Test 3 Flashcards
The Pelvis
- The pelvis is a bony ring that is supported by the lower extremities and in turn bears the weight of the upper body
- It is made up of right and left innominate bones (pubic bone, ilium and ischium); sacrum; and the coccyx. The innominate bones form the sides and front and the sacrum and coccyx forms the back.
- The ischial tuberosities bear the body’s weight when in the sitting position
- Protects reproductive tract
Ischial Spine
- Ischial spine projects from the posterior border of the ischium
- The distance between the spines is the narrowest diameter of the pelvic cavity.
- Serves as a landmark to determine the degree of descent of the fetus during delivery.
The pubis is located
- beneath the mons pubis. In the middle of the two pubic bones are strong ligaments and cartilage to form the symphysis pubis
- has a little bit of movement, can seperate during birth
sacrum & coccyx
- The sacrum is formed by five (5) fused vertebrae. The upper anterior portion of the body of the first sacral vertebrae forms the posterior margin of the pelvic brim
- The coccyx is composed of 3 – 5 fused vertebrae and articulates with the sacrum. It projects downward and forward from the lower border of the sacrum
- can be broken during delivery
False vs. True Pelvis
- The false basin lies above the linia terminalis (inlet) and varies in size with different women
- baby can easily fit here
- The true pelvis – the inlet and below, resembles an irregular curved canal.
- much narrower, can the baby fit? may need C-section
Pelvic Diaphragm
- Made up of muscles and ligaments that stretch across the bones of the pelvic outlet.
-
The openings that must exist for the urethra, vagina and rectum cause an inherent weakness in the pelvic diaphragm. Provides the main support for the pelvic viscera
- incontinence is common when these muscles stretch out
Mons Pubis
(external Genitalia)
- a rounded, skin covered fat pad located anteriorly to the symphysis pubis
vulva
- Consists of the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and the urinary meatus.
- If said in the OR, typically talking about only the majora and minora
Labia majora
- lymphatic rich
- The outermost lips of the vulva; extend vertically from the mons pubis to the anus.
- protective
Labia minora
- The inner most lips of the vulva; they lie between the labia majora and extend from the hood of the clitoris down to the base of the vagina
- They cover to prevent bacteria
The fourchette
- a tense band of membrane, connecting the posterior ends of the labia minora
- This may rip during delivery or sometimes cut
Clitoris & Urinary meatus
- Clitoris – approx 6 X 6 mm – unaroused. Located below the clitoral hood, which is formed by the joining of the two labia minora.
- full of nerve endings
- Urinary meatus – approx 2.5 cm below the clitoris. The opening to the urethra
Skene’s glands
- situated posteriolaterally just inside the urethral opening at 5 and 7 O’clock. Produces a small and amount of mucus and is susceptible to gonorrhea.
- supposed to protect from bacteria
Bartholin’s glands
- at the base of the labia, one on each side of the vaginal orifice at 5 and 7 o clock
- Secretes clear, viscid mucus (during sex)(lube for sex) and is supportive of sperm (it’s alkaline)-can change environment of vagina. normally acidic
- Vagina is acidic normally. sperm is fragile and cant survive in that acidity
Vaginal orifice and Perineum
- Vaginal orifice – opening to the vaginal canal
- Perineum is the skin covered muscular area between the vaginal orifice and the anus
- Note: When they want perineal prep it usually means all of vagina
Vagina
- Tubular structure in front of rectum and behind bladder and urethra that connects the internal and external genitalia
- Serves as a route for discharge of menses and other secretions
- Thin walled collapsible tube that is capable of great distention
- angled
- has rugae
Recesses formed around the protruding cervix are called:
- fornixes:
- Anterior
- Posterior (the deepest)
- Right
- Left
- circufrential
Vaginal Fluids
- Vaginal fluid is normal and cleanses the vaginal. May contain bacteria, parasites or neoplastic cells
- Usually the vaginal environment is acidic due to the normal flora.
- Change in the environment may cause it to be susceptible to infection
- ex: antibiotics and let yeast grow
- period
- pregnancy
- birth control pills
- diabetes
Uterus
- A flattened, hollow, thick walled muscular organ. Never pregnant uterus is about 60g. (2oz)
- Three parts:
- Fundus = the portion above the insertion of the fallopian tubes.
- Body (Corpus) and Isthmus = the portion between the fundus and the cervix.
