WEEK 9 Flashcards
What does the female pelvic viscera consist of?
ovary, uterine tube, uterus and cervix
and vagina plus urethra
What does the ovary look like? Where is it located?
almond-shaped structure, with one on each side on lateral pelvic wall in ovarian fossa between internal and external iliac vessels
- immediately medial to obturator nerve and thin wall of acetabulum
- hangs off posterior aspect of broad lig on mesovarium and supported by ovarian lig and suspensory lig (truly intraperitoneal)
What may central dislocation of the hip injure?
The ovary
What is the function of the ovaries?
- produce an ovum monthly in response to FSH and LH from pituitary gland
- also produces oestrogen and progesterone to maintain uterine cycle
What clinical pathology can occur as the ovum is secreted into the peritoneal cavity?
Ectopic pregnancy may occur in peritoneal cavity or in uterine tube
(i) What is at risk during surgical procedures on the ovary? (ii) Where can ovarian disease cause referred pain to?
(i) The ureter as it lies posteriorly
(ii) medial thigh since the obturator nerve lies laterally
What is the (i) arterial (ii) venous supply of the ovary?
(i) ovarian artery from Ao at L1/2
(ii) ovarian vein initially forms a plexus which coalesces into ovarian vein - the left drains to left renal and right to IVC
What is the (i) lymph drainage (ii) nerve supply (iii) referred pain of the ovary?
(i) para-aortic (lateral) nodes
(ii) sympathetic nerves derived from T10/11
(iii) peri-umbilical region
What are the various sections of the uterine tube?
- ostium surrounded by fimbriae (w/in peritoneal cavity)
- infundibulum
- ampulla (where fetilisation occurs)
- isthmus
- intramural part through uterine wall
Where does the uterine tube lie within the body?
in upper free edge of broad ligament (mesosalpinx)
What is its blood supply? Where is pain?
BS = anastomosis between ovarian and uterine arteries
- pain = lower abdominal
What is the function of the uterine tube?
fertilisation of ovum and transport to uterus
What is the uterus like? What is its function?
- pear shaped, thick walled, muscular
- central pelvic organ for implantation of fertilised ovum and growth of foetus and placenta
How is the uterus supported?
- levator ani, perineal body and membrane
- fascial thickenings on pelvic floor that pass from uterus and cervix to sacrum which are the supportive uterine ligaments
What are the supportive uterine ligaments derived from? Mention how the Tendinous Arch of Pelvic Fascia arises.
- membranous fascia that covers the organs (visceral) as well as pelvic floor (parietal),a s well as any intervening connective tissue
- visceral and parietal fasciae meet and fuse as organs pierce pelvic floor, forming Tendinous Arch of Pelvic Fascia, adjacent to organs and running from pubis to sacrum
What may weakness of ligaments and of pelvic floor muscles lead to?
prolapse
(i) What is the broad ligament (ii)What is the round ligament (iii) What is the function of these 2 ligaments?
(i) Peritoneum drapes over the bladder, then like a sheet over the uterus, uterine tube and ovarian ligaments to form the Broad Ligament from uterus to lateral pelvic wall
(ii) passes in broad ligament from uterus to deep inguinal ring and down inguinal canal to fuse with the labia
(iii) hold uterus anteflexed and anteverted over bladder
The cervix of the uterus pushes into the vagina forming anterior and posterior fornices, why are they important?
- they are distensible and foreign bodies may get lost
- peritoneal cavity may be accessed via posterior fornix
What should the relationship/angulation between uterine cervix to vagina and between cervix and body be? What happens to cause back-ache and difficulty in conception?
- should be anteverted and anteflexed
- retroversion and/or retroflexion
What 2 surfaces does the uterus have?
- vesical
- intestinal
What are the (i) internal features (ii) blood supply of the uterus and vagina?
(i) uterus has thick muscular wall and relatively narrow cavity. Vagina has distensible wall for intercourse and childbirth
(ii) by anastomosing uterine and vaginal arteries (vesical arteries are involved too)
What is the shape of the vagina? Where is it located within the body?
