Lecture 27 & 28: Reproductive System Flashcards by megan lee

Difference between male and female reproductive systems

Relationship with urinary system: in males - both are physically and physiologically related due to urethra, in females - they are only anatomically related
Location: in males - most organs are outside of the pelvic cavity, in females - most organs are within the pelvic cavity
Relationship with peritoneal cavity: in males - abdominal pelvic cavity is closed, but in females - abdominal pelvic cavity is connected to external environment via uterine tube, uterine canal and vagina

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Male reproduction system

Includes testes, ducts (epididymis, ductus/vas deferens, ejaculatory duct), accessory sex glands (seminal vesicles, prostate, bulbourethral gland), penis, scrotum

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Testes

Formed within abdominal cavity near kidney during embryonic stage, and descend past inguinal canal into scrotum (outside the body cavity) to lower the temperature for spermogenesis
Spermatic cord forms by taking a layer of abdominal muscle
Has 2 borders (anterior/posterior), 2 surfaces (medial/lateral), 2 poles (superior/inferior); posterior end has hilum; superior pole has spermatic cord
Function: production of sperm and testosterone

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Internal structure of testes

Tunica albuginea: white connective tissue that surround the testes
Tunica albuginea sends septums into the testicles dividing it into lobules (250 per testicle) containing seminiferous tubules which create sperm

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Pathway of sperm

Once sperm are formed in testes, they go from seminiferous tubule to rete tetis to head of epididymis
Store up to 2 months in epididymis for maturation, then go to ductus deferens, and through spermatic cord with blood vessels (testicular artery), veins, nerves, and lymphatic structures

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Epididymis

6m muscular tube on posterior border of testes (which is only 2cm long)
Coils on itself
Sperm is delivered from testes to head of epididymis where it is stored for maturation, then goes to ductus deferens via tail of epididymis

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Ductus (vas) deferens

Long tube from tail of epididymis up inguinal canal into pelvis, across the ureter, to base of the bladder where it dilates (ampulla of vas deferens)
Then it narrows and joins seminal vesicle to form ejaculatory duct which pierces prostate on posterior side, and drains into prostatic part of urethra

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Seminal vesicle

Accessory gland
Secretes 60% of the fluid in semen
Longitudinal tube, accumulated behind bladder, coiled on itself
Between base of bladder and anterior wall of rectum
Forms ejaculatory duct with ductus deferens

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Prostate

Walnut shaped gland
Located between pubic symphysis and rectum (rectal ampulla)
Base associated with neck of bladder; apex sits on external urethra sphincter
Helps with production of semen
Can palpate prostate during rectal examination

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Bulbourethral gland

2 pea-shaped glands on deep perineal pouch of membranous urethra
Secretion delivered to spongy urethra in penis
Lubricates space within urethra and changes the pH of urethra to cleanse it from urine

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Penis

Consists of roof and shaft/body - both are erectile tissue
Within the root are 3 erectile tissues: crura (1 per side), bulb of penis (underneath external sphincter)
They are continuous in the body of the penis forming corpus cavernosum (continuation of crura; dorsal side) and corpus spongiosum (continuation of bulb; ventral side)
Bulb is covered by bulbospongiosus muscle
Crura is covered by ischiocavernosus muscle
Glans penis: expanded and most anterior part of corpus spongiosum, surrounded by prepuce (foreskin)
Tunica albuginea: layer of connective tissue that surrounds the body to keep everything in place
Spongy urethra passes through penis

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Female reproductive system

Includes pair of ovaries, pari of uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, external genital organs, mammary glands/breasts

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Ovary

2 small almond shaped organs on lateral wall of true pelvis
Has 2 borders (anterior/posterior), 2 surfaces (lateral/medial), 2 poles (superior/inferior); anterior border attaches to mesovarium and has hilum
Produces gametes (ovum), estrogen, progesterone
Surfaces are smooth before puberty, and rough after due to ovulation

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Ligaments of ovary

Ovarian ligament
Suspensory ligament
Mesovarium

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Ovarian ligament

Band of dense connective tissue

Attaches inferior pole of ovary to lateral border of uterus under uterine tube

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Suspensory ligament

Not a real ligament; elevation of peritoneum

Peritoneum passes over carrying ovarian vessels (artery, veins) to posterior abdominal wall

Mesovarium

True ligament
Extension of peritoneum that attaches anterior border of ovary to broad ligament
Double layer that allows ovarian vessels to pass through to hilum on anterior border of ovary