- Cervix = the lower, narrowed part
Uterine Canals
- Two cavities:
- Uterine
- Cervical
Uterine wall is composed of three layers
- Endometrium
- innermost layer
- has 2 layers
- basal layer- regenerates superficial layer
- superficial layer-sloughed off during period
- Myometrium
- muscular layer with
- oblique fibers
- circular fibers
- longitudinal fibers
- helps push baby out and contracts to help with bleeding after.
- muscular layer with
- Perimetrium (Parietal peritoneum)
Cervix
- The lowermost portion of the uterus, divided into the supravaginal portion and the vaginal portion
- External Os (mouth)
- Internal Os
- Most significant characteristic is its ability to stretch
- dirty
- fibrous tissue, white
Cervical Epithelium
- Exocervix – stratified squamous epithelium
- Endocervix – columnar epithelium- just past inside openings
- Hormones and acid in vagina – transforms columnar epithelium to squamous epithelium – Transformation zone cells are more likely to become cancerous
Uterine Location and Position
- Uterine location – in the true pelvis behind the symphysis pubis and bladder and in front of rectum
- Position – Anteverted and anteflexed
Uterine anteversion and anteflexion
- Anteverted and anteflexed (tipped and bent forward). Corpus lying over posterior wall of bladder. Cervix is directed downward and backward toward sacrum, so cervix is approx at a right angle to vagina.
Alterations in Position (Uterus)
- abnormal anatomy
- problem getting pregnant or keeping the baby
Uterine Ligaments
- Broad ligaments
- Round ligaments
- Cardinal ligaments
- Uterosacral ligaments
Paired Broad Ligaments
- are double folds of peritoneum that extend winglike from the
- sides of the uterus to the pelvic walls. It is further divided into the
- Mesosalpinx (immediately below the fallopian tube);
- Mesoovarium (immediately above the ovary); and the
- Mesometrium (below the ovary).
Paired round ligaments
- smooth muscle and connective tissue between the layers of the broad ligament. They extend from the upper outer angles formed where the fallopian tube join the uterine corpus, through the inguinal canals and ending in the labia majora.
Cardinal Ligaments
- The denser connective tissue of the lower portion of the broad ligament is known as the cardinal (transverse or Mackenrodt’s) ligament
- wrap around bladder
Uterosacral Ligaments
- Two uterosacral ligaments are cordlike folds of peritoneum extending from the supravaginal cervix to the fascia over the 2nd and 3rd sacral vertebrae passing on each side of the rectum.
- Maintains traction of the cervix
Cul-de-sac (of Douglas)
- The cul-de-sac is the lowest part of the abdominal cavity and collects blood, pus, or other drainage and can be reached through the posterior fornix
uterine artery
- Vaginal branch
- Uterine body branch
- Fallopian tube branch
- Ovarian branch
Functions of uterus
- Rejuvenation of endometrium
- Pregnancy
- Labor
(all about reproduction)
Fallopian Tubes
- Pair of slender, cylindrical structures attached to the uterus at the cornua
- Muscles
- Inner = circular
- Outer = longitudinal
- Mucosa
- Ciliated and secretory columnar cells.–to push egg towards uterus
- just a transport tube
- fertilization occurs here
Fallopian Segments
- Four distinctive segments:
- infundibulum
- ampulla
- isthmus
- interstitial part
Infundibulum
- the most distal portion. It’s funnel shaped opening is encircled with fimbriae. Fimbriae become swollen and erectile at ovulation and “sweep” up the ovum after ovulation
Ampulla
- distal and middle segment – this is where fertilization occurs
Isthmus
- proximal to ampulla, small and firm, similar to round ligament
Interstitial
- portion passes through myometrium between the fundus and body of uterus and has the smallest lumen – less than 1mm
Ovaries
- The gonads (female sex organs) One located on each side of the uterus, below and behind the fallopian tubes
- Large almond size and shape. Whitish, rounded but flattened – approx 3g (usually easily identifiable)
- The ovaries store the ova and also produce the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Function of Ovaries
- Ovulation and hormone production
- At birth ovaries contain thousands of primordial ova.
- you are born with all the eggs you’re going to have
Corpus Albicans
- associsted with higher incidence of ovarian cancer if you have a higher number of these scars
Structure of the Ovary
- Composed of two layers around a central zone
- Inner medulla – highly vascular with supporting connective tissue
- Outer cortex – the location of the epithelial follicles which contains the oocytes (immature ova)
Supporting Structures of Ovary
- Ovarian Ligament- to ovary
- Suspensory Ligament- attavhes ovary to side wall
- ovaries are on the posterior side of the broad ligament
Bladder and Urethra
- The urethra and its orifice lie in close proximity to the external reproductive anatomy
- The bladder lies anterior and “lies” on top of the cervix and vagina.
