REVIEW OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Flashcards
An important landmark
in measuring fundic height
Protects symphysis pubis from trauma
Covered with curly hair (escutcheon)
Mons pubis/Mons Veneris
Growth of pubic hair is stimulated by _____, while pattern of hair growth is governed by _____.
testosterone; estrogen
Are 2 thick folds of adipose tissues originating from the mons and terminating in the perineum.
Labia Majora
Main function of Labia Majora:
to provide _____ and ____ to the _________ located under it.
to provide covering and protection to the external organs located under it.
Are 2 thin folds of connective tissue that joins anteriorly to form the prepuce and posteriorly to form the fourchette (foorshet)
It is moist, highly vascular, sensitive and richly supplied with sebaceous glands.
Labia Minora
Highly sensitive and erectile tissue situated under the prepuce of the labia minora.
Clitoris
The clitoris is also known as the
“seat of a woman’s sexual arousal and orgasm”
The clitoris is supplied with many sebaceous glands that produce cheese-like secretion called ____.
smegma
Triangular space between the labia minora
where the vaginal introitus , urethral meatus , Bartholin’s glands and Skene’s glands are located.
Vestibule
Also known as vulvovaginal glands, paravaginal and major vestibular glands.
Secretes mucus that helps to keep the vaginal introitus lubricated.
Its alkaline nature enhances sperm survival.
Bartholin’s glands
A pair of glands also known as paraurethral and minor vestibular glands.
Situated at each inner side of the urethral meatus.
Secretions of the Skene’s and Bartholin’s glands increases with sexual stimulation to provide lubrication to the vagina thereby facilitating coitus.
Skene’s glands
Also known as introitus is the external opening of the vagina located just below the urethral meatus.
Vaginal orifice
The _____ or ____is a very sensitive area located at the inner anterior surface of the vagina.
Grafenberg or G-spot
A thin, circular membrane made of elastic tissue situated at the vaginal opening that separates the female internal organs from the external organs.
Hymen
Located just below the clitoris
Urethral meatus
The anterior portion’s nerve supply is derived from the ___ (and the posterior portion is derived from ___).
L1; S3
Blood supply to the vulva is provided by the _____ artery and ______ ______ artery.
pudendal and inferior rectus
A hollow, membranous and muscular canal, about 8 –
12 cm long, located in front of the rectum and behind
the bladder.
Vagina
Upper portion of the vagina is separated from the rectum by the
cul-de-sac of Douglas
Surface of the vagina is lined by
stratified squamous epithelium
The external opening of the vagina is encircled by the
________ that acts as a voluntary sphincter; _______ improves the tone of this muscle.
vulvocavernosus muscle; Kegel’s exercise
Innervation to the vagina is provided by the ________ or Lee Franken Hauser plexus and S1 – S3 nerves.
uterovaginal plexus
Functions of the vagina: (3)
− Organ of copulation
− Discharges menstrual flow
− Birth canal
Function is to allow the vaginal canal to stretch
during coitus and enlarge considerably during delivery.
Rugae
The cervix projects into the vagina forming four
recesses or depression around the vagina’s upper portion that are called ____, and posterior ____ (it is in this area that vaginal secretions collect and semen pools.
Fornix; fornices
• Vaginal pH
− Before puberty: vaginal pH is _____ (___ - ___)
− After puberty: vaginal pH is _____ (_ - _)
− Before puberty: vaginal pH is alkaline (6.8 – 7.2)
− After puberty: vaginal pH is acidic (4 – 5)
• Vaginal pH
− Before puberty: vaginal pH is _____ (___ - ___)
− After puberty: vaginal pH is _____ (_ - _)
− Before puberty: vaginal pH is alkaline (6.8 – 7.2)
− After puberty: vaginal pH is acidic (4 – 5)
With the advent of puberty, ovary begins to produce
increasing amounts of _____ which stimulates mucus
production in the cervix.
estrogen
Cervix mucus is rich in ______.
glycogen
Glycogen is converted to
lactic acid by _______ (a bacteria normally present in the vagina, making the vaginal environment acidic); this low vaginal pH helps control the growth of pathogenic microorganisms that may cause vaginal infections.
