Lecture 36: Female Reproduction I Flashcards
What is the female perineum?
the region inferior to the pelvic floor and between upper region of the thighs
What two triangles make up the female perineum and what is included in each of these triangles?
- urogenital: contains the external genitalia (vulva) and the openings to the urethra and vagina
- anal: anus and the fat tissue
The vulva is made up of what two things?
- mons pubis
- labia
What is the mons pubis?
the adipose tissue that covers the pubic symphysis
The labia consists of how many lip like structures?
2
What are the two labia called and where are they located?
- labia majora which is larger and more lateral
- labia minora which is smaller and more medial
What is the space between the labia minora and labia majora and that is associated with the vagina?
vestibule
What are the glands associated with the vulva?
the vestibular glands
What are the two vestibular glands? Where are they located and what is their role?
- lesser: open into the vestibule and their secretions lubricate the vestibule daily
- greater located deep to the labia and their secretions are released when the female is aroused to lubricate the vestibule and the lower part of the vagina
What is the only external part of the clitoris called?
the glans
What are the four parts of the clitoris called?
- glans
- body
- crura (x2)
- bulbs (x2)
What is the shape of the clitoris?
wishbone
Where do the crura of the clitoris sit?
close to the pelvic bone
What is the glans of the clitoris covered by?
the prepuce
The clitoris is developmentally homologous to the what in the penis?
corpora cavernosa
What are the 5 structures of the female reproductive tract?
- ovary
- uterine tubes
- uterus
- cervix
- vagina
What is the female gonad called and what process takes place here?
ovary
oogenesis
What are the three parts of the uterine tube?
- infundibulum
- ampulla
- isthmus
What two things does the uterus incorporate?
the fundus and the cervix
What are the four ligaments associated with the female reproductive tract?
- ovarian ligament
- suspensory ligament
- round ligament
- broad ligament
What is the most lateral portion of the uterine tubes?
infundibulum
What are the funnel shaped finger like projection associated with the infundibulum called and what is their purpose?
fimbriae
the purpose is to help collect up the oocyte to get it into the uterine tube
What is the middle portion of the uterine tube called and what is the significance of this part?
the ampulla which is the dilated area where fertilisation normally occurs
What are the two parts of the uterus called?
body and cervix
What two events occur in the uterus?
the blastocyst implants in the uterus and the uterus interacts with the foetal tissue to allow the placenta to develop to provide nourishment and support for the embryo and foetus
What is the purpose of the fundus of the cervix?
it is thick muscular tissue which contracts to help with the birthing process
What are the three layers of the uterus from the outer layer inwards towards the lumen of the uterus?
perimetrium
myometrium
endometrium
What is the perimetrium made of?
connective tissue
What is the myometrium made of?
smooth muscle
What is the endometrium made up of?
columnar epithelium, uterine glands and arteries
Which layer grows and sheds during menstrual cycle?
the endometrium
What are the two layers of the endometrium?
the outer (closer to the lumen) functional layer and the basal layer
What epithelium lines the endometrium opening to the lumen?
columnar epithelium
What are the three parts of the cervix called?
external os
cervical canal
internal os
What does the cervix produce and what is the purpose of this?
it produces cervical mucus and this is to protect the upper reproductive tract from infection and to allow the sperm to move up into the uterus, isthmus and ampulla
How does the mucus produced by the cervix change during ovulation?
it becomes watery to allow sperm to enter the uterus
Describe the vagina
it is a fibromuscular distensible female copulatory organ that also functions as part of the birth canal
Where does the vagina lie?
between the urinary bladder and the rectum and it extends from the perineum to the cervix
Why is it important for the vagina to be distensible?
to allow for the entry of the penis and for the baby to pass through
What are the three arteries that supply the female reproductive tract and what do these supply?
- ovarian arteries which supplies the ovaries
- the uterine arteries with the spiral arteries which supply the uterus
- the vaginal artery which supply the vagina
Outline the pathway of the ovarian artery
the ovarian artery branches off the abdominal aorta and it travels through the suspensory ligament into the ovary
Outline the pathway of the vaginal and uterine arteries
the common iliac artery branches to form the internal iliac artery and the uterine artery and vaginal artery branch off this into the uterus and vagina respectively
Describe the uterine blood supply
The uterine artery branches into the myometrium and then branches to form the arcuate artery. These branch to form the radical artery which extend into the endometrium to feed the basal layer of the endometrium as spiral arteries
What is the significance of the radial artery?
it coils during the menstrual cycle for blood loss during a period and to exchange nutrients and gas with the placenta during pregnancy
Where are the ovaries located?
lateral and posterior to the uterus in the lateral portion of the true pelvic cavity
What are the two regions of the ovary called?
- the outer cortex
- the inner medulla
What does the inner medulla of the ovary contain?
connective tissue, blood, lymphatics, nerves
Describe the production of the oocyte in the ovary including what occurs during ovulation
It begins as a primordial ovarian follicle which develops into a primary ovarian follicle then a secondary ovarian follicle then tertiary ovarian follicle. The tertiary ovarian follicle is filled with fluid with the oocyte inside. During ovulation, the follicle ruptures through the ovarian wall and the oocyte is released
What happens to the follicle after the oocyte has been released during ovulation?
it goes into the corpus lutem and then corpus albicans
What are the three parts of the peritoneum called and where are they located?
- mesometrium: laterally over the uterus
- mesosalpinx: folded over the uterine tube
- mesovarium: folded over the ovary
What is the broad ligament?
it is the peritoneum which folds and presses over structures to create other ligaments
Where is the ovarian ligament located and what is its purpose?
from the medial to the lateral surface of the ovary to help support the ovary to the uterus
Where is the suspensory ligament and what is contained within it?
From the lateral part of the ovary to the lateral pelvic side wall. The major ovarian artery goes into the ovary via the suspensory ligament
Where is the round ligament located?
from the anterior uterus to the inguinal cord
What is the function of the breast?
nourish infants with milk
Where do the breasts lie?
on the pectoralis major muscles
What hormones stimulate the development of breast tissue?
estradiol and progesterone
Describe the structure of the mammary gland
It is made of lobes embedded in adipose tissue. The lobes are formed from many lobules which are made of many alveoli. Suspensory ligament support the glands
Describe the production of milk and its pathway out of the breast
Milk is produced in the alveolar glands and it secreted into the lactiferous duct and then into the lactiferous sinus that open at the nipple pores