- angled up and back, passing from cervix to vestibule, between labia minora
- anterior and posterior wall are in contact with each other, taking an H shape
- lies anterior to rectum but behind bladder and urethra
Where does the ureter pass in relation to uterine artery?
- inferior to artery, adjacent to lateral fornicles
What is the arterial supply of the (i) ovary (ii) vagina (iii) urethra?
(i) ovarian artery from aorta at L1/2
(ii) superior vesical, vaginal, int.pudendal and uterine artery
(iii) vaginal and internal pudendal
** venous drainage mirrors arteries
What is the urethra like in females?
Many small mucous glands and lacunae, para-urethral glands and ducts near orifice
- passes through deep perineal pouch with external sphincter and then perineal membrane
- external sphincter signet ring, marked anteriorly, other muscle longitudinal to make shorter wider urethra during micturition
What is the lymph drainage of the (i) bladder and urethra (ii) ovary (iii) uterus and prox. vagina (iv) uterine tube (v) distal vagina and urethra?
(i) ext. and int. iliac nodes
(ii) para-aortic
(iii) int. iliac nodes
(iv) para-aortic but may also pass to superficial inguinal
(v) deep and superficial inguinal nodes
What is the nerve supply, and referred pain of the ovary (and distal uterine tube)?
Mainly supplied via pre-aortic sympathetics derived from T10/11
- pain referred to peri-umbilical region
What is the nerve supply, and referred pain, of the uterine body (and prox. uterine tube)?
Branches of pelvic plexus with sympathetics mainly from T12 and L1
- pain = suprapubic
What is the nerve supply, and referred pain of the uterine cervix and proximal vagina?
P’symp pelvic splanchnics (and pelvic plexuses)
- pain = deep in pelvis
What muscles make up the levator ani (pelvic floor)?
Iliococcygeus
Pubococcygeus (puborectalis and pubovaginalis)
What is the nerve supply of the distal vaginal (somatic)?
pudendal
What does WHO define infertility as?
- a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse
For surrogacy, who is the (i) legal mother (ii) legal father?
(i) person who gave birth
(ii) genetic father
Describe (i) screening tests (ii) diagnostic tests done during pregnancy
(i) offered to all pregnant women - assess chance of you/baby having particular health problem/disability. Usually simple tests (blood test, USS, questionnaire). Don’t provide definite diagnosis but help you and your midwife decide whether you need further tests to make that diagnosis
(ii) the follow on tests carried out to find out whether baby does have a particular condition. Offered to women who have ‘higher-chance’ result from screening May involve chorionic villus or amniocentesis, can be associated with increased risk miscarriage. Or may be detailed USS
What are the 5 reasons we carry out screening and testing?
- To reassure parents (not straightforward)
- To inform and prepare parents for birth of an affected parent
- To allow in utero treatment, or delivery at specialist centre for immediate postnatal treatment
- To allow termination of an affected foetus
- To provide info so that parents may choose between 2,3 or 4 (key issue here = choice)
What prenatal testing is done for (i) natural conception (ii) IVF?
(i) non invasive screening (USS, serum test)
invasive prenatal diagnostic (PND) testing e.g. CVS, amniocentesis
NIPT sometimes (non invasive pre natal testing)
(ii) preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
When is ultrasound used in pregnancy? Why is it used? What are the ethical issues arising?
- dating scan 12 weeks (8-14)
- anomaly scan 20 weeks (18-20 w and 6 days)
- anomaly done for physical abnormalities e.g. spina bifida
- ethical issues = everyone offered anomaly scan but not everyone chooses to take it
What does Down’s syndrome screening consist of? When is it done?
Combo of USS (nuchal translucency) and serum test (analyse markers in blood - PAPP-A, free beta-hCH)
- done between weeks 10 and 13
Why is Down’s syndrome screening done? What are the ethical issues arising regarding this screening?
