Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the 4 elements of the female reproductive system and their components?
Primary reproductive organ:
- ovaries
Accessory ducts:
- uterine tubes
- uterus
- vagina
External genitalia:
- mons pubis
- labia
- clitoris
- structures of vestibule
Mammary Glands
What are the 3 functions of the ovaries?
- primary reproductive organs
- produce female gametes (ova)
- synthesize female sex hormones (oestrogens & progesterone)
What are the 2 female sex hormones?
oestrogene & progesterone
Where are the ovaries located?
- in a shallow fossa in an angle between the external and internal iliac vessels
Describe the anatomy of the ovaries (overview, layers, ligaments, vessels)
Overview:
- paired almond shaped glands (3x2cm)
- hilum on medial aspect of ovary (port for vessels & nerves)
Layers (superficial to deep)
- germinal epithelium (outer layer of tunica albuginea, cuboidal cells continuous with peritoneum)
- tunica albuginea (thin fibrous capsule surrounding ovary)
- cortex (external component of ovary, contains ovarian follicles & somatic cells)
- medulla (inner component of ovary, contains vessels & nerves)
Ligaments:
- Ovarian (medial attachment to uterus)
- Suspensory (lateral attachment to pelvic wall, conveys neurovascular structures)
- Mesovarium (suspends ovary between ovarian & suspensory ligaments; also forms part of broad ligament of uterus)
Vessels:
- ovarian arteries
- ovarian venous plexus into ovarian vein
- ovarian nervous plexus (CNX Vagus, SNS T9-11 & visceral afferents at T10)
- lumbar lymph nodes
At what spinal level does visceral afferent sensation from the ovaries enter the spinall cord?
T10
What are the 4 layers of the ovary?
(from superficial to deep)
- Germinal epithelium
- external aspect of tunica albuginea
- cuboidal cells
- continuous with peritoneum - Tunica albuginea
- thin fibrous capsule of ovary - Cortex
- external component of ovary
- houses ovarian follicles & somatic cells - Medulla
- internal component of ovary
- contains large vessels & nerves
What is oogenesis?
the selection of a dominant follicle from the cortex of the ovary (from primary follicle to secondary follicle to a tertiary / vesicular follicle)
What are the 3 ligaments of the ovary?
Ovarian:
- medial attachment to uterus
Suspensory:
- lateral attachment to pelvic wall
- conveys neurovascular structure
Mesovarium:
- suspends ovary between ovarian and suspensory ligaments
- forms part of broad ligament of uterus
Describe the anatomy of the uterine tubes / Fallopian tubes (structure, function, location & components)
Structure:
- paired 10cm muscular tubes
- run between ovaries and uterus
Function:
- receives oocyte from ovaries
- site of fertilization
- nourishes fertilized ovum
- transports fertilized ovum to uterus
Location:
- extend laterally from uterine horns
- open into peritoneal cavity near ovaries
- in upper free margin of broad ligament
- proximal 1cm embedded in uterine wall
Components:
- infundibulum (tunnel)
- expanded trumpet shaped opeing of tubes
- has projections called fimbriea
- opens into ampulla - Ampulla (flask)
- widest & longest part of tube
- site of fertilzation
- opens into isthmus - Isthmus (narrow passage)
- leading to uterus
- opens into uterine segment - Uterine
- short segment passing through uterine wall into uterine cavity
What re the 3 layers of the uterine tubes?
- Serosa
- tough external layer - Muscularis:
- longitudinal & circular layers of smooth mm
- peristalsis moves ovum through tubes - Mucosa:
- inner layer
- ciliated epithelial cells help propel the ovum
- non ciliated epithelial cells produce secretions that nourish the ovum and provide a medium for travel
Describe the anatomy of the uterus (function, structure, location & components)
Structure:
- flattened pear shaped organ located posterior t o bladder
- 8 x 5 cm
Function:
- womb (site for reception & nutrition of fertilized ovum)
Location:
- anterior to rectum & posterior & superior to bladder
Components:
- fundus
- body with cornu and isthmus
- cervix (neck)
Describe the 3 components of the uterus:
Fundus:
- superior component
- superior to entry of uterine tubes
Body:
- contains cornu and isthmus
- cornu (horns): where uterine tubes enter
- ishtmus: inferior 1-2 cm of body; continuous with cervix
Cervix;
- neck of uterus
- connects uterus to cervix
- has supravaginal and vaginal compoments
What is the cervix?
- the inferior neck of the uterus
- a cylinder shaped neck of tissue that connects the uterus to the vagina
What are the internal and external orifices of the female reproductive system?
