Double fold of peritoneum hanging down from the uterine tubes

Question 26

What are the 3 division of the board ligament?

Answer 26

Mesovarium
Mesometrium
Mesosalpinx

Question 27

What is the angle of anteversion?

Answer 27

Angle between the cervical canal and vagina

less than 180 degree = antiverted

more than 180 degree = retroverted

Question 28

What is the angle of anteflexion?

Answer 28

Angle between the uterus and cervix

less than 180 degree = antiflexed

more than 180 degree = retroflexed

Question 29

What is the normal position of the uterus in regards to the bladder and what keeps it there?

Answer 29

Normal = antiverted and antiflexed

Uterus sits over the bladder

maintained by the broad ligament

Question 30

Blood supply to the female reproductive organs

Answer 30

Ovaries = ovarian artery

Vagina = uterine and vaginal arteries

Uterus = uterine artery (commonly anastomoses with vaginal and ovarian A)

Question 31

Roughly how long is the vagina?

Answer 31

10cm

Question 32

What cells line the vagina

Answer 32

Stratified squamous ep

Question 33

Why is the vagina full of glycogen?

Answer 33

Lactobacilli feed off glycogen turning it into lactic acid

Help maintain acidic pH

Question 34

Outline the anatomy of the vulva (external female genitalia)

Answer 34

Labia majora – enclose everything, protection

Labia minora – keep everything clean, protection

Glans clitoris – has a prepuce, homologous with penis

Urethra – exit for urine

Vestibule – where the vulva meets the vagina

Hymen – partial membranous covering of the vagina

Fourchette – dense tissue at the base of the vulva, can tear during childbirth

Vestibular gland – secretes lubricating substance

Para-urethral gland – secretes lubricating substance

Question 35

Outline 1st degree FGM

Answer 35

Removing the clitoris

Question 36

Outline 2nd degree FGM

Answer 36

Removing clitoris

Removing labia major/minora

Question 37

Outline 3rd degree FGM

Answer 37

Everything removed and sown up leaving a tiny opening