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Reproductive systems > The female reproductive system > Flashcards

The female reproductive system Flashcards

1
Q

Why do women get sharp pain at ovulation?

A
  • Ovum ruptures capsule of ovary
  • This is a traumatic process
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2
Q

What protects us from ovarian cancer?

A
  • Anything that stops us from ovulating e.g. pregnancy, breastfeeding, contraception
  • Release of ovum causes damage to ovary, making cancer more likely
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3
Q

What is an ovarian cyst?

A
  • Fluid filled swelling of ovary
  • Can be benign or malignant
  • Vary massively in size
  • Cystic ovary ca twist, resulting in torsion
  • Don’t want cyst to burst - if it’s cancerous it can seed woman with cancer cells
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4
Q

What are the labia majora?

A
  • Prominent folds of tissue extending from mons pubis to perineum
  • Has same origins as male scrotum
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5
Q

What are the labia minora?

A
  • Lesser folds extending from clitoral hood to posterior aspect of vagina
  • Formed by urethral folds
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6
Q

What is the clitoris?

A
  • Collection of nerve endings in anterior portion of external genitalia of women
  • Develops from genital tubercle
  • Site of sexual pleasure
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7
Q

What is the perineum?

A
  • Portion of skin and muscle that stretches between vagina and anus
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8
Q

Describe the anatomical location of the vagina

A
  • Extends from external genitalia to cervix in an superior-posterior direction
  • Urethra and bladder sit anterior
  • Rectum sits posterior
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9
Q

What are the functions of the vagina?

A
  • Facilitates childbirth
  • Intercourse
  • Can expand drastically due to muscular walls and rugae
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10
Q

Describe the lining of the vagina

A
  • Stratified squamous epithelium
  • Glycogen-rich - provides nutrients for lactobacilli
  • Lactobacilli metabolise glycogen to lactic acid to keep pH of vagina low
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11
Q

What is a fornix?

A
  • Where cervix protrudes into vagina
  • Leaves a circular gutter between walls of vagina and cervix
  • Split into anterior, posterior, left and right fornix
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12
Q

What is the cervix?

A
  • Narrow channel connecting vagina to uterus
  • External os is opening to vagina
  • Internal os is opening to uterus
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13
Q

What happens to the cervix during childbirth?

A
  • Cervix stretches to 10 cm wide
  • External os does not return to ‘pinpoint’ appearance following childbirth
  • Appears more linear in shape
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14
Q

What is cervical ectropian?

A
  • Columnar epithelium of the inside of the cervix is shown externally
  • Can occur due to taking combined oral contraceptive pill or due to normal hormonal changes
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15
Q

What could be seen on the cervix that indicates cervical cancer?

A
  • Pale tissue
  • New blood vessel formation
  • Some ulceration
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16
Q

Describe the anatomical location of the uterus

A
  • Lies in the pelvis
  • Superior to vagina
  • Posterosuperior to bladder
  • Anterior to rectum
  • Ovaries sit superolateral to uterus
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17
Q

What is the name of the potential space between the uterus and the rectum?

A
  • Rectouterine pouch or pouch of Douglas
  • Important anatomical landmark because any free fluid in the peritoneum will sit here
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18
Q

What are the two components of the wall of the uterus?

A
  • Myometrium
  • Endometrium
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19
Q

What is the function of the myometrium?

A
  • Muscular component of uterine wall
  • Contracts during childbirth and shedding of the uterine lining during periods
20
Q

What is the function of the endometrium?

A
  • Proliferates, forming lining of womb for an embryo to embed in
21
Q

What are the 3 axes of the female reproductive tract?

A
  • Axis of vagina
  • Axis of cervix
  • Axis of uterine body
  • 2 angles exist between the axes, maintained by the round ligament
22
Q

Where does the angle of -version exist?

A
  • Between axis of vagina and axis of cervix
  • If angle is <180o, the cervix is antiverted
  • If angle is >180o, the cervix is retroverted
23
Q

Where does the angle of -flexion exist?

A
  • Between axis of cervix and axis of uterus
  • If angle <180o, uterus is antiflexed
  • If angle >180o, uterus is retroflexed
24
Q

What is the function of the fallopian tubes?

A
  • Transport ovum from ovary to uterus
  • Transport sperm from uterus to meet ovum ready for fertilisation
  • Tubes contract by peristalsis to move ovum towards uterus
  • Cilia help waft ovum and sperm
25
Q

Why is it important to remember that the fallopian tubes are not attached to the ovary?

A
  • Ovum could be released from ovary but not reach fallopian tube
  • Can embed elsewhere in the abdomen
  • Creates a gap in the peritoneum
26
Q

What are the 4 parts of the fallopian tube?

A
  1. Fimbriae - finger like projections that act as a funnel to make sure the ovum ends up in the fallopian tube
  2. Infundibulum - first part of fallopian tube that ovum enters
  3. Ampulla - middle part of tube
  4. Isthmus - point of attachment to uterus
27
Q

Where does ectopic pregnancy most commonly occur?

A
  • Ampulla of fallopian tube
28
Q

Why is ectopic pregnancy so dangerous?

A
  • Embryo ruptures fallopian tube and cause severe internal bleeding
  • Can lead to fertility issues, miscarriage and death of the mother (if bleeding isn’t treated)
29
Q

What are the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy?

A
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Bleeding can lead to shock, tachycardia, hypotension
  • Shoulder tip pain
30
Q

Why does ectopic pregnancy cause shoulder tip pain?

A
  • Blood irritates diaphragm
  • Causes referred pain in dermatome of phrenic nerve roots
  • C2, C3, C4
31
Q

How do we rule out ectopic pregnancy?

A
  • In any woman of child-bearing age
  • Pregnancy test
  • Ultrasound scan
32
Q

What is the function of the ovaries?

A
  • Storage and maturation site for oocyte
  • Produce oestrogen and progesterone
33
Q

What helps the ovaries descend?

A
  • Gubernaculum
  • Ovaries stop descending in pelvis because developing uterus gets in the way
34
Q

What are the 3 main parts of the ovaries?

A
  1. Medulla (inner part)
  2. Cortex (outer part)
  3. Epithelium
35
Q

What is the role of the medulla of the ovaries?

A
  • Site of neurovascular structures
  • Supplies nutrients through blood to cortex
36
Q

What is the role of the cortex of the ovaries?

A
  • Composed of connective tissue called stroma
  • Contains thousands of follicles
37
Q

What is the function of the epithelia of the ovaries?

A
  • Simple cuboidal epithelium
  • Called germinal epithelium because it protects the germ cells
38
Q

Why is it significant that the ovaries are not covered by visceral peritoneum?

A
  • Means that an ovum could miss the fallopian tubes and be released into the peritoneal cavity
  • Peritoneum is a potential site for ectopic pregnancy
39
Q

What is the broad ligament?

A
  • Flat sheet of peritoneum that covers uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries
  • Runs from pelvic wall, across internal genitalia, and attaches to pelvic wall on opposite side
40
Q

What are the 3 divisions of the broad ligament?

A
  1. Mesometrium - portion surrounding uterus and external iliac vessels
  2. Mesovarium - projects from broad ligament and attaches to hilum of ovary. It encloses neurovascular bundle supplying ovary but does not enclose ovary itself.
  3. Mesosalpinx - encloses fallopian tube only
41
Q

Which structures are found within the broad ligament?

A
  1. Ovarian and uterine arteries
  2. Ovarian ligament
  3. Round ligament of uterus
  4. Suspensory ligament of ovary
42
Q

What are the 2 main ligaments that attach to the ovary?

A
  1. Ovarian ligament
  2. Suspensory ligament of the ovary
43
Q

What is the function of the ovarian ligament?

A
  • Attaches ovary to uterus
  • Fibrous band
  • Lies within broad ligament
  • Remnant of gubernaculum
44
Q

What is the function of the suspensory ligament of the ovary?

A
  • Extends outwards from ovary to lateral abdominal wall
  • A fold of peritoneum
  • Contains ovarian artery, vein, nerve plexus, lymphatics
45
Q

What is the function of the round ligament?

A
  • Remnant of gubernaculum
  • Attaches to labia majora
  • Passes through inguinal canal
  • Attaches to uterus at point at which fallopian tubes also join
46
Q

What are the main arteries supplying the female reproductive system?

A
  • Ovarian artery - arise directly from abdominal aorta
  • Uterine artery - branch of internal iliac artery
  • These anastomose across the uterus creating Helicine branches
  • Also branch to form tubal vessels which supply fallopian tubes
  • Vaginal arteries - branches of internal iliac arteries
47
Q

What are the main veins draining the reproductive system?

A
  • Ovarian veins
  • Left ovarian vein drains directly into left renal vein, right ovarian vein drains directly into vena cava
  • Uterus drains into uterine veins via a plexus in the broad ligament
  • Vagina drains via a plexus into vaginal vein
  • Both then drain to internal iliac vein

Reproductive systems (20 decks)

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