reproductive anatomy Flashcards
narrowest point of pelvic inlet
between the ischial spines
features of male pelvis
oval and wide pelvic inlet
relatively wide pelvic outlet
relatively cylindrical pelvic cavity
wide sub-pubic angle
features of female pelvis
heart shaped pelvic inlet
narrow pelvic inlet
‘funnel shaped’ pelvic cavity, narrow sub-pubic pelvic angle
relationship of pelvic floor and perineum
pelvic floor is muscular
perineum is membranous and inferior
female pelvic floor features
- urethra and vagina pass through the urogenital hiatus
- levator ani and coccygeus muscles combine at the pelvic diaphragm
- levator ani partly attached to obturator internus muscle
features of perineum
- urogenital triangle covered by perineal membrane, membrane passes through pubic and ischial bones
- perineal body = mass of connective tissue at the edge of the membrane, attachment for perineal and pelvic floor muscles
overview of ovaries
- develop in abdomen and descend, covered by cuboidal cells
- rupture of Graafian follicle liberate ovum
- collected by uterine tube
Graafian follicle
after first meiotic division, before ovulation
large fluid filled antrum
(tertiary follicle)
uterine tubes features
- fimbriae of infundibulum are finger-like processes to catch the egg and surround the ovary
- engulfs ovum shed into peritoneal cavity
- ampulla is wide region
- ligament of ovary and round ligament of uterus support
alignment of uterus
anteflex uterus and anteverted cervix
broad ligament
several components
part of peritoneal fold
mesometrium, mesosalpinx, mesovarium
female ligaments
pubocervical
uterosacral
transverse (cardinal) cervical ligaments
female blood supply
ovarian artery from abdominal aorta
uterine artery from internal iliac (superior to ureter, supplies the uterus, upper vagina, vaginal branch)
internal iliac or branch of uterine artery forms vaginal artery
what is the pelvic pain line
above this all structures are covered in parietal peritoneum, sympathetic and visceral afferents (T12-L2), innervated by sensory fibres travelling back with sympathetic nerves
innervation to sub-peritoneal structures
pelvic splanchnic
parasympathetic S2-S4
visceral afferent follow along parasympathetic route
pudendal nerve
mixed somatic
back to S2-S4
sensation to perineum and distal vagina
perineal membrane in females
perineal membrane separates the superficial perineal pouches inferior and the deep perineal pouches superiorly
erectile tissue females
crura of clitoris and the body of the clitoris and the bulbs of the vestibule
bulbs of vestibule associated with
greater vestibular glands
mucus secreting
uterus structure
fundus at top
body
isthmus (neck at the base)
isthmus leads into cervix
male urethra features
common channel for urine and semen
spongy (penile), membranous and prostatic parts
penis features
three columnar masses if vascular tissue
corpus spongiosum and corpus cavernosum bound together by connective tissue
testis features
seminiferous tubules where spermatozoa are produced -> epididymus for storage
produces testosterone
vas deferens features
continuation of epididymus
turns through spermatic cord to reach prostate
joins the seminal vesicle forming the ejaculatory duct
prostate features
glands embedded in fibro-muscular connective tissue
urethra runs through
sequence of tubules in testes
seminiferous -> rete testes -> epididymus -> vas deferens
gubernaculum function
guides the testes to scrotal swelling
testis fascia layers
internal spermatic
cremasteric fascia and muscle
external spermatic fascia
testes blood supply
testicular artery from abdominal aorta
veins form the pampiniform venous plexus
testes surrounded by
tunic vaginalis
vas deferens features
- from mesonephric duct
- from tail of epididymus joins spermatic cord, enters the pelvic cavity by the deep inguinal ring
- joins with the ampulla of ductus deferens, forming the common ejaculatory duct which opens into the prostatic urethra
testes blood supply
artery to ductus deferens from umbilical artery
umbilical artery and superior/inferior vesicle arteries from internal iliac
venous drainage to vertebral venous plexus
prostate features
firm, muscular structure
directly medial to bladder
can be divided into lobes
male superficial perineum
superficial to perineal membrane
urethra, corpus cavernosum, crus of penis and bulb of penis
ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscle
superficial transverse perineal
male erectile tissue
crura of penis and corpus cavernosum
bulb of penis and corpus spongiosum
neuronal control of erection
parasym S2-S4 via prostatic plexus
muscles relax so more blood flow
dilation of cavernous spaces of corpora of penis
neuronal control of emission and ejaculation
sympathetic and somatic
emission = sympathetic innervation of smooth muscle surrounding vas defers, peristaltic contraction of ducts, stimulation of internal urethral sphincter
ejaculation = controlled by somatic pudendal nerve
blood supply to reproductive organs from
anterior trunk of internal iliac artery
blood supply to pelvis
from common iliac, branches into internal
internal branches into umbilical/obturator
umbilical artery
blood supply to bladder, through superior vesicular artery
obturator artery
adductor muscles of lower limb
male specific arteries
inferior vesicular artery supplies inferior surface of bladder, prostate and seminal vesicles
female specific arteries
uterine and vaginal arteries (vaginal can branch from uterine)
internal pudendal artery
another branch of internal iliac
supplies the perineum and external genitalia