- most of the time we need to drain the bladder
Ureters
- Pass just behind the ovarian blood vessels close to fallopian tubes and in front of the uterine blood vessels. Ureters must be identified and preserved during pelvic surgery
- travels through broad ligament
- need to watch it paristalse
- artery will pulsate
- vein will do nothing
Menstrual Cycle
- Normal control of the cycle results from interactions among the CNS, hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, ovaries, and associated target tissues
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- FSH
- LH
Estrogens
- Sexual maturation, skeletal growth, fat distribution
- Ovulation, implantation, pregnancy, parturition
- Development, maintenance of female accessory organs
- Cell division in the breasts and endometrium
- Maintain skin and blood vessels
- Decrease bone resorption
- Increase HDL, triglycerides; decrease LDL, cholesterol
- Sodium and water retention
Progesterones
- Maintain pregnancy
- Breast and endometrium development
- Decrease sodium reabsorption
- Increase body temperature
- Smooth muscle relaxation
The Menstrual cycle and hormones
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus begins the cycle
- GnRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
- FSH stimulates development of follicle cell layers
- This is the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle
- the developing follicle produces estrogen
- Estrogen decreases FSH release; LH increases
- Only the strongest follicles survive the drop in FSH
- Follicles continue to make estrogen
- Estrogen now stimulates LH release from the anterior pituitary
- LH stimulates the mature follicle to burst
- LH surge causes release of the egg = ovulation
- Follicle cells become corpus luteum, producing progesterone
- This is called the luteal phase of the cycle
- Progesterone prepares the body for pregnancy
- If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum replaced by corpus albicans
- The drop in progesterone tells the hypothalamus to secrete GnRH and begin a new cycle.
Pap Smear Classifications
True or False? The suspensory ligament supports the uterus in place.
- False The suspensory ligament (infundibulopelvic ligament) supports the ovary.
True or False? The myometrial layer has a basal layer and a superficial layer.
False
The endometrial layer has a basal and superficial layer
True or False? The ovary continues to produce eggs as we mature.
- False
- The ovary matures eggs that are already in the ovary at birth.
Which of the following glands produces lubricant to aid in sexual activity and reproduction? A. Skene’s gland B. Bartholin’s gland
B. Bartholin’s gland
The gland produces lubricant that aids in intercourse and creating an alkaline environment for sperm
True or False? The uterus has two separate canals?
- True
- The uterus has the uterine canal and the cervical canal
Which ligament supports the uterine body by securing it to the abdominal side wall?
A. Round ligament
B. Broad ligament
C. Cardinal ligament
D.Uterosacral ligament
- B. Broad ligament
Which ligament supports the uterine body by travelling through the inguinal canal and attaching to the labia majora?
Round ligament
Broad ligament
Cardinal ligament
Uterosacral ligament
- A. Round Ligament
What structure runs through the broad ligament and must be protected whenever we are working in the pelvis?
- Ureter
Which hormone slows the release of FSH?
A. LH
B. Estrogen
C. Progesterone
D.GnRH
- B. Estrogen
- Rationale: Estrogen, produced by the developing follicle, decreased FSH release (which only the strongest follicles will be able to survive). The remaining follicles continue to produce estrogen, which will stimulate the pituitary gland to release LH
Progesterone maintains pregnancy but also has many of the following local effects on the body. Which is NOT true?
A. Increase in basal body temperature
B. Decrease in absorption of sodium
C. Increase in secretion of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex
D. Relaxation of smooth muscle
- B. Decrease in absorption of sodium
Uterine Artery
PREGNANCY
- Definition–The condition of carrying an embryo in the uterus.\
- Duration in humans
- approx 282 days, according to Taber’s which is approx. 9.3 months
- 38 weeks = Term, and 39-40 weeks is not unusual…..
Risk Factors- pregnancy
- High risk pregnancy
- Teenage pregnancy
- might have no prenatal care
- no family support
- body not muture fully
- Pregnancy after menopause
- sometimes the body goes haywire and releases an egg. need hormone replacement if this happens
Labor
- The process by which the fetus is expelled from the uterus into the vagina and then outside the body.
- It is characterized by uterine contractions that occur at decreasing intervals with increasing intensity, causing dilation of the cervix.
- Three Stages