The uterus

Question 1

What is the uterus?

What is its anatomical position?

Answer 1

Thick walled muscular secondary sex organ (matures during puberty)
Responsible for maintenance and transportation of gametes.

Anteverted: rotated forward, towards the anterior surface of the body
Anteflexed: Flexed, towards the anterior surface of the body

Question 2

What is the structure of the uterus?

Answer 2

Fundus- top of uterus, above entry points of uterine tubes
Body- usual site for implantation of the blastocyst
Cervix- lower part of uterus linked with vagina

Question 3

What are the three most common dispositions are:

Answer 3

Excessively anteflexed
Anteflexed and retroverted
Retroflexed and retroverted

Question 4

What is the histilogical structure of the uterus

Answer 4

Inner layer- Endometrium
Middle layer- myometrium (smooth muscle)
Outer layer -peritoneum

Question 5

What are the five ligaments attaching the uterus to surrounding structures

Answer 5

Broad ligament- double layer of peritoneum. Uterus to pelvis

Round ligament- remenant of gubernaculum. Uterine horns to labio majora

Ovarian ligament- Joins ovaries to uterus

Cardinal ligament- Cervix to lateral pelvic walls

Uterosacral ligament- extends from cervix to sacrum

Question 6

What is the arterial supply of the uterus

What is the venous supply of the uterus

What is the lymphatic drainage of the lymphatics

Answer 6

Uterine artery

Uterine veins

Iliac,sacral, aortic and inguinal lymph nodes

Question 7

How is the uterus innervated

Answer 7

Uterovaginal plexus- sympathetic

pelvic splachnic nerves S2-S4- parasympathetic

affernent fibres- inferior hypogastric plexus (T10-L1)

Question 8

What is endometriosis

What are fibroids

Answer 8

Presence of ectopic endometrial tissue at sites outside the uterus. Still bleeds at menstruation

Benign tumours of the myometrium which affect 20% of menopausal women