- measures the CHANCE of DS, it is not a diagnostic test (can also detect Edward’s syndrome T18)
- ethical = risk (low v high) if greater than 1:150 then there’s the option to take diagnostic test (amniocentesis or CVS)
How good is the ‘combined’ screening test for DS?
FALSE +VE = test abnormal but foetus not affected
FALSE -VE = test normal, but foetus affected
COMBINED TEST: FN 16% FP 2.2%
What is the quadruple test used for DS screening? What is the percentage of false positives and negatives with this test?
- used if a woman presents later (14 weeks 2 days+)
- blood test = alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), unconjugated oestriol, inhibin-A
FN 20% FP 3.5%
What is amniocentesis? When is it done? Why is it done?
- a needle inserted through abdomen and into amniotic fluid
- done at 15+ weeks (15-18)
- done for prev pregnancy with foetal problems, family history, over 35 years, antenatal screening result suggests a problem
- looks for DS, other chromosomal disorders, blood disorders (sickle cell), other genetic disorders, (sex)
What are the ethical issues surrounding amniocentesis?
- 0.5 to 1% risk of miscarriage (also, delay in getting results), infection, injury
- FP 0.1 to 0.6% and FN 0.6%
What is chorionic villus sampling? When is it done? Why is it done?
- fine needle inserted through abdomen and into uterus, or through cervix and small piece of developing placenta removed
- done at 11 weeks (11-14)
- tests for inherited disorders (CF, sickle cell, thalassemias, muscular dystrophy) and chromosomal disorders, (sex) earlier in pregnancy
What are the ethical issues surrounding CVS?
- 1-2% risk of miscarriage (also, delay in getting results), infection, heavy bleeding
- FP 1-2%, FN 2%
What are 6 examples of diseases for which DNA tests are available?
- cystic fibrosis
- phenylketonuria
- tay-sachs
- duchenne muscular dystrophy
- huntington’s disease
- inherited breast and ovarian cancers
What is the new non-invasive prenatal genetic testing (NIPT)?
Cell-free foetal DNA (DNA from placenta which is v similar to DNA from foetus)
- used as early as 9-10 weeks
- risk of chromosomal abnormalities w more accuracy than other non-invasive methods (invasive still required for definitive result)
- definitive diagnosis of some conditions (cf, achondroplasia)
- can determine gender
What is preimplantation genetic diagnosis? Who is it offered to? What does it involve? What disorders is it acceptable for?
- not common and £££
- offered to couples at risk of passing on a genetic disorder
- involves removing 1 cell from early embryo (4-8 cell embryo)
- used for disorders that may affect capacity for live birth, risk of child be born with/developing serious disability (genetic, chromosomal, mitochondrial)
- if gender related disorder, can use to select gender
How serious is “serious”?
Difficult, but code of practice gives guidance
- take into consideration the views of those seeking treatment
- availability of effective treatment
- speed of degeneration
= extent of intellectual impairment
- social support available
- family circumstances
What is huntington’s disease? What is its inheritence
- inherited, late onset, degenerative condition
- 50/50 chance of inheriting from affected pt
What are the 2 ethical issues for prenatal testing of HD?
1) Prenatal genetic testing for HD
– If seek testing, do so on understanding that they will terminate if test positive
– Why? Testing is only available to adults, and not all at risk choose to take it; prenatal testing means that the parents know something about the child’s future that the child has not elected to know
2) PGD for HD
– Thus select an embryo that does not carry the inherited HD gene
What is/are saviour sibling?
- create an embryo (using PGD) which will be a tissue match for an existing child who has a condition which requires e.g. bone marrow transplant
????
What are the 3 examples of saviour sibling?
- Hashmi Famil
- Whittaker
- fletcher family
Is a saviour sibling wthical?
Is the saviour sibling being“used”as a means (to help the other child) rather than an end in themselves (just for being them)?
– But people have children for all kinds of reasons..
What is the psychological effect on the saviour sibling (and the existing child) and their resultant relationship?
