Normal Anatomy and Physiology of the Female Pelvis

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing anatomical structures, ligaments, vasculature, hormones, and physiologic concepts from the lecture on normal female pelvic anatomy and physiology.

Mons pubis

Fat-filled mound of tissue covering the pubic symphysis on the anterior vulva.

Labia majora

Outer folds of skin of the vulva that enclose and protect the other external genital structures.

Labia minora

Inner, hair-free folds of skin situated medial to the labia majora.

Clitoris

Erectile organ of the female external genitalia located anterior to the urethral opening.

Vestibule of vagina

Cleft between the labia minora that contains the urethral opening and vaginal introitus.

Bony pelvis

Ring of four bones—two innominate, sacrum, coccyx—forming the pelvic girdle.

True pelvis

Inferior compartment below the pelvic brim; synonymous with the pelvic cavity.

False pelvis

Superior compartment above the pelvic brim that supports abdominal viscera.

Pelvic diaphragm

Muscular floor of the true pelvis made of levator ani and coccygeus muscles.

Psoas major

Large muscle forming part of the pelvic sidewall and contributing to the iliopsoas.

Iliacus muscle

Fan-shaped muscle lining the iliac fossa; joins psoas to form iliopsoas.

Piriformis muscle

Muscle of the posterolateral pelvic wall originating from the sacrum.

Obturator internus

Muscle lining the anterolateral pelvic wall and covering the obturator foramen.

Levator ani

Group of muscles (pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus, puborectalis) forming the main pelvic floor.

Coccygeus

Posterior component of the pelvic diaphragm extending from ischial spine to coccyx.

Rectus abdominis

Paired vertical abdominal muscles extending from the xiphoid process to pubis.

Iliopsoas

Composite muscle formed by the union of psoas major and iliacus in the false pelvis.

Bladder apex

Anterior-superior portion of the urinary bladder located posterior to the pubic bones.

Bladder base

Posterior portion of bladder resting anterior to the vagina and inferior to the uterus.

Bladder neck

Inferior region of the bladder resting on the urogenital diaphragm.

Ureters

Muscular tubes that cross the pelvic brim anterior to the iliac vessels and enter the bladder posteroinferiorly.

Vagina

9-cm muscular canal extending from external genitalia to the cervix, posterior to bladder.

Fornices

Four recesses of the vaginal lumen encircling the cervix.

Cervix

Lowest part of uterus projecting into vagina, containing endocervical canal.

Endocervix

Mucous canal of the cervix communicating with uterine cavity at the internal os.

Exocervix

Ectocervical portion continuous with the vaginal epithelium.

Uterus

Hollow, pear-shaped organ divided into fundus, body, and cervix; normally anteverted and anteflexed.

Fundus (uterus)

Upper rounded portion of the uterus located superior to the tubal cornua.

Body (uterus)

Central portion between fundus and cervix; houses the uterine cavity.

Internal os

Opening between endocervical canal and uterine cavity.

Perimetrium

Serous outer layer of the uterine wall; visceral peritoneum.

Myometrium

Thick muscular middle layer of the uterus composed of smooth muscle.

Endometrium

Inner mucosal lining of the uterine cavity that undergoes cyclic changes.

Broad ligament

Double layer of peritoneum extending laterally from uterus to pelvic sidewalls.

Round ligament

Fibromuscular band running from uterine fundus to anterior pelvic sidewall, maintaining anteversion.

Cardinal ligament

Strong transverse cervical ligament that firmly supports the cervix laterally.

Uterosacral ligament

Ligament running from uterine isthmus to sacrum, supporting the cervix posteriorly.

Suspensory (infundibulopelvic) ligament

Ligament carrying ovarian vessels from pelvic wall to ovary.

Ovarian ligament

Fibrous cord attaching ovary medially to the uterine cornua.

Anteversion

Uterine position where body and fundus tilt forward toward the cervix.

Retroversion

Entire uterus tilted posteriorly toward the sacrum.

Retroflexion

Uterine body and fundus bent backward toward the cervix.

Fallopian tube

Paired 12-cm ducts that transport the ovum from ovary to uterus.

Infundibulum

Funnel-shaped lateral end of fallopian tube bearing fimbriae that overlie the ovary.

Ampulla

Widest, longest segment of the tube where fertilization most commonly occurs.

Isthmus (tube)

Narrow, hard segment of tube located lateral to uterus.

Interstitial portion

Proximal segment of tube that traverses the uterine wall at the cornua.

Ovary

Almond-shaped gonad lying in the ovarian fossa that produces ova, estrogen, and progesterone.

Ovarian cortex

Outer layer of ovary containing developing follicles.

Ovarian medulla

Central connective tissue core housing blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.

Tunica albuginea

Fibrous capsule surrounding the ovarian cortex.

Germinal epithelium

Single layer of surface epithelial cells covering the tunica albuginea.

Estrogen

Hormone secreted by growing ovarian follicles; promotes endometrial proliferation and female secondary sex traits.

Progesterone

Hormone secreted by the corpus luteum; prepares and maintains endometrium for implantation.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Pituitary hormone that stimulates development of ovarian follicles during the follicular phase.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Pituitary hormone that surges mid-cycle to trigger ovulation and corpus luteum formation.

Graafian follicle

Mature, fluid-filled ovarian follicle (~2 cm) that ruptures at ovulation.

Corpus luteum

Yellow body formed from the ruptured follicle; secretes progesterone during luteal phase.

Ovulation

Explosive release of an ovum from the graafian follicle, usually on day 14 of a 28-day cycle.

LH surge

Rapid rise in LH 24–36 h before ovulation that precipitates follicular rupture.

Mittelschmerz

Transient mid-cycle pelvic pain associated with ovulation.

Menstrual phase

Endometrial shedding phase (days 1–5) caused by falling progesterone.

Proliferative phase

Endometrial growth phase (days 6–14) under estrogen influence; shows trilaminar pattern.

Secretory phase

Post-ovulatory endometrial phase (days 15–28) when progesterone thickens and echogenically enhances the lining.

Polymenorrhea

Menstrual cycles occurring at intervals shorter than 21 days.

Oligomenorrhea

Menstrual cycles longer than 35 days apart.

Menorrhagia

Excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding.

Dysmenorrhea

Painful menstruation.

Amenorrhea

Absence of menstruation.

Vesicouterine pouch

Anterior cul-de-sac between uterus and bladder.

Rectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas)

Posterior cul-de-sac between uterus and rectum.

Retropubic space (space of Retzius)

Extraperitoneal space between bladder and pubic symphysis.

Arcuate arteries

Arteries that encircle the uterus in the outer third of the myometrium.

Radial arteries

Branches of arcuate arteries that penetrate toward the endometrium.

Straight and spiral arteries

Branches of radial arteries that supply the basal and functional layers of endometrium.

Ovarian arteries

Branches of the abdominal aorta that run within the suspensory ligament to supply the ovaries.

Ovarian veins

Veins draining the ovaries—right to IVC, left to left renal vein.

Zona functionalis

Superficial functional layer of the endometrium that is shed during menses.

Three-line sign

Sonographic trilaminar appearance of proliferative-phase endometrium.

Follicular phase

First 14 days of the ovarian cycle when follicles develop under FSH influence.

Luteal phase

Second half of ovarian cycle post-ovulation when corpus luteum predominates.