L2 - Defining the male and female reproductive tracts Flashcards
What does the reproductive system consist of
- Gonads - ovaries
- Internal ducts - Uterine/fallopian tube, uterus, cervix and vagina
- External genitalia - Vulva (clitoris, vestibule, labia)
Location of ovaries
- Housed in lateral wall of pelvis, inferior to pelvic inlet
Function of ovaries
- Egg production
- Hormone secretion
Blood supply to gonads
- Gonadal arteries and veins
Innervation of ovaries
- Ovarian plexus(abdomen)
Contents of the ovaries
- Ovarian cortex
- Ovarian medulla
What does the ovarian cortex consist of
- Ovarian follicles - germ cells to become ova
- Smooth muscle cells
- Corpus luteum - secretes progesterone
- Theca secrete androgens and granulosa convert to oestrogen
What does the ovarian medulla consist of
- Blood/lymph vessels and nerves
Ova travel path
- Exiting the ovaries, within the abdomen
- Fallopian tubes –> uterus –> cervix –> vagina
What are the fallopian tubes
- Passageway from ovaries to uterus (passage of ovum)
- Thin 8-10cm long tube
What are fimbriae
- Finger-like projections that capture released ovum
Divisions of the fallopian tubes
- Infundibulum
- Ampulla
- Isthmus
Function of the inner wall
- Inner wall contain cilia that propel ovum
- Normally the site of fertilisation
VAN - fallopian tubes
- Branches from uterine + ovarian arteries and veins
- Innervation: symp from ovarian (abdomen) and parasymp from pelvic splanchnic nerve
Uterus body - shape
- Cone shaped
- Upper 2/3rd
Uterus cervix - shape
- Cylindrical
- Lower 1/3rd
Significance of the uterus
Site of implantation of fertilised egg and foetus development
3 layers of the uterus
Perimetrium – outer serous wall covering the uterus
Myometrium – thick muscular layer, responsible for process of parturitium
Endometrium – inner mucous layer; site of implantation; thickness changes through menstrual cycle
Innervation of the uterus
symp from the hypogastric plexus (along uterine artery); parasymp via the pelvic splanchnic n. Note: also vagina
• Touch and Pain (birth): via somatic afferents to S2-S4
Internal ducts - vasculature
- Ovarian vessels
- Uterine vessels
- Vaginal arteries
- Internal pudendal artery
What is the broad ligament
- The broad ligament of the uterus is the wide fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis
Layers of the cervix
- Inferior portion of uterus; cylindrical tube
- Thick muscular layer - support developing foetus
- Lumen - cervical canal
- Constricted openings at ends(os)
Internal - communicating with uterus
External - communicating with vagina
Features of vagina
- Musculomembranous tube, 7-9 cm long
- Link cervix of uterus with vulva (vestibule)
Function of vagina
- Canal for menstruation; receives penis during copulation (semen); forms part of birth canal
External genitalia - female
- Mons pubis; labia minora and majora; clitoris; vestibular glands called bartholin
What does the labia minora enclose
- Labia minora encloses the vestibule (openings for vagina and urethra) and the clitoris
Functions of labia minora
- Labia – copulatory organ
- Urethra – outflow of urine
- Clitoris – arousal (erectile tissue)
- Bartholin – lubrication of vestibule
Blood supply/drainage - external genitalia
- Pudendal artery (erectile)
- Pudendal vein
External genitalia - innervation
- Branches of genitofemoral and pudendal nerve(eg dorsal nerve of clitoris
Male reproductive system - internal ducts
- Efferent ductules, epididymis, vas deferens, accessory glands(eg prostate), urethra
Location of testis
- Housed in scrotum
Function of testis
- Sperm production
- Hormone secretion
Blood supply/drainage - testis
- Gonadal arteries and veins
Innervation - testis
- Spermatic plexus
Contents of the testis
• 250-300 lobules, each with 4 seminiferous tubules: Spermatogenic – generate sperm cells Sertoli – support germ cell production • Leidig cells (interstitial): secrete testosterone
Structure of the spermatic cord
• Spermatic cord suspends testes in scrotum; contains
vas deferens
Blood (testicular) and lymphatic vessels
cremaster muscle
nerves (e.g. branch of genitofemoral)
• Enter abdomen via superficial inguinal ring (then canal)
• Deferens travels posteriorly, crosses over external iliacs and towards the back of bladder
• Joined by duct seminal gland => ejaculatory duct
Blood supply/drainage - Lower bladder and rectum
Lower bladder - inferior vesical arteries and veins
Rectum - Middle rectal arteries and veins
Seminal vesicles - innervation
- Symp innervation from the splanchnic and hypogastric plexus
- Parasymp from the pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-3)
Bulbourethral glands - location
- pea sized glands; a.k.a. Cowpers glands; located inferior to prostate; secretion assists lubrication of ducts
Blood: Inf vesicle + prostatic vessels (int iliac a)
Divisions of the male urethra
- The male urethra is about 20cm long having three parts. It passes through the prostate (prostatic urethra), deep perineal pouch (membranous urethra) and then through the corpus spongiosum of the penis (penile urethra)
