Female Reproductive Anatomy
What is the lymphatic drainage of the ovaries?
Into lumbar lymph nodes via para-aortic lymph nodes
What is the hymen?
The incomplete partition formed by the mucosa near the vaginal opening
The ovarian artery is a direct branch of this artery
abdominal aorta --branches off below the renal artery
In what portion of the fallopian tube does fertilization usually occur?
ampulla
What is the most common part of the fallopian tube for an ectopic pregnancy to occur?
ampulla
Where are the uterine arteries in relation to the ureter?
anterior
Where does the uterine artery run in relation to the ureter as it comes down to enter the bladder?
anterior
What are the branches o the uterine arteries?
arcuate radial straight spiral
within the myometrium, the uterine arteries branch out into _________
arcuate arteries
Where is the vesicouterine pouch?
between bladder and uterus anterior structure that is reflected from the level of the isthmus onto the bladder
Where is the Pouch of Douglas ("cul-de-sac") located?
between rectum and uterus
Where is the rectouterine pouch?
between uterus and rectum runs from the posterior wall of the uterus to the upper 1/4 of the vagina and onto the rectum
What mesentery secures the uterus to the side walls of the abdominal-pelvic cavity?
broad ligament
What ligaments help support the uterus to prevents uterine prolapse?
cardinal ligaments and uterosacral ligaments
What is the function of the fallopian tubes?
catch released oocytes and transport them to the uterus
What is the name of the narrow inferior 1/3 of the uterus?
cervix
What structures are connected by the ovarian ligament?
connects the *ovary* to the lateral side of the *uterus*
What is the histology of the endometrium from deep to superficial
deep (next to myometrium) = basilar zone functional zone (has the endodmetrial glands)
Describe the course of the ovarian artery
direct branch of the AA below the renal artery enters the suspensory ligament and runs towards the ovaries *laterally*
Where is the external cervix?
distal to the external os --in the superior portion of the vagina
The vaginal arteries are branches of __________
either branch of the uterine artery or come directly off the internal iliac artery
What layer of the uterine wall changes with the menstrual cycle?
endometrium
Where in the uterus does a blastocyst implant if fertilization occur?
endometrium
what sheds during menstruation?
endometrium
Where are oocytes typically fertilized?
fallopian tubes
T/F The ovaries are covered by peritoneum
false
T/F The ovarian ligament attaches to the uterus superiorly to the attachment of the fallopian tube
false --connects just below where the fallopian tube joins the uterus
T/F The ovarian artery is posterior to the ureter
false --located anteriorly as they travel laterally after branching off the aorta
What is the clinical significance of the cul-de-sac?
fluid in the peritoneal cavity can collect here it can be used to detect cells from malignancy
Where does the endocervical canal run?
from the internal os on the inner end of the cervix to the external os on the outer end of the cervix
What portion of the endometrium respond to hormones?
functional zone
What portion of the endometrium does implantation occur?
functional zone sloughs off if fertilization doesn't occur
What layer of the endometrium responds to hormonal changes and sloughs off during menstruation?
functional zone NOT the basilar zone
What is the rounded superior portion of the uterus?
fundus
What are the portions of the uterus?
fundus, body, isthmus, cervix
What type of epithelium forms the single layer of cuboidal cells that covers the outer layer of the ovary?
germinal epithelium
What portion of the fallopian tube is closest to the ovary?
infundibulum (egg picked up the the fimbriae)
What is the most distal portion of the fallopian tube, that catches the eggs?
infundibulum (has the fimbriae)
The uterine artery is a branch off the ____________
internal iliac arteries
Where does the uterine vein drain into?
internal iliac vein
What is the landmark where the composition of the lining of the uterus changes?
internal os superior--endometrial glands and stroma inferior--endocervix
What are the portions of the cervical canal?
internal os--narrowing inside the isthmus external os--external opening of the uterus that's continuous with the vagina
What is the arterial supply of most of the skin, external genitalia, and perineal muscles?
internal pudendal artery
What is the opening of the vagina?
introitus
What portion of the fallopian tube is closest to the uterus?
isthmus
What portion of the uterus separates the body from the cervix?
isthmus
What are the vestibular bulbs?
masses of erectile tissue on either side of the vaginal entrance act like corpus spongiousum
What division of the broad ligament attaches the fallopian tubes?
mesosalpinx
What subdivision of the broad ligament suspends the ovaries in the abdominal cavity?
mesovarium
What is the thickest wall of the uterus?
myometrium
What layer of the uterine wall grows (thickens) during pregnancy?
myometrium (the muscle)
What is the histology of the vagina?
