Female Reproductive System and the Breast Flashcards
What parts of the female reproductive tract lie in the pelvic cavity?
- Ovaries
- Uterine tubes
- Uterus
- Superior part of vagina
What parts of the female reproductive tract lie in the perineum?
- Inferior part of vagina
- Perineal muscles
- Bartholin’s glands
- Clitoris
- Labia
What muscle separates the pelvic cavity from the perineum and create the “pelvic floor”?
Levator Ani
What covers the superior aspect of the pelvic organs?
draping of parietal peritoneum from abdomen
The inferior parietal peritoneum forming a roof over the superior pelvic organs creates pouches. What are these called in both the female AND in the male?
Female
vesico-uterine
recto-uterine (Pouch of Douglas)
MALE
recto-vesical
Why are the pouches created by the parietal peritoneum clinically relevant?
- Excess fluid within peritoneal cavity
- collects within pouch of Douglas
- It is most inferior point when a female is standing
(recto-vesical for males)
How can excess fluid collecting in the pouch of Douglas be drained?
Needle drainage via the posterior fornix
What other areas may be sites of fluid collection in females if the Pouch of Douglas is not the most inferior?
Para-rectal fossae
All components of the female reproductive tract are considered “sub-peritoneal” except what structure?
Uterine tubes (intraperitoneal due to broad ligament)
What is the broad ligament?
Broad ligament
- double layer of peritoneum
- between the uterus and lateral walls & floor of the pelvis
=> wraps around uterine tubes completely (except fimbrae)
What is the function of the broad ligament?
helps maintain the uterus in its correct midline position
What is the round ligament?
- embryological remnant from when testes/ovaries descend from posterior abdominal wall
- attaches to the lateral aspect of the uterus
- passes through deep inguinal ring
- attaches to the superficial female perineum
What are the 3 layers of the uterus?
perimetrium
myometrium
endometrium
What is the function of the muscle in the myometrium?
- allow uterus to tretch during pregnancy
- allow contractions during labour and cramping
Where must an ovum implant in the uterus, and what complication arises if not?
- implantation of zygote in BODY of uterus
- implantation anywhere else = ectopic pregnancy
What is the most common location of ectopic pregnancy?
In the uterine tubes
Ectopic pregnancies in the abdominal cavity may actually survive. TRUE/FALSE?
TRUE
- depending on where the ovum implants and the placenta grows
How can ectopic pregnancies end up in the abdominal cavity?
Ovum is released from ovary into peritoneal cavity and if not picked up by fimbrae on end of uterine tube, then can become fertilised/implant in abdomen
What are the 3 layers of support which hold the uterus in position?
- Strong ligaments (e.g. uterosacral ligaments - these extend from cervix to sacrum)
- endopelvic fascia
- muscles of the pelvic floor (e.g. levator ani)
Weakness of the uterine support can cause what?
uterine prolapse
=> movement of the uterus inferiorly
Describe the NORMAL position of the uterus and what these terms actually mean?
- Anteverted and anteflexed (lies on superior bladder)
- Anteverted
cervix angled anteriorly relative to axis of vagina - Anteflexed
uterus angled anteriorly relative to axis of cervix
It is a normal variant for the uterus to appear retroverted and retroflexed. What does this mean?
Retroverted
cervix angled posteriorly relative to the axis of the vagina
Retroflexed
uterus angled posteriorly relative to the axis of the cervix
Why must a speculum be used in a cervical smear examination?
The walls of the vagina are usually collapsed
=> this holds them open to allow cervix to be viewed adequately
What part of the cervix is aiming to be sampled in a cervical smear and how can this area be iidentified on examination?
squamo-columnar junction (transformation zone)
- sampled due to the potential of metaplastic change
- different epitheliums appear different colours (lighter and darker => this is area to sample)
Salpinx is Greek for what?
Tube => Salpingectomy is removal of uterine tube