(19) Pelvic Viscera

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the anatomy and physiology of the pelvic viscera, including the urinary system, male and female internal genitalia, and associated blood supply.

Ureters

Tubes that enter the true pelvis near the branching of common iliac arteries and follow the lateral wall deep to the peritoneum.

Ureter location (Women)

Passes inferior to the broad ligament of the uterus and enters the bladder near the fornix of the vagina.

Ureter location (Men)

Runs deep to the peritoneum and is crossed by the ductus deferens before entering the bladder.

Ureteric calculi

The clinical term for kidney stones passing through the ureter.

Vesica

The Latin word for bladder.

Vesico-

A prefix used for structures associated with the bladder, such as the vesicouterine pouch.

-vesical

A suffix used for structures associated with the bladder, such as the rectovesical pouch.

Vesical

An adjective describing the urinary bladder.

Apex (Bladder)

The part of the bladder that corresponds to the point of an iron and points toward the pubic symphysis.

Superior surface (Bladder)

The surface of the bladder that corresponds to the hot surface of an iron.

Base (Bladder)

The flattened part of the bladder where it sits, in contact with the vagina or rectum.

Inferolateral surfaces (Bladder)

The surfaces of the bladder that slope toward the handle and are in contact with the levator ani muscles.

Full bladder extension

When distended, the bladder is rounded and can extend superiorly to the level of the umbilicus.

Trigone

A triangular, smooth patch lining the base of the bladder that is sensitive to stretch and signals distension.

Internal sphincter of the bladder

Involuntary smooth muscle formed near the neck of the bladder where the urethra begins.

Parasympathetic nerve fibers (Bladder)

Fibers that are motor to the smooth muscle of the bladder and inhibitory to the involuntary sphincter.

External urethral sphincter

A structure that allows for voluntary control of the bladder reflex via the pudendal nerve.

Pudendal nerve

The nerve providing somatic innervation for voluntary contraction of the external urethral sphincter.

Female urethra

A short muscular tube running near the anterior surface of the vagina and ending in the vestibule.

External urethral orifice (Female)

The opening located in the vestibule of the vagina between the labia minora.

Male urethra components

Divided into $3$ parts: the prostatic urethra, the membranous urethra, and the spongy urethra.

Prostatic urethra

The part of the male urethra surrounded by the prostate gland and marked by the openings of prostatic ductules.

Membranous urethra

A short stretch of tubing between the prostatic urethra and the bulb of the penis, surrounded by the sphincter urethrae muscle.

Spongy urethra

The part of the male urethra found within the bulb and corpus spongiosum of the penis.

Ductus deferens

The continuation of the epididymis that enters the true pelvis within the spermatic cord.

Ampulla (Ductus deferens)

The enlarged region of the ductus deferens as it passes along the base of the bladder.

Ejaculatory duct formation

Formed by the fusion of the ampulla of the ductus deferens and the duct of the seminal vesicle.

Vasectomy

A method of sterilization involving ligation and removal of a section of the ductus deferens.

Seminal vesicles

Glands between the bladder and rectum that are the principal source of seminal fluid.

Fructose

The primary energy source for sperm produced by the seminal vesicles.

Prostaglandins

Substances produced by seminal vesicles that stimulate muscle contraction in the uterus and uterine tubes.

Prostate gland size

In young men, this is a walnut-sized gland surrounding the prostatic urethra.

Prostate seminal fluid contribution

Generates approximately $20\%$ of the seminal fluid.

Zinc

An element in prostatic secretions that stabilizes sperm chromatin.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

A substance that keeps seminal fluid from coagulating.

Alkaline secretions

The nature of prostatic secretions designed to counteract the acidic environment of the vagina.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

Enlargement of the prostate that occurs in $80\%$ of men over the age of $80$ years.

Nocturia

A symptom of prostate enlargement characterized by the need to void at night.

Dysuria

A term used to describe pain during urination.

Prostatic carcinoma

A common condition occurring in $30\%$ of men over the age of $75$ years.

Vagina

A muscular tube extending from the vaginal vestibule to the cervix of the uterus, posterior to the bladder.

Fornix

The recess formed around the cervix of the uterus.

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum that can occur if the thin posterior wall of the vaginal fornix is damaged.

Vaginal sphincters

Muscles that act as sphincters for the vagina, including the levator ani, sphincter urethra, and bulbospongiosus.

Uterus (Normal orientation)

Flexed anteriorly over the superior wall of the bladder at a right angle to the vagina.

Fundus

The superior part of the uterine body located between the entrances of the uterine tubes.

Isthmus (Uterus)

The region where the uterine body meets the cervix.

Broad ligament

Composed of folds of peritoneum, this structure suspends the uterine body and allows it to move as the bladder fills.

Vesicouterine pouch

A pocket-like projection of the peritoneal cavity located between the uterus and the bladder.

Rectouterine pouch

A projection of the peritoneal cavity between the uterus and rectum that extends to the posterior vaginal fornix.

Perimetrium

The outer wall layer of the uterus composed of peritoneum and pelvic visceral fascia.

Myometrium

The middle layer of the uterine wall composed of smooth muscle.

Endometrium

The mucous coat of the uterine wall that is sloughed off each month during menstruation.

Uterine arteries

Branches of the internal iliac artery that provide the blood supply to the body of the uterus.

Ovaries

Almond-shaped organs lying near the lateral walls of the true pelvis within the peritoneal cavity.

Mesovarium

A fold of peritoneum that attaches the anterior surface of the ovary to the posterior surface of the broad ligament.

Suspensory ligament of the ovary

A fold of the broad ligament anchoring the ovary to the lateral walls of the pelvis, containing vessels and nerves.

Ligament of the ovary

A band of connective tissue anchoring each ovary to the uterus.

Uterine part (Uterine tube)

The portion of the uterine tube surrounded by the myometrium of the uterus.

Isthmus (Uterine tube)

The short, thick-walled portion of the uterine tube located near the uterus.

Ampulla (Uterine tube)

The longest part of the uterine tube and the usual site of fertilization.

Infundibulum

The distal, funnel-shaped portion of the uterine tube opening to the peritoneal cavity.

Fimbriae

Finger-like projections surrounding the abdominal opening of the uterine tube that sweep up oocytes.

Ectopic tubal pregnancy

A condition where a zygote implants in the walls of the uterine tube instead of passing into the uterus.

Mesosalpinx

The part of the broad ligament located between the ovary and the uterine tube.

Mesometrium

The part of the broad ligament located between the ovaries and the uterus.

Ligamentum teres

Also known as the round ligament of the uterus; it originates near the fundus and exits through the inguinal canal.

Gubernaculum

The embryonic cord-like structure that remnants into the ligamentum teres and ovarian ligament.

Internal iliac artery

The principal blood supply for pelvic viscera, perineum, medial thigh, and gluteal region.

Umbilical artery

A branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery that gives off the superior vesical arteries.

Obturator artery

A branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery that supplies the medial thigh.

Inferior vesical artery

A branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery found in males only.

Vaginal artery

A branch of the anterior division of the internal iliac artery found in females only.

Superior gluteal artery

The major branch of the posterior division of the internal iliac artery supplying the buttocks.

Medial umbilical ligament

The structure formed as the umbilical artery approaches the anterior abdominal wall.