Clinical Anatomy of Female Reproductive Organs

Uterine Tube

  • Parts:

    • Infundibulum with fimbriae.

    • Ampulla (widest, fertilization occurs here).

    • Isthmus (narrow part).

    • Intra-mural part.

  • Fertilization occurs at the junction of the lateral 1/3 and medial 2/3 in the ampulla.

  • Cilia facilitate the transport of the oocyte and spermatozoa.

  • Blood supply is maintained by the uterine and ovarian arteries and veins.

  • Ectopic pregnancies most commonly occur in the uterine tube and typically rupture around 12 weeks.

Female Infertility

  • Possible causes include blockage of the uterine tube, adhesions, uterine septum, polycystic ovaries, polyps, endometriosis, fibroids, infection, and tubal ligation.

Ovary

  • Located on either side of the uterus in the ovarian fossa.

  • Almond-shaped, approximately 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.

  • Covered with germinal epithelium.

  • Attached to the broad ligament by the mesovarium.

  • The suspensory ligament connects the ovary to the lateral pelvic wall.

  • The ovarian ligament connects the ovary to the angle of the uterus.

  • The ovarian fossa is related to the ureter and the obturator artery & nerve. Ovarian tumors can compress the ureter, causing outflow obstruction and hydronephrosis.

Blood Supply and Lymphatic Drainage of Ovary

  • The ovarian artery is a direct branch from the abdominal aorta.

  • Ovarian veins: the right ovarian vein drains into the inferior vena cava, and the left ovarian vein drains into the left renal vein.

  • Lymphatic drainage ends in the lateral aortic lymph nodes.

HISTOLOGY OF OVARY

  • Germinal epithelium

  • Tunica albuginea

  • Cortex and medulla

  • Ovarian follicles (primordial, primary, secondary)

  • Graafian follicle

  • Corpus albicans and corpus luteum

Ovarian Follicles and Ovulation

  • The