Lecture 66 - Female reproductive anatomy Flashcards
What is the pelvis?
Pelvis is essentially the area between the pelvic bones.
What is the pelvic diaphragm (aka pelvic floor)?
Layer of connective tissue and muscle, mainly the levator ani, that separates the pelvic cavity from the perineum.
The pelvic floor is divided into two triangles. What are their names?
Urogenital pelvic floor and anal pelvic floor
In female reproductive anatomy, what structure externalizes through the anal pelvic floor?
The anus
In female reproductive anatomy, what two structures externalizes through the ureogenital pelvic floor?
The urethra and the vaginal opening.
What is the role of the pelvic floor?
Forms attachments for the external genitalia.
What is the shape of the levator ani?
U-shaped/horseshoe-shaped - Attaches high on the pelvic brim twice and forms a sling around the pelvic openings. (See slide 5)
What happens when the levator ani contracts?
Elevates the anus
The levator ani is comprised of three separate muscles. What is the one that we are focusing on?
The pubrectalis, which is the most medial of the muscles and forms a sling around the anal aperture.
What happens when the pubrectalis contracts? Thus, what is its role in fecal continence?
When it contracts it pulls that part of the gut tube forward and upwards toward the pubis, thus putting a kink in the bottom of the GIT. Thus, it helps stop the passage of the feces through the bottom end of the GIT.
Among other muscles, what muscle do we need to relax in order to defecate?
The pubrectalis
What is the name of the aperture in the pelvic floor that allows transmission of the vaginal opening and urethra in females?
The urogenital hiatus.
What is the name of the aperture in the pelvic floor that allows transmission of the rectum and anus?
The anal aperture
What is the membrane that is superficial to the pelvic floor?
The perineal membrane
True or false: the perineal membrane only covers the urogenital triangle of the pelvic floor.
True.
What is the space between the perineal membrane and pelvic floor?
The deep perineal pouch
IMPORTANT: What structures are contained within the deep perineal pouch?
External sphincters, made of skeletal muscle, associated with the pelvic viscera, ie the urethra and vagina.
What may injury could a woman suffer if labor occurs too quickly?
If labor occurs too quickly you can tear and rapture muscles of the pelvic floor.
What three structures may be damaged during childbirth?
Perineum, levator ani, and perineal fascia.
Which two muscle of the levator ani are often torn during childbirth?
Medial muscles of the levator ani: pubacoccygus and pubrectalis
What are possible consequences of serious damage to the muscle of the pelvic floor in women? (eg, after childbirth.)
Urinary stress incontinence, prolapse of the uterus, fecal incontinence.
What is the vagina?
Thick, muscular walled organ that facilitates development of the embryo and fetus.
What are the parts of the uterus?
Fundus (top), body, cervix (protrusion into the vaginal cavity)
What is the endometrium?
The inner lining of the uterus that supports pregnancy and is shed if conception does not occur during the menstrual cycle.
What is the cervix?
The inferior part of the uterus that opens into the vagina
What are the uterine tubes? (What is another name for them?)
The uterine/Fallopian tubes are the muscular tubes that go the fundus of the uterus to the ovary.
What are the parts of the Fallopian tube?
intramural part (the bit running through the wall of the uterus), the isthmus (medial bit), the ampulla (intermediate bit), infundibulum (most lateral, distended bit), fimbria (finger like projections above the lateral pole of the ovary)
What is the role of the fimbria?
Facilitate collection of the oocyte
What is the vagina?
Thick walled, muscular tube that serves as a passage for menses, birth canal, and receives penis and ejaculate during intercourse.
What is the fornix?
The spaces around the cervix but that are still a part of the vagina.