Unit 4: Lecture 7 (Finish Male External Genitalia & Start Female External & Internal Genital Organs)

Male copulatory organ that enables sexual intercourse through the delivery of sperm into the female reproductive tract and a conduit for urine excretion via the urethra, which passes through its length.

What are the two primary functions of the penis?

Root, bulb, body, and glans

What are the 4 main components of the penis?

Root

What component of the penis is the attached portion that anchors the penis to the pubic symphysis and perineal membrane?

Bulb

What component of the penis is the expanded posterior part of the corpus spongiosum, part of the root, enveloped by the bulbospongiosus muscle?

Body (shaft)

What component of the penis is the free portion composed of three columns of erectile tissue - two corpora cavernosa and one corpus spongiosum?

Glans (head)

What component of the penis is the expanded distal end of the corpus spongiosum. It caps the distal ends of the corpora cavernosa?

Tunica albugenia

What dense fibrous sheath surrounds the corpus cavernosum and forms the septum between the two?

Two corpus cavernosum and one corpus spongiosum

What are the three cylindrical masses of erectile tissue within the penis?

Corpus cavernosum

What lies dorsally within the penis and are responsible for most of the rigidity during erection? They are fed by the deep arteries of the penis (branches of the internal pudendal artery).

Corpus spongiosum

What lies ventrally within the penis and contains the penile (spongy) urethra? It helps prevent urethral compression during erection.

Pelvic splanchnic nerves

Parasympathetic innervation from what nerve is responsible for an erection?

Pelvic splanchnic nerve

Damage to what nerve can impair erectile function?

Internal pudendal artery

Branches from what artery supplies blood to the penis?

Deep arteries of penis, dorsal arteries of penis, and bulbourethral artery

What branches of the internal pudendal artery supplies blood to the penis?

Deep dorsal vein and superficial dorsal vein

What veins drain the penis?

True

(T/F) Ejaculation involves sympathetic and somatic control.

Broad ligament and round ligament of uterus

What are the ligaments of the uterus?

Mesometrium, mesosalpinx, and mesovarium

What are the three subdivisions of the broad ligament of the uterus?

Broad ligament of uterus

What is the double layer of peritoneum that extends from the sides of the uterus to the lateral pelvic walls? It functions as a mesentery for the uterus and associated structures, stabilizing their position within the pelvis.

True

(T/F) Though the broad ligament helps maintain uterine position, it does not offer strong structural support, which is mainly provided by the pelvic diaphragm and uterosacral/cardinal ligaments.

Round ligament of the uterus

What arises from the uterine horns and passes anterolaterally to enter the deep inguinal

ring? It travels through the inguinal canal and terminates in the labia majora.

Round ligament of the uterus

What is a remnant of the lower/inferior part of the gubernaculum?

True

(T/F) Round ligament pain is a common cause of abdominal discomfort in pregnancy due to stretching or spasms.

Mesovarium, ovarian ligament, and suspensory ligament of the ovary

What are the ligaments of the ovaries?

Ovarian ligament

What is the fibrous cord that connects the medial pole of the ovary to the lateral angle of the uterus, just inferior to the uterotubal junction and it lies within the broad ligament?

Ovarian ligament

What is a remnant of the upper/superior part of the gubernaculum and functions to maintain the relative position of the ovary in relation to the uterus?

Suspensory ligament of the ovary

What extends from the lateral pole of the ovary to the lateral pelvic wall and contains the ovarian artery and vein, lymphatics, and nerves that pass to and from the ovary and uterine tube?

Vagina

What extends from the vestibule of the vulva (external genitalia) superiorly and posterosuperiorly to the cervix of the uterus?

Inner mucosal layer (non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium), a muscular layer (smooth muscle), and an outer adventitia.

What is the vaginal wall composed of?

The excretory canal for menstrual flow, receptacle for the penis during sexual intercourse, and inferior part of the birth canal during delivery

What does the vagina serve as?

Hymen

What is a thin fold of mucous membrane that may partially occlude the vaginal orifice in prepubertal individuals?

Anterior, posterior, and lateral fornices

What are the fornices?

Vestibule

What is the cleft between the labia minora into which the urethral and vaginal orifices open?

External openings of the vagina and urethra and openings of the greater vestibular glands (Bartholin's glands) which secrete mucus to lubricate the vestibule

What does the vestibule contain?

Uterus

What is the muscular, pear-shaped organ located in the lesser pelvis, responsible for implantation, gestation, and childbirth (parturition)? It also participates in menstrual shedding if fertilization does not occur.

Fundus, body, isthmus, and cervix

What are the four key regions of the uterus?

Fundus

What region of the uterus is the dome-shaped superior portion located above the openings of the uterine tubes?

Body

What is the main portion of the uterus below the fundus? This is the largest part and

houses the uterine cavity.

Isthmus

What is the narrow, constricted region between the body and cervix? It plays a key role during labor by thinning and effacing.