Doderlein bacilli
Glycogen is converted to
lactic acid by _______ (a bacteria normally present in the vagina, making the vaginal environment acidic); this low vaginal pH helps control the growth of pathogenic microorganisms that may cause vaginal infections.
Doderlein bacilli
Vagina
• Blood supply
− Upper portion: supplied by the ______
− Middle portion: supplied by the _____
− Lower portion: supplied by the _____ and ______
− Upper portion: supplied by the cervicovaginal
branch of uterine artery
− Middle portion: supplied by the inferior vesical
artery
− Lower portion: supplied by the rectal and
pudendal artery
• It is 2.5 – 3 inches long;
• 1 inch thick, 2 inches wide
• weighs 50 – 70 gms.
Uterus
Functions of the uterus: (3)
− Organ of ____
− Organ of _____
− Contracts to expel the ____ during ____, and to seal _______ after delivery of the placenta.
• Functions:
− Organ of reproduction
− Organ of menstruation
− Contracts to expel the fetus during labor,
and to seal torn blood vessels after delivery of the placenta.
Parts of the uterus: (5)
Fundus
Cornua
Isthmus
Corpus
Cervix
(a)Most muscular area of the uterus
(b)Thickest & most contractile portion
(c)Palpation of its height is used to assess uterine
growth, and during the postpartum period to
assess for uterine involution.
(d)During labor, ____ is palpated to assess
uterine contractions and labor progress.
(e)Ideal site for implantation of the zygote.
Fundus
(a) Areas of the uterus at which the fallopian tubes are attached.
Cornua
(a) Upper third of the cervix which is very thin, becoming prominent only near the end of pregnancy and during labor to form the lower uterine segment together with the cervix.
Isthmus
(a) This is the body of the uterus which makes up 2/3 of the said organ.
(b)It houses the fetus during pregnancy.
Corpus
(a)Chiefly composed of elastic
and collagenous tissues,
10% muscle fibers
(b)Contains many sebaceous glands that secrete clear, viscid
and alkaline mucus.
Cervix
Parts of Cervix (3)
➢ Internal os
➢ Cervical canal
➢ External os
Part of Cervix
opens to the corpus
Internal os
Part of Cervix
located between the internal and external os
Cervical canal
Part of Cervix
opens to vagina
External os
Layers of the uterus: (3)
Perimetrium
Myometrium
Endometrium
2 layers of Endometrium
Glandular layer
Basal layer
Composed of columnar epithelium; this layer peels off during menstruation and thickens during the proliferative and secretory phase.
Glandular layer
The layer adjacent to the myometrium and gives rise to the new endometrium after menstruation and delivery.
Basal layer
Uterine Ligaments (6)
(a)Cardinal/transverse – Cervical/Mackenrodt ligaments (2)
(b)Broad ligaments/Peritoneal ligaments (2)
c) Round ligaments (2)
d)Uterosacral ligaments (2)
e) Anterior ligament (1)
f) Posterior ligament (1)
• Lower portion of the broad ligaments.
• It is the main support of the uterus.
• Damage to this would result to uterine prolapse.
(a)Cardinal/transverse – Cervical/Mackenrodt ligaments (2)
• It supports the sides of the uterus and assists in holding the uterus in anteversion.
(b)Broad ligaments/Peritoneal ligaments (2)
• Connect the uterus to the labia majora.
• During pregnancy, these ligaments hypertrophies and
gives stability to the uterus.
c) Round ligaments (2)
• These ligaments connect the supravaginal cervical portion of the uterus to the 2nd and 3rd sacral vertebra, passing on each side of the rectum.
• They help keep the uterus in its normal position by maintaining traction on the cervix.
d)Uterosacral ligaments (2)
• Connects the anterior portion of the supravaginal
cervix to the posterior surface of the bladder.
• Overstretching of this ligament will cause the bladder
to “drop” and to herniate into the vagina (cystocele)
e) Anterior ligament (1)