Lecture Notes in Human Anatomy - Hryhorieva O.A., Svitlytskyi A.