– But then, what of the impact of bereavement on a family?
What is CRISPR? What does it do?
gene editing technology
Where is the urogenital triangle located skeletally?
between pubic symphysis and ischiopubic ramus
- anterior to ischial tuberosities
How is the UG triangle divided into a superior deep pouch and an inferior superficial pouch? What does the deep pouch consist of?
By the perineal membrane
- external urethral sphincter and deep transverse perineal muscles, with the urethra and vagina passing through
What is the (i) inferior boundary (ii) upper boundary of the male deep pouch? What does it contain?
(i) thick perineal membrane
(ii) thinner fascia covering superior surface of ext. urethral sphincter and deep transverse perineal muscles
- also contains urethra and bulbo-urethral glands
What does the superficial pouch contain?
The genitalia
- penis and scrotum
- clitoris, labia minora and majora forming vulva and vaginal vestibule in female
What are the comparable features of the penis and clitoris?
2 crura - which are attached to ischiopubic rami and become corpora cavernosa which fill with blood to produce erection
- one central bulb that’s split in female as bulb of vestibule but in male becomes corpus spongiosum (houses urethra to prevent compression during erection)
- the crura and bulb form the root
What is the body of the penis split into? What is the skin like on the penis? How is foreskin formed?
- 3 corpora = 2 dorsal cavernosa and ventral spongiosum
- skin = loose no fat, superficial dartos fascia surrounds whole penis
- skin doubles back on itself to form prepuce/foreskin that’s continuous with glans at the corona
Describe the corpora of the penis.
1) CORPORA CAVERNOSA
- divided by a septum that’s complete proximally, but pectiniform distally (to stay straight)
- corpora cavernosa of penis each surrounded by thick tunica albuginea and deep fascia surrounds them all
2) CORPUS SPONGIOSUM
- transmits urethra and forms the glans as a cap over corpora cavernosa
Describe the muscles and ligaments of the penis.
- ischiocavernosus muscle surrounds each crus and bulbiospongiosus surrounds the bulb
- the muscles support penis and contribute to erection
- bulbospongiosus also compresses urethra during ejaculation or to expel urine
- supportive ligaments = Fundiform and Triangular from the linea alba and pubic symphysis
Describe the foreskin and glans of the penis.
Foreskin = fold of skin continuous with the glans and => also with mucous membrane of urethra
- sebaceous glands form smegma
- there’s a v small frenulum, ventrally between foreskin and glans, with increased sensation either side
- skin and glans show a ventral, midline raphe
Describe the membranous part of the male urethra.
- the narrowest part apart from ext orifice
- a tube of fibro-elastic and smooth muscle within the striated external sphincter & pubo-urethral or puboprostatic part of levator ani to resist surges of raised intra-abdominal pressure
- ext sphincter shaped like an inverted pear, with its base on the perineal membrane and apex pushing up into prostatic urethea
Describe the spongy (bulbar and penile) part of the male urethra.
- narrowest part at ext orifice
- bulbo-urethral glands, plus many scattered glands, especially in navicular fossa
Where are the 2 right angle bends in the male urethra?
1) between membranous and bulbar urethra
2) in spongy urethra as it becomes pendulous
What is the epithelium in the male urethra?
Urothelium until ejaculatory ducts, then psuedostratified columnar, before stratified squamous in distal urethra, keratinised at external orifice
What is Episiotomy? How must it be done?
- a surgical cut in the muscular area between the vagina and the anus (the area called the perineum) made just before delivery to enlarge your vaginal opening.
- must be back and angled laterally (usually right) to avoid cutting anal sphincter
Describe the female external genitalia - the vulva.
- labium majus laterally, then labium minus
- vagina and urethra opening in vestibule between labia minora, which divide into medial and lateral folds to form prepuce of clitoris
- labia majora meet anteriorly to form mons pubis, while posteriorly they form the posterior commissure or fourchette
What is the significance of the greater vestibular or Bartholin’s glands?
they may be the site of painful cyst or abscess formation