Female Reproductive System Flashcards
Name the 6 main features of the Female Reproductive System
- 2 ovaries
- 2 fallopian tubes
- uterus
- cervix
- vagina
- vulva
Describe the ovaries
Dull white almond shaped structure, approx 4cm long
Paired organs either side of the uterus
Describe the positioning of the ovaries
Lie posteriorly and laterally relative to the body of the uterus and below the fallopian tubes, suspended within pelvis cavity by several ligaments
What 3 ligaments are the ovaries suspended within the pelvis cavity by?
- ovarian
- suspensory
- mesovarium
What does the ovarian ligaments do?
Anchors the ovary medially to the uterus
What does the suspensory ligaments do?
anchors the ovary laterally to the pelvic wall
What does the mesovarium ligament do?
suspends the ovary joint with the broad ligament and keeps it in place
The ovaries are the primary female reproductive organ. True or False?
True
What is the name of the female gamete produced by the ovaries?
Oocyte
What two female sex hormones do the ovaries secrete?
oestrogen and progesterone
How is blood supplied to the ovaries?
through ovarian arteries and the ovarian branch of the uterine artery
The ovary consists of two layer. What are they?
Outer layer - cortex
Inner layer - medulla
What is embedded in the ovary cortex?
Ovarian follicles
What do ovarian follicles consist of?
an immature egg (oocyte)
When the follicle becomes a ‘graafian follicle’ what does this mean for the oocyte
This is the follicle at its most mature stage that it bulges from the surface of the ovary
Define ovulation
Ejection of the oocyte from the ripening follicle
What is corpus luteum?
Ruptured follicle after ovulation that remains to maintain hormone secretion
Describe the uterine tubes (fallopian tubes)
Smooth muscle walls, approx 10-12cms long, lined with cilia and secretory cells
What do the fallopian tubes do to aid fertility?
They expand around the ovary forming the ampulla where fertilisation usually takes place and they receive the ovulated oocyte
Name the finger-shaped projections at the ends of the ampulla
Fimbriae
What’s the role of the fimbriae?
The fimbriae uses cilia to create currents to carry the oocyte into the uterine (fallopian) tube from the ovaries since they have no contact
What carries the oocyte towards the uterus with the action of fimbriae?
Peristalsis - wave-like muscle contractions
Ciliary action - movements of cells/organelles
Describe a non-pregnant uterus
located in the pelvic cavity - hollow, thick-walled organ located in the pelvis anterior to the rectum and posterior to the bladder
What is the fundus?
rounded region of the uterus superior to the entrance of the uterine tubes
What is the isthmus?
narrow organ passage of tissues between the body and the cervix
Explain the functions of the uterus
To provide suitable environment for the growth and development of the foetus and to assist in the expulsion of the foetus, placenta and membranes at birth
The uterine wall is composed of 3 layers. Which are..
1 - endometrium
2 - myometrium
3 - perimetrium
endo - inner
myo - muscle
peri - surrounding
What is the endometrium?
The mucosal lining of the uterine cavity - becomes the ‘decidua’ during pregnancy - where the embryo will implant
Why does the endometrium has numerous uterine glands?
They change in length as the endometrial thickness changes - e.g during menstruation
What happens to the endometrium during and after menstruation?
During - part is shed
After - a new layer is formed
Define the myometrium
Middle layer of the uterine wall of smooth muscle
Define the perimetrium
Outermost layer of the uterine wall, formed by peritoneum
Describe the cervix
Narrow neck which projects into the vagina, approx 2.5cm long
What is the important role of the cervix?
Protecting the uterus from infection
The cervical cavity communicates with…
1 - the vagina via the external opening passage
2 - the uterine body via the internal opening passage
What do the cervical glands secrete?
Mucus that covers the external opening passage and blocks sperm entry except during mid-menstruation cycle
Describe the vagina
thin-walled, hollow, fibre-muscular tube lying between bladder and rectum: directed upwards and backwards
The vagina comprises of 3 layers, which are:
1 - muscosa
2 - muscle
3 - fascia
The vagina extends from the vulva to the cervix, approx ..?..cm long
7.5cm wall length
The vagina is made of rugae. What is this?
rugae refers to series of ridges produced by folding of the wall of an organ
Describe vaginal rugae
The vagina is lined by moist epithelial cells, smooth muscle layer to maintain tone and ability to stretch during times such as sexual intercourse and childbirth
What is the urethra and where is it located?
The passage for urine, embedded in the anterior wall of the vagina
Where are vaginal fornices/fornix located?
(latin for arch) located at the upper end of the vagina, surrounding the cervix
What is muscosa?
Located near the vaginal orifice forming an incomplete division called the hymen
What is the hymen?
The hymen is a thin piece of mucosal tissue that surrounds or partially covers the external vaginal opening
What are the vaginal functions?
Passageway for menstrual blood flow, sexual activity and birth, prevention of ascending infection
No glands are present in the vagina…why?
Secretions from the cervical glands provide moisture and transudation of serous fluid from blood vessels
Describe the mons pubis
fatty pad located over pubic bone, skin and hair covered after puberty
Describe labia majora
two thick (outer) folds of fatty skin covered tissue
Describe the labia minora
two thinner (inner) skin fold, anteriorly encircles the clitoris, forms to prepuce and a smaller, lower fold called the frenulum just below the prepuce
Describe the clitoris
highly sensitive erectile tissue that host many nerve endings for sexual pleasure
What is the urethral meatus?
the external opening of the urethra which connects to the bladder
Describe the hymen
Thin membrane below the vaginal orifice, ruptures easily from tampons, intercourse and at birth
Where are the bartholin’s glands (vestibular glands) located?
Ducts which emerge from both sides of the vaginal orifice and inner sides of labia minora.
What do the bartholin’s glands do?
Mucus secretion to lubricate vulva - increased during sexual arousal
Where are the scene’s glands located and what do they do?
Located at the mouth of the urethra. Swell during arousal and play a role in female ejaculation
Explain the vestibule
Extends from the clitoris to the fourchette, therefore containing urethral and vaginal orifices and vestibular glands (skenes and bartholins)
Where is the fourchette located?
Where the labia minor joins posteriorly to the vaginal orifice
Where is the perineum located?
Extends from the fourchette to anus, covering pelvic floor muscles. Prone to tears in labour, or cut if necessary
What is the age range for puberty?
10-14
What is the age range for menopause?
45-55
What visibly appears during puberty?
hair and fat accumulates
Secretory glands become less active during puberty. True or False?
False. Become more active, more hormones to secrete
Labia majora and minora become pigmented with melanin during puberty. What is this?
Melanin is the pigment that gives hair, skin and eyes their colour
The clitoris shrinks during puberty. True or False?
False, it enlarges.
During puberty vaginal epithelium thickens and…
becomes responsive to oestrogen
How does vaginal pH decrease during puberty?
lactobacilli metabolise vaginal epithelium
What happens to the size of the uterus and cervix during puberty?
Uterus grows and cervix doubles in length
What is meant by epithelium?
The thin tissue forming the outer layer of a body’s surface
What is lactobacilli?
a rod-shaped bacterium which produces lactic acid which helps destroy pathogenic bacteria
Vaginal examinations can flag up issues of sensitivity, informed consent, privacy etc. What other considerations would midwives need to be mindful of before undertaking a VE?
- embarrassment/anxiety
- have they had a VE before?
- their age? particularly young, vulnerable?
- experience of sexual violence?
- childhood sexual abuse
- FGM
