Vagina

Question 1

Roughly how long is the vagina?

Answer 1

9cm

Question 2

Anterior to the vagina is the _______

Answer 2

bladder and urethra

Question 3

Posterior to the vagina is the _______

Answer 3

rectum and anus

Question 4

Lateral to the vagina is the ______

Answer 4

ureters and uterine arteries

Question 5

What are the three types of vaginal fistulae?

Answer 5

vesicovaginal (bladder and vagina), urethroveginal, rectovaginal

Question 6

What are the four histological layers of the vagina?

Answer 6

stratified squamous epithelium, elastic lamina propria, fibromuscular layer, adventitia

Question 7

Which layer is the innermost?

Answer 7

stratified squamous epithelium

Question 8

Which layer is the outermost?

Answer 8

adventitia

Question 9

What protects the stratified squamous epithelium?

Answer 9

cervical mucus

Question 10

Oestrogen stimulates the epithelial cells to secrete _____

Answer 10

glycogen

Question 11

What is the role of glycogen in the vagina?

Answer 11

The glycogen is digested by the natural flora of the vagina to produce lactic acid, and maintain a low vaginal pH of ~4.5. This prevents infection by other organisms.

Question 12

Describe the elastic lamina propria

Answer 12

a dense connective tissue layer which projects papillae into the overlying epithelium. The larger veins are located here.
Together, the lamina propria and epithelium comprise the vaginal mucosa.

Question 13

What are the two layers of smooth muscle in the fibromuscular layer?

Answer 13

inner circular and outer longitudinal

Question 14

What is the role of the adventitia?

Answer 14

a fibrous layer, which provides additional strength to the vagina whilst also binding it to surrounding structures.

Question 15

What is the arterial supply to the vagina?

Answer 15

Via uterine and vaginal arteries, both branches of internal iliac arteries

Question 16

What is the venous drainage of the vagina?

Answer 16

vaginal venous plexus, which drains into the internal iliac veins via the uterine vein.

Question 17

Describe lymphatic drainage of the vagina

Answer 17

via the iliac and superficial inguinal lymph nodes.

Question 18

The parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves supplying the vagina come from the _________

Answer 18

uterovaginal nerve plexus

Question 19

The inferior part of the vagina is innervated by a branch of the pudendal nerve called the __________

Answer 19

Deep perineal nerve