non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
What are the female gametes?
oocytes
Where are the oocytes formed in the ovaries?
ovarian stroma *cortex*
What is the venous drainage of the ovary?
pampiniform plexus --> ovarian vein
Where is the fornix located?
part of the vagina that wraps around where the exo/vaginal cervix sticks out --anterior, posterior, and lateral portions
What are the 3 layers of the uterine wall from most superficial to deep (lining the inside cavity)?
perimetrium--outside serous layer of thin connective tissue myometrium--middle layer of smooth muscle endometrium--inner mucous coat that is attached to the myometrium
Where does the ovarian ligament attach the ovary to the uterus in relationship to the uterotubal junction (where fallopian tube connects)?
posteriorinferior
Where do the right and left ovarian veins drain into?
right--directly into the IVC left--drains into left renal vein
What structure restricts posterior movement of the uterus (keeps it ante-verted)?
round ligament
What female structure travels through the inguinal canal?
round ligament (of the uterus)
What are the cardinal ligaments?
run from the supravaginal cervix and the lateral parts of the fornix of the vagina to the lateral walls of the pelvis
What type of epithelium lines the inner portion of the fallopian tubes?
simple columnar ciliated epithelium --has mucous-secreting cells
What is the histology of the lining of the endocervical canal?
simple columnar mucous secreting epithelium
What are the branches of the radial arteries that supply the functional zone of the endometrium?
spiral arteries
What are the branches of the radial arteries that supply the basilar zone of the endometrium?
straight arteries
What is the histology of the external cervix?
stratified squamous non-keratinizing epithelium
What is the name of the extension of the broad ligament that contains the ovarian vessels, lymphatics, and nerves?
suspensory ligament of the ovary --this also keeps the ovaries attaches to the abdominal wall
What is the uterine ostium?
the opening of the fallopian tube into the uterus
What are the uterine horns?
the points where the uterus and the fallopian tubes meet
Where we do take a sample from during a pap smear?
transformation zone of the endocervical canal
T/F The basilar zone of the endometrium doesn't respond to hormonal changes
true
T/F The cervix extends into the superior portion of the vagina
true
T/F The fallopian tubes arch anterior and superior to the ovaries
true
T/F The normal position of the uterus is ante-verted (tipped forward) and ante-flexed (flexed anteriorly relative to the cervix)
true
T/F The ovarian arteries cross anterior to the external iliac vessels at the pelvic brim to enter the suspensory ligament
true
T/F The ovaries are located laterally to the uterus
true
T/F The round ligament of the uterus is encased within the broad ligament
true
T/F The round ligament of the uterus runs through the broad ligament
true
T/F The uterine glands are located within the functional zone of the endometrium and secrete the mucous of the uterus
true
T/F The uterine ostium is inferior to the fundus
true
T/F When an oocyte is expelled from the ovary, it enters the peritoneal cavity before it gets caught up by the fimbriae of the infundibulum
true
T/F the epithelium of the vagina is affected by the ovarian cycle
true
T/F the inferior part of the endometrium is continuous with the endocervical canal
true
T/F the middle and inferior portion of the vagina are supplied by vaginal arteries and internal pudendal arteries
true
T/F the superior portion of the vagina is supplied by branches of the uterine arteries
true
T/F the myometrium responds to hormones
true responds to hormones during pregnancy to grow causes it to contract during delivery
T/F: The wall of the fallopian tube has concentric layers of smooth muscle
true --helps to move the oocyte to the uterus
The ovarian artery terminates by branching into _________ and ________ branches
tubal (supplies fallopian tubes) ovarian
What is the name of the connective tissue capsule that covers the ovary, deep to the germinal epithelium?
tunica albuginea
What is the innervation of the vagina?
upper 2/3 = autonomic lower 1/3 = somatic --pudendal nerve from S2-S4
The branches of the ovarian artery anastomose with ascending branches of the ___________ artery to supply the entire ovary
uterine arteries
What is the arterial supply of the uterus?
uterine arteries
What is the venous drainage of the uterus?
uterine venous plexus --> uterine vein
What is the name of the hollow muscular organ where a fertilized ovum gets implanted and the fetus develops?
uterus
What is the position of the uterus when a women in NOT pregnant?
uterus folds over the bladder the cervix sits between the urinary bladder and the rectum
What are the two surfaces of the uterus and what are they in contact with?
vesical surface--bladder intestinal surface--rectum
What is the clinical significance of the transformation zone?
where metaplastic changes occur between endo and exo cervix the simple columnar epithelium of the endocervix changes to squamous epithelium *area of cervical dysplasia and carcinoma*