Cervix

What is the cylindrical, inferior part of the uterus that projects into the vagina?

Effacing

What is the thinning and shortening of the cervix in preparation for childbirth?

This process allows the cervix to gradually open (dilate) so that the baby can pass

through the birth canal during labor.

Internal os, cervical canal, and external os

What are the subdivisions of the cervix?

Perimetrium, myometrium, and endometrium

What are the wall layers of the uterus?

True

(T/F) Myometrial hypertrophy and hyperplasia occur during pregnancy to accommodate fetal growth. Pathological thickening (e.g., in fibroids) may impair fertility.

Vesicouterine and rectouterine pouches

What are the pouches of the pelvis around the uterus?

Vesicouterine pouch

What pouch is formed between the bladder and uterus and is often shallower?

Rectouterine pouch

What pouch is formed between the uterus and rectum and is the lowest point of the female peritoneal cavity in the upright position?

Endometrium

What part of the uterus is glandular mucosa that proliferates and sheds cyclically?

Anteverted and anteflexed

The uterus is typically _____ and _____, resting over the bladder. This positioning affects how the uterus appears in clinical imaging and procedures like catheterization or IUD insertion.

Cervical Cytology (Pap Smear)

What is a routine gynecological screening procedure in which exfoliated cervical cells are collected using a speculum and cytobrush or spatula?

Cervical Cytology (Pap Smear)

In what procedure is the goal early detection of cervical epithelial abnormalities, including dysplasia and cervical cancer?

Transformation zone

What is is the most common site for cervical neoplasia and must be visualized adequately during sampling of cervical cytology (pap smear) ?

Where the endocervical columnar epithelium transitions to the ectocervical stratified squamous epithelium.

What occurs in the transformation zone which is the focus area during a cervical cytology (pap smear)?

Persistent infection with high-risk types of

human papillomavirus (HPV)

What is cervical cancer most commonly caused by?

False

(T/F) Cervical cancer tends to progress quickley.

True

(T/F) Vaccination against HPV (e.g., Gardasil) is effective in preventing the majority of cervical cancers.

Every 3 years

After the age of 21, how often should females get a cervical cytology (pap smear)?

Excessive anteflexion

What is referred to as a more sharply angled forward bend of the uterus that may be

asymptomatic or occasionally associated with discomfort during menstruation or intercourse?

Retroversion of uterus

What is it called when the entire uterus is tilted posteriorly toward the rectum but remains straight?

The uterus is both tilted and bent backward.

What is it called when the uterus is both tilted and bent backward?

Mesosalpinx

What portion of the broad ligament attaches the uterine tube to the rest of the broad ligament?

False

(T/F) The broad ligament of the uterus provides great stability.

Hysterectomy

What refers to the surgical removal of the uterus and may be performed for benign or malignant uterine conditions?

Transabdominal hysterectomy

What type of hysterectomy procedure is performed via an incision in the abdominal wall; used when better visualization of pelvic structures is required?

Transvaginal hysterectomy

In what type of hysterectomy procedure is the uterus removed through the vaginal canal; often chosen for uterine prolapse?

Laparoscopic or robotic-assisted hysterectomy

What type of hysterectomy procedure is minimally invasive techniques, often with shorter recovery time and reduced postoperative pain?

Subtotal (supracervical)

What type of hysterectomy is the removal of the uterine body, with cervix left in place?

Total

What type of hysterectomy is the complete removal of the uterus including the cervix?

Radical

What type of hysterectomy includes removal of the uterus, cervix, upper vagina, and often the ovaries and adjacent tissues, typically for oncologic purposes?

(T/F) The uterine artery must be ligated during hysterectomy. Surgeons must take care to avoid iatrogenic injury to the ureter, which crosses inferior to the uterine artery near the cervix.

True

(T/F) The uterus is one of the most morphologically dynamic organs in the body.

Hormonal status, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and aging.

What do the size, shape, and orientation of the uterus change in response to?

True

(T/F) In premenopausal, non-pregnant individuals, the uterus undergoes monthly changes in dimensions due to hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle.

Thickens and sheds cyclically

(T/F) During reproductive years, what happens to the endometrium, while the myometrium can exhibit changes in tone and vascularity?

Uterus expands dramatically to accommodate the growing fetus

What happens to the uterus size during pregnancy?

True

(T/F) During pregnancy the uterus occupies the majority of the abdominopelvic cavity and compresses adjacent organs such as the bladder, intestines, and inferior vena cava.

Uterine hypertrophy

What is driven by both smooth muscle hyperplasia and cell hypertrophy, particularly within the myometrium?

Decreased estrogen levels

Following menopause, what leads to involution of the uterus—it becomes smaller, less vascular, and the endometrial layer thins?

True

(T/F) Post-menopause, the uterus may return to a prepubertal size in advanced age.

True

(T/F) Postmenopausal changes in uterine and pelvic tissue contribute to increased risk of prolapse, atrophic vaginitis, and pelvic floor dysfunction.