Comprehensive Notes on Female Genital Organs Anatomy

Female Genital Organs Anatomy

General Overview

  • Female INTERNAL genital organs:
    • Ovaries
    • Uterine tube
    • Uterus
    • Vagina
  • Female EXTERNAL genital organs:
    • Vulva = pudendum

Anatomy of the Organ: Ovarium

  • Dull white, ovoid shape.
  • Produce eggs & hormones.
  • Lie on the lateral pelvic wall, just inferior to the pelvic inlet.
  • Consist of dense fibrous tissue in which ova are embedded.
  • Size varies due to reproductive state.
  • Surfaces: lateral & medial
  • Extremities/poles: superior & inferior
  • Borders: anterior & posterior
Fixation of Ovarium
  1. Mesovarium: Posterior extension of broad ligament, suspends ovaries in the pelvic cavity.
  2. Suspensory ligament of ovary: From superior extremity, contains ovarian vessels & nerves.
  3. Ligament of ovary: From inferior extremity to uterus, contains smooth muscle.
Supporting structures of Ovarium
  • Arteries:
    • Ovarian artery (Abdominal Ao)
    • Ovarian branch of uterine artery
  • Veins:
    • Pampiniform plexus to the ovarian vv. 🡪 inferior vena cava (left side via left renal v.)
  • Lymph drainage: para aortic nodes
  • Nerves: ovarian plexus
    • Sympathetic: lesser splanchnic n.
    • Parasympathetic: pelvic splanchnic n.
Variations of ovaries arterial supply

Anatomy of the Organ: Uterine Tubes

  • Attached to the upper part of the body of the uterus and their ostia open into the uterine cavity.
  • Consists of four main parts: intramural, isthmus, ampulla, infundibulum.
  • The intramural lies within the myometrium.
  • Isthmus: short and narrow.
  • Ampulla: widest portion of the tube (common site of fertilization).
  • Infundibulum: open to abdominal cavity, has fimbria which catch the ovum.
  • Their mucosal lining is ciliated epithelium whose cilia beat towards the ampulla.
Supporting structures of Uterine tubes
  • Arteries: branch of
    • Ovarian artery (Lateral third)
    • Uterine artery (Medial two-third)
  • Veins: correspond to their arteries
    • Lateral third: Pampiniform plexus to the ovarian vv. 🡪 inferior vena cava (left side via left renal v.)
    • Medial two-third: Uterine plexus 🡪 internal iliac v.
  • Lymph drainage:
    • Via ovarian vessels to the para-aortic nodes
    • Via uterine vessels to the internal iliac chain
  • Nerves: dual sympathetic and parasympathetic supply.
    • Parasympathetic: vagus (lateral half) and pelvic splanchnic n.(medial half)
    • Sympathetic: Lesser and Lumbar splanchnic nn.

Anatomy of the Organ: Uterus

  • Located inside pelvic cavity between bladder and rectum.
  • Connects caudally to vagina.
  • Thick muscular layer, has an Internal cavity.
  • Implantation site for zygote.
  • Parts:
    1. Fundus uteri
    2. Corpus uteri
    3. Isthmus uteri
    4. Cervix uteri
Parts of Uterus
  1. Fundus uteri
  2. Corpus uteri
    • Uterine cavity inside
    • Some structures in its lateral margin
  3. Isthmus uteri
    • Orificium uteri internum
  4. Cervix uteri
    • Portio supra vaginalis cervicis
    • Portio vaginalis cervicis (Portio)
Internal part of Uterus
  1. Uterine cavity
    • Ostium uterine tubae
    • Orificium uteri interna
  2. Cervical canal
    • Orificium uteri interna
    • Orificium uteri externa
Fixation of Uterus
  1. Broad ligament: mesosalphinx, mesovarium, mesometrium
  2. Round ligament
  3. Cardinal Ligament
  4. Uterosacral ligament
Supporting structures of Uterus
  • Arteries:
    • Uterine artery
  • Veins:
    • Plexus venosus uterina (has connection to Sup. rectal v.)
  • Lymph drainage: para aortic, external iliac, inguinal nodes
  • Nerves: uterovaginal plexus
Relations with others: Uterus position
  • Anteversion-Anteflexion
  • Variations in position: Normal, Retrocession, Retroflexion

Anatomy of the Organ: Vagina

  • Copulation organ, part of birth canal, excretory duct for menstrual blood.
  • Connects to uterus cranially, vestibulum vaginae caudally.
  • Fornix vaginae: Recess between portio and vagina.
  • Hymen: mucosal fold covers some parts of introitus vaginae.
Supporting structures of Vagina
  • Arteries:
    • Uterine artery
    • Vaginal artery
    • Bulbi vestibule a.
  • Veins:
    • plexus venosus vaginalis
  • Lymph drainage: para aortic, external iliac, inguinal nodes
  • Nerves: uterovaginal plexus

Anatomy of the Organ: Female External Genitalia

  • Mons pubis
  • Labia majora: rima pudenda
  • Labia minora: vagina vestibule
  • Clitoris
  • Bulb of vestibule
  • Greater vestibular gland
  • Lesser vestibular gland
Supporting structures of External genitalia
  • Arteries:
    • Internal pudenda artery
    • Labialis, clitoris
  • Veins:
    • Internal pudenda vein
  • Lymph drainage: inguinal, internal iliac nodes
  • Nerves: Lumbar (anterior part of genitalia) and sacral plexus (posterior part of genitalia)

Clinical Correlations/Clinical Importance

  • Ectopic pregnancy:
    • Sites of ectopic implantation include abdominal, interstitial, tubal (isthmic, ampullar), cervical, infundibular (ostial), and ovarian locations.
  • Prolaps uteri:
    • Weakening of muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor.
    • Degrees of retroversion: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree.

Summary

  • Female INTERNAL genital organs:
    • Ovaries
    • Uterine tube
    • Uterus
    • Vagina
  • Female EXTERNAL genital organs:
    • Vulva = pudendum

Reference

  • Moore’s Clinically oriented anatomy
  • Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy
  • Drake’s Basic Gray of Anatomy