BGDA - Anatomy and Histology

Mesovarium

What structure of the broad ligament is shaded red?

Mesosalpinx

What structure of the broad ligament is shaded green?

Mesometrium

What structure of the broad ligament is shaded yellow?

Ovarian ligament

What structure is shaded green?

Suspensory ligament

What structure is shaded purple?

Broad ligament

What structure is shaded yellow?

Abdominal ostium

small, distal opening in the infundibulum that connects the peritoneal cavity to the fallopian tube lumen.

Ovaries

small, oval-shaped female reproductive glands located on either side of the uterus.

Ovarian fossa

a shallow, peritoneal depression between the internal and external iliac vessels.

Uterine tube (oviduct, fallopian tube)

paired muscular tube extending from the uterus to the ovary that transports the oocyte and is the usual site of fertilisation.

Infundibulum

funnel-shaped lateral end of the uterine tube adjacent to the ovary that opens into the peritoneal cavity fringed with fimbriae.

Fimbriae

finger-like projections at the margin of the infundibulum that help sweep the ovulated oocyte into the uterine tube.

Intramural part, isthmus, ampulla, infundibulum, fimbriae

List the 5 parts of the uterine tube from the most medial.

Ampulla

widest, longest part of the uterine tube, where fertilisation most commonly occurs.

Isthmus of the uterine tube

narrow, thick-walled medial segment of the uterine tube adjacent to the uterus.

Intramural part (uterine part)

short segment of the uterine tube that passes through the wall of the uterus and opens into the uterine cavity.

Vesical uterine surface

anterior surface of the uterus that faces the urinary bladder.

Intestinal uterine surface

posterior surface of the uterus that faces the intestines (mainly the sigmoid colon and small intestine).

Uterus

thick-walled, mobile muscular organ that facilitates ovulation and supplies the embryo and developing foetus with nourishment.

Body, cervix

What are the 2 main components of the uterus?

Muscular walls adapt to growth of foetus and allow its evacuation during birth.

Uterine body

central portion of the uterus including the fundus and isthmus of the uterus, forming the majority of the uterine cavity.

Fundus

rounded, superior part of the uterus above the openings of the uterine tubes.

Isthmus of the uterus

narrow, constricted region between the uterine body and cervix, about 1 cm long.

Uterine cavity (endometrial lumen)

space extending from the external os to the superior wall of the fundus, and laterally to the uterine tubes

Cervix

lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina and contains the cervical canal.

Supravaginal part

portion of the cervix located between the isthmus and the vagina.

Vaginal part

portion of the cervix that projects into the vagina and is visible on examination.

Internal os

narrow openings of the at the top of the cervical canal

External os

narrow openings of the at the top and bottom of the cervical canal.

Nulliparous cervix

cervix in a woman who has not given birth vaginally, typically with a small, round external os.

Multiparous cervix

cervix in a woman who has given birth vaginally, typically with a wider, slit-like external os due to prior cervical dilation.

Ectropion of cervix

with age, the supravaginal epithelium can migrate into the vaginal cervix.

Cervical dilation

thinning of cervix and opening from the internal os to the external os guided by contractions, reaching up to 10cm.

Anteflexed

uterine body is bent forward relative to the cervix (125° angle between uterine and cervical axis).

Anteverted

entire uterus tilts forward so the cervix is angled toward the vagina and the fundus lies over the bladder (90° angle between vaginal and cervical axis).

Retroflexed

uterine body is bent backward relative to the cervix.

Retroverted

the entire uterus tilts backward so the fundus points toward the sacrum.

Prolapsed uterus

uterus folds inferiorly into the vaginal canal due to weakness of pelvic floor support structures.

Rectouterine pouch

peritoneal space formed posteriorly to the uterus that accumulates fluids during pelvic inflammatory disease.

Uterovesical pouch

peritoneal space formed anteriorly to the uterus.

Urinary bladder

anterior visceral relationship of the uterus.

Rectum

posterior visceral relationship of the uterus.

Ureters, uterine vessels

lateral visceral relationship of the uterus.

Levator ani muscles

lateral visceral relationship of the vagina.

Urethra

anterior visceral relationship of the lower vagina.

Rectum, anal canal

posterior visceral relationship of the vagina.

Vestibular bulbs, great vestibular glands

lateral visceral relationship of the lower vagina.

Pelvic diaphragm

muscular floor of the pelvis acting as the **main load-bearer** of the uterus.

Urogenital diaphragm

triangular musculofascial layer reinforcing the anterior pelvic outlets and stabilising pelvic organs.

Perineal body

central fibromuscular mass in the perineum between the vagina and anus that anchors the muscles if the pelvic floor and supports the lower genital tract.

Muscular, mechanical, ligaments

What are the types of 3 supports for the uterus?

Pelvic diaphragm, urogenital diaphragm, perineal body

What are the 3 main muscular supports for the uterus?