Uterine/fallopian tube

12cm muscular tube arising from close to ovary, over to the medial side to enter the uterus; 4 parts
Infundibulum: funnel shaped, faces ovaries, has finger like projections - fimbriae; ovarian fimbriae attaches to surface of ovary
Ampulla: widest part of tube (lateral 2/3); fertilization occurs here
Isthmus: narrowest part of tube (medial 1/3)
Intramural/uterine part: passes through wall of uterus

Tubal pregnancy

When egg stays in fallopian tube instead of moving to the uterus

Uterus

Upside down pear shaped organ in true pelvis between bladder and intestine
Fundus: upper round part; sits above entrance of uterine tube
Body: below fundas
Cervis: below body; contains cervical canal - connects to uterine cavity via internal os, and vaginal cavity via external os
Isthmus of uterus at level of internal os

Surrounds of uterus

Anterior/inferior: bladder
Posterior/superior: sigmoid colon and ileum of small intestine
Surrounded by rectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas) and uterovesical pouch

Uterus angle

Angle of anteflexion: angle between axis of uterine and axis of cervix
Angle of anteversion: angle between axis of cervix and axis of vagina

Supportive ligaments of uterus

To support the fetus
Broad ligament
Uterosacral ligament
Lateral cervical/transverse cervical/cardinal ligament
Round ligament of uterus
Pubocervical ligament
All ligaments except the broad ligament are true ligaments

Broad ligament

2 layers of peritoneum (not a true ligament)
Extends from lateral border of uterus to lateral pelvic wall and pelvic floor
Includes mesometrium, mesovarium, mesosalpinx
Mesometrium: attaches to body of uterus
Mesovarium: double layer fold attaching to anterior border of ovary
Mesosalpinx: between uterine tube and ovary

Uterosacral ligament

From inferior part of anterior sacrum and attaches to cervix of uterus and superior vagina

Lateral cervical/transverse cervical/cardinal ligament

Attaches to cervix and lateral pelvic wall | Supporting ligament

Round ligament of uterus

True ligament | Attaches to side of uterus under uterine tube, runs anteriorly through inguinal canal and attaches to labium majora

Pubocervical ligament

From pubic symphysis to cervix on anterior side

Vagina

Muscular tube connecting external environment to cervix Lateral fornix: between cervix and vaginal wall Posterior fornix: deepest fornix due to anteversion; reach the rectouterine pouch from here

External genitalia in females

Vulva/pudendum Mons pubis: round elevation in front of pubic symphysis Labia majora: 2 folds of skin covered by hair Labia minora: folds of skin not covered by hair Clitoris: equivalent to penis; continuation of labia minora forms prepuce; in front of vestibule Vestibule: space between R/L labia minora; contains urethral orifice, vaginal orifice, hymen (fold of skin at opening of vagina) Greater vestibular glands: equivalent to bulbourethral glands

Deep structures of external genitalia in females

Bulb of vestibule (2) equivalent to bulb of penis (1); vagina sits in between Continues to make the clitoris Crus of clitoris makes body of clitoris Covered by bulbospongiosus and ischiocavernosus muscles

Breast/mammary gland

Modified sweat gland Conical shaped structure in pectoral region at ribs 2-6 Nipple: tip of breast Areola: pigmented skin around nipple Breast is within the superficial fascia; under superficial fascia is deep fascia which covers muscles

Deep fascia of breast

Suspensory ligament: connective tissue that extends from skin to deep fascia covering pectoralis major muscle; supports weight Pulling on suspensory ligament gives orange peel appearance Divides glands into lobes which are drained by lactiferous ducts to lactiferous sinus, and milk accumulates in sinus to nipple

Hormones of breast

Secretion of milk controlled by prolactin | Ejection of milk controlled by oxytocin

Blood supply of reproductive system

Gonads (ovary/testes): testicular or ovarian artery Remaining internal/external reproductive organs (uterus, vagina, prostate, penis): visceral branch of internal iliac artery

Nerve supply of gonads

Sympathetic: lesser, least, lumbar splanchnic nerves via gonadal plexus Parasympathetic: pelvic splanchnic nerves

Nerve supply of remaining internal/external organs

Sympathetic: lesser, least, lumbar, sacral splanchnic nerves via inferior hypogastric plexus Parasympathetic: pelvic splanchnic nerves

Blood supply of breast

Internal thoracic artery Anterior and posterior intercostal artery Axillary artery

Nerve supply of breast (skin and smooth muscle)

Intercostal nerves