Ovaries: Embrology and Anatomy

How many times do women OVULATE during their REPRODUCTIVE years?

400 times

There is a _____ million follicules that are STIMULATED during a women’s reproductive years.

¼

There are over how many differenet ovarian pathologies?

100+

The tech’s PRIMARY role is determine what?

The need for surgical/medical intervention.

The ovaries are developed from what type of ducts?

Wolffian and Mesonephros

The ovaries begin in the _________ region near the _________.

Lumbar; kidneys

The ovaries gradually desends into the ______ region as it enlargens to accommodate them.

Pelvic

The ovaries consists of 2 parts, what are they?

Cortex and the medulla

What is the OUTER part of the ovaries called? What is another name for it?

Cortex; tunica

What is the INNER part of the ovaries called? What is another name for it?

Medulla; stroma

What does the CORTEX layer of the ovaries contain?

• Ovarian follicles and corpus lutea

• Fibrous capsule called the tunica albuginea

What does the MEDULLA layer of the ovaries contain?

Blood vessels, mainly veins and fibrous tissue

The ovaires are paired, __________-shaped structures situated on each side of the uterus close to the _________ pelvic wall.

Almond; lateral

The ovaries can vary in POSITION, due to what?

• Uterus size, postion, and location

• Location of ligament attachements

True or False.

Pregnancies might have huge fibroids that push the ovaries out.

True

Crainocaudad axes are parallel to _____ _______ vessels and are _________; these serve as a reference point.

Interal iliac; posterior

In the anteflexed midline uterus, the ovaries are usually ___________ and __________.

Laterally; posterolaterally

When the uterus lies on ONE side of the midline, the ipsilateral ovary often lies ________ to the uterus fundus.

Superior

In a retroverted uterus, the ovaries tend to be _________ and ___________, near the uterine fundus.

Lateral; superior

When the uterus is ENLARGED, the ovaries tend to be displaced more ________ and ________.

Superiorly; laterally

Following hysterectomy, the ovaries tend to be located more __________ and directly _________ to the vagina cuff.

Medially; superior

Why could the corpus luteum be diffcult to find?

It can appear isoechoic.

What should you find during the 1st trimester of pregnancy?

Corpus luteum

If someone has a repeated loss of pregnancy; if the __________ _________ is NOT producing enough of those hormones it could be the cause of repeated loss of pregnancy.

Corpus luteum

When you are scanning the ovaries, what are you looking for?

• Correlation with the cycle

• Correlation with pregnancy

• Masses

• Blood flow

• What are the arrows pointing to?

• What does it usually measure?

• Is it indiciative of disease?

 

1. Pucture echogenic

2. 1-2 mm; peripheral

3. No

How do you measure the ovaries?

The long axis of the ovaries

Because of the the variablity in ovarian shape and size what is the BEST method for determining the overall ovarian size?

Volume measurement

What is the volume measurement formula for ovaries?

L x W x H x 0.523

In a menstruating adult female, a NORMAL ovary may have a volume as large as what? What is the mean?

22 mL with a mean of 8.8 mL (cm3)

An ovarain volume of MORE than 8mL is definitely considered ABNORMAL for ____________ patients.

Postmenopausal

An ovarain volume more than DOUBLE that of the oppositie side should be considered what?

Abnormal

It is RARELY done, by what provides the MOST accurate method of ovarian volume measurement?

3D

Depending on your patient and the location of the ovaries, it should be releatively ______ resistent if this is an ACTIVE ovary (it NEEDS blood flow).

Low

The ovaries will become ________ resistent if it’s NOT active it does NOT need as much blood flow.

Higher

Following menopause, the ovary _______ and the follices ______ with _________ age. These factors make the ovaries in POSTmenopausal women _________ to visualize.

Atrophies; disappear; increasing; difficult

Stationary loop of bowel may MIMIC what? What should you look for?

• Small shrunken ovary

• Look for peristalsis (in bowel)

True or False

An OLDER patient with LARGER ovaries is NORMAL, it should INCREASE in size with age.

False; its abnormal and should DECREASE in size with age.

True or False

POSTmenopausal have LITTLE to no follices.

True

1. The NORMAL ovary has a ____________ echotexture, exhibiting a CENTRAL, more ___________ medulla.

2. Small ANECHOIC or CYSTIC ______ may be seen peripherally in the cortex.

1. Homogenous; echogenic

2. Follicles

The appearence of the ovary varies with what?

Age and menstrual cycle