Internal orifice:
- between cervical canal and uterus
External orifice:
- lower opening of vagina
(circular in women without children; transverse split after childbirth)
Describe the 2 ligaments of the uterus:
Broad ligament:
- double layer of peritoneum
- layers are joined at a free edge surrounding the uterine tube
- extends laterally to lateral pelvic walls and pelvic floor
- laterally: forms suspensory ligament of ovary
Round ligament:
- attaches antero-inferiorly to junction of uterine tubes & uterus
- exits pelvis and passes through inguinal canal
- attaches to tissue of labia majora
What is the arterial and venous supply of the uterus?
Arterial:
- uterine arteries and ovarian arteries (from internal iliac artery)
Venous:
- uterine veins and uterine veins, drain into internal iliac vein
What is the nervous supply of the uterus?
SNS: T2-L1-2
PNS: pelvic splanchnic (S2-4)
visceral afferents
What is the lymphatic drainage of the uterus?
a. lumbar and superficial inguinal nodes (drain uterine tubes and fundus)
b. external iliac nodes (drain body)
c. internal iliac and sacral nodes (drain cervix)
Describe the 3 histological layers of the uterus, and the histology of the cervix
Endometrium:
- double inner layer (functional layer undergoes cyclical changes and sheds during menstruation; basal layer has stem cells that form a new functional layer)
- mucosal lining of uterus
- simple columnar epithelum
Myometrium:
- thick muscular wall
- 3 layers (longitudinal, circular, spiral)
Perimetrium:
- outer layer
- visceral peritoneum supported by a thin layer of connective tissue
Squamo-columnar junction (Cervix)
- in vaginal portion of cervix
- transformation zone in puberty
- undergoes metaplasia due to hormonal influences causing changes in vaginal pH
- squamous cells replace single layered mucous secreting columnar cells
What is the squamo-columnar junction?
The transformation zone in the vaginal portion of the cervix
- in puberty undergoes metaplasia
- changes from single layered mucous secreting columnar cells into squamous cells
- change caused by changes in vaginal pH that occur during puberty
What is the vagina and where is it located?
- a muscular membranous tube 7-9cm long
- between the cervical canal of the uterus (superiorly) and the vestibule of the vagina (inferiorly)
- upper half: above the pelvic floor; lower half: within perineum
What are the 3 functions of the vagina?
- excretory duct for menstrual fluid
- inferior part of birth canal
- receives penis and ejaculate during sexual intercourse
What is the arterial and venous supply of the vagina?
Arterial:
- vaginal arteries, from uterine arteries, from internal iliac arteries
Venous:
- vaginal vein (from vaginal venous plexi along sides of vagina), continuous with uterine venous plexus
- drains into uterine vein then internal iliac vein
What is the nervous supply of the vagina?
Superior 3/4 (visceral component)
SNS: T12-L1-2
PNS: pelvic splanchnic (S2-4)
- visceral afferents
Inferior 1/4 (somatic component)
- pudendal nerve S2-4
What is the lymphatic drainage of the vagina?
- internal and external iliac nodes
- sacral iliac nodes
- superficial inguinal nodes
What is the arterial and venous supply of the ovaries, uterus, and vagina?
Ovaries:
- ovarian arteries (from abdominal aorta L2); passing through suspensory ligament
- plexus of veins around ovaries draining into ovarian vein
Uterus:
- uterine arteries (from internal iliac) and ovarian arteries (from abdominal aorta)
- uterine vein (enters broad ligaments with uterine arteries) draining into internal iliac vein
Vagina:
- vaginal arteries (from uterine arteries)
- vaginal vein (drains into uterine vein then internal iliac vein)
What are the 3 main arteries supplying the female reproductive system?
Ovarian arteries (gonadal arteries)
- from abdominal aorta L2
- supply ovaries and part of uterus
Uterine arteries (from internal iliac)
- supply uterus
- give rise to vaginal arteries
Vaginal arteries
- from uterine arteries
- supply vagina
What is the innervation of the female reproductive system?
Ovaries: (via ovarian plexus) - PNS: CNX Vagus - SNS: T9-11 - visceral afferents entering at T10
Uterus: (via uterovaginal plexus) - PNS: pelvic splanchnic (S2-4) - SNS: T12-L2 - visceral afferents
Vagina (superior 3/4)
- PNS: pelvic splanchnic (S2-4)
- SNS: T12-L2
- visceral afferents
Vagina (inferior 3/4)
- pudendal nerve (S2-4)
Which components of the female reproductive system are innervated by CNX and which by the pelvic splanchnic nerves?
CNX - ovaries only
pelvic splanchnic - uterus, superior 3/4 vagina
Which spinal levels does SNS innervation of the female reproductive system come from?
SNS T9-11: ovaries
SNS T12-L2: uterus, superior 3/4 vagina