Mechanical support

the anteverted/anteflexed position of the uterus, using the urinary bladder is a supporting shelf.

Round ligament

fibromuscular band extending from the uterine horns to the labia majora via the inguinal canal that helps maintain the anteverted position of the uterus.

Ovarian ligament

fibromuscular band connecting the ovary to the uterus just below the origin of the uterine tube

Inguinal canal

Where does the round ligament insert?

True ligaments

condensations of visceral pelvic fascia that provide primary mechanical support to the uterus and cervix.

Uterosacral ligament

pair of true ligaments extending from the cervix to the sacrum that pull the uterus backward, stabilising pelvic position and preventing prolapse.

Transverse cervical (cardinal) ligament

true ligament extending from the cervix/upper vagina to the lateral pelvic wall, providing lateral support to the uterus and stabilising the cervical position.

Pubocervical ligament

true ligament extending from the cervix to the posterior surface of the pubic bones, supporting the cervix anteriorly and helping stabilise the bladder.

Uterosacral ligament

What is the man true ligament preventing prolapse?

Uterosacral, transverse cervical, pubocervical

List the 3 true ligaments supporting the uterus and cervix.

Broad ligament

double-layered fold of peritoneum extending from the uterus to the lateral pelvic walls that helps stabilise the uterus and contains vessels, nerves, and ducts.

Ovarian neurovascular bundle, round ligament, ovarian ligament, artefacts, oviduct

List the 5 structures within the broad ligament.

Ovarian, uterine

What arteries are in the ovarian neurovascular bundle in the broad ligament?

Artefacts

broad term denoting vestigial remnants if the mesonephric tubules found in the broad ligament.

Suspensory ligament

peritoneal fold that extends from the ovary to the lateral pelvic wall and contains the ovarian vessels and nerve plexus.

Mesosalpinx

portion of the broad ligament that encloses and supports the uterine tube, extending between the tube and the mesovarium.

Mesovarium

short peritoneal fold of the broad ligament that attaches the ovary to its posterior layer and conveys vessels and nerves to the ovary at the hilum.

Mesometrium

largest part of the broad ligament that extends from the uterus to the lateral pelvic wall and forms the main supportive peritoneal fold for the uterus.

Peritoneal folds

reflections of peritoneum that drape over and connect pelvic organs, forming ligaments or pouches.

Vulva

external female genitalia that contains sensory and erectile tissue for sexual arousal, directs the flow of urine, and prevents entry of foreign material into the urogenital tract.

Sexual arousal, urine flow, blocking foreign material

List the 3 main functions of the vulva.

Mons pubis

rounded, fatty prominence over the pubic symphysis that is typically covered with pubic hair after puberty.

Labia majora

paired outer folds of skin of the vulva that contain adipose tissue and protect the inner structures.

Labia minora

paired inner folds of skin that lie medial to the labia majora, enclosing the vestibule and lacking hair and fat.

Clitoris

erectile organ located at the anterior part of the vulva, composed of paired crura, a body, and a glans, and highly sensitive due to rich innervation.

Glans clitoris

small, highly sensitive erectile structure at the distal end of the clitoris, rich in nerve endings and visible externally.

Vestibule of vagina

space enclosed by the labia minora into which the openings of the urethra and vagina, as well as ducts of the vestibular glands, open.

Commissures

formed anteriorly and posteriorly by the joining of the labia majora.

Para aortic nodes

where lymphatics travelling alongside the ovarian artery from the ovaries, uterine tubes, and fundus drain to.

Internal and external iliac lymph nodes

where the lymphatics of the body and cervix of the uterus drain to.

Superficial inguinal lymph nodes

where few of the lymph vessels from the uterus drain to, travelling alongside the round ligament.

Ovarian artery

paired artery arising from the abdominal aorta that supplies the ovaries and uterine tubes and travels within the suspensory ligament of the ovary.

Uterine artery

branch of the internal iliac artery that supplies the uterus and anastomoses with the ovarian artery near the uterine tube.

Vaginal artery

branch of the internal iliac artery that supplies the vagina, cervix, and parts of the bladder and rectum.

Internal pudendal artery

terminal branch of the internal iliac artery that supplies the perineum, external genitalia, and structures such as the clitoris and labia.

Right ovarian vein

vein that drains the ovary and empties directly into the inferior vena cava.

Left ovarian vein

vein that drains the ovary and empties into the renal vein before reaching the inferior vena cava.

Primordial follicle

What structure is 1?

Unilaminar primary follicle

What structure is 2?

Multilaminar primary follicle

What structure is 3?

Secondary follicle

What structure is 4?

Mature follicle

What structure is 5?

Corpus luteum

What structure is 7?

Corpus albicans

What structure is 8?

Ovarian cortex

stromal layer containing ovarian follicles, the corpus luteum, and corpus albicans.

Ovarian medulla

highly vascularised stromal centre of the ovary.

Ovarian surface epithelium

simple cuboidal and columnar epithelium covering the ovarian surface.