Lecture 13: Anatomy of the Female Reproductive Tract

Question 1

Where do the ovaries sit and what are they supported by?

Answer 1

In the ovarian fossa on the lateral part of the pelvic wall.
Supported by the suspensory ligament (which contains the ovarian artery and vein)

Question 2

What part of the ovaries is not lined by connective tissue?

Answer 2

The posterior surface facing the ureter where ova are released

Question 3

What supplies the ovary?

Answer 3

The suspensory ligament

Question 4

What ligament lies with the broad ligament and contains smooth muscle cells?

Answer 4

The ovarian ligament

Question 5

Where do the ovarian tubes run and what do they do?

Answer 5

Along the top of the broad ligament. They carry spermatozoa to the ovum and carry the fertilized ovum to the cavity of the uterus

Question 6

What is the mesosalpinx?

Answer 6

The part of the borad ligament that attaches the overain tubes

Question 7

What are the four parts of the uterine tubes?

Answer 7

1. Infundibulum (trumpet like with fimbrae. The longest ovarian fimbria attaches to the tubal end of the ovary. Deep within lies the peritoneal ostium
2. Ampulla (thin walled where fertilization generally occurs)
3. Isthmus (narrowest)
4. Intramural

Question 8

Where does the uterus lie?

Answer 8

Between the bladder (anterior) and the rectum (posterior)- forms the vesicouterine pouch and the rectouterine pouch

Question 9

What are the parts of the uterus?

Answer 9

Fundus, body, isthmus and cervix. The cervix has internal os and external os on either end of the cervical canal.

Question 10

What are the three layers of the uterine wall?

Answer 10

Endometrium, myometrium and peritoneum

Question 11

What are the main uterine ligaments?

Answer 11

Broad ligament
Uterosacral ligaments-
Round ligament of the uterus

Question 12

What are the components of the Broad ligament?

Answer 12

• Mesometrium – extending from the pelvic wall to the side of the uterus. Contains the uterine a. and v., ovarian ligament, round ligament of the uterus, uterovaginal plexus of nerves and part of the ureter
• Mesosalpinx – mesentery supporting the uterine tube
• Mesovarium – a fold of peritoneum which extends posteriorly from the mesometrium and mesosalpinx to the ovary.

Question 13

What is the vagina?

Answer 13

A fibromuscular tube lined with stratified squamous epithelium

Question 14

What angle does the vagina make with cervix?

Answer 14

It extends posterosuperiorly at an angle of 90 degrees with the cervix