The Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the main functions of the ovaries?
- Produce oocytes
- Produce oestrogen and progesterone
What are the 3 main components of the ovary?
- surface epithelium (cuboidal)
- cortex- contains ovarian follicles
- medulla - rich neurovascular network
Why do some women experience a sharp pain at the time of ovulation?
Mature follicle rupturing through the peritoneum capsule
Why do nuns get ovarian cancer?
- no contraception or childbirth means they have the maximum number of ovulations
- everytime a follicle ruptures it damages the epithelium of the ovary
What are the 2 ligaments that are attached to the ovary and where do they attach to?
- Suspensory ligament - connects ovary to pelvic wall
- Ligament of ovary- ovary to fundus of uterus
Label structures 1-6 of the uterus
- Opening of uterine tube
- Fallopian tube
- Fundus
- Body
- Cervix
- Vagina
What is the main arterial supply to the ovaries?
Paired ovarian arteries arising directly from abdominal aorta
What is the venous drainage of the ovaries?
Paired ovarian veins
- left ovarian vein into left renal vein
- right ovarian vein direct to IVC
How do nerves reach the ovary?
Via the suspensory ligament
How does lymph drain from the ovaries?
Lymph drains into the para-aortic nodes
What are the 2 separate epithlial linings of the cervix and what cells are they made up of?
- Ectocervix - (cervix that projects into the vagina) Stratified squamous non-keritanised epithelium
- Endocervix - (inner cervix) mucus secreting simple columnar epithelium
What is the transformation zone in the cervix and what is the clinical significance?
The transformation zone is where the endocervical canal and ectocervix meet
It is an area where malignant changes can occur
Label structures 1-5 on this diagram of the uterus
- Anterior Fornix
- Internal Os
- Posterior Fornix
- External Os
- Vagina
Label the areas of the fallopian tubes
How do fimbrae guide the egg down the fallopian tube?
The have cilliated cells that unilaterally beat to ‘catch’ the ovum as it is released from the ovary into the peritoneal cavity
How may the fallopian tubes become blocked and what is the clinical significance of this?
scarring from chronic infection (STI)
Can lead to infertility or ectopic pregnancy as ovum cannot travel down the fallopian tube
What is the broad ligament?
peritoneal fold that surrounds the uterus
What are the subdivisions of the broad ligament and what structures do they surround?
- Mesovarium - surrounds ovary
- Mesometrium- surrounds pelvic wall and uterus
- Mesosalpinx - surrounds fallopian tube
What is the route of the uterine artery?
Originates from the interial iliac artery and runs between layers of the broad ligament
Where is the vesicouterine pouch?
A peritoneal reflection between the anterior uterus and the bladder
Where is the rectouterine pouch or ‘Pouch of Douglas’?
Peritoneal reflection between the posterior uterus and the rectum
What is the clinical importance of vesicouterine and rectouterine pouches?
They can fill with fluid during haemorrhage or infection
What is the normal angle of the uterus?
Anteverted and Anteflexed
Describe some of the anatomical variations of the the uterus
- Anteverted- angle of anteversion <180º
- Retroverted- angle of anteversion >180º
- Antiflexed- angle of anteflexion <180º
- Retroflexed- angle of anteflexion >180º
Describe the microanatomy of the vagina
Thick stratified squamous epithelium with lots of glycogen
Glycogen helps lactobacilli grow keeping vagina acidic
Where does the round ligament attach?
Attaches uterus to labia majora
Label structures 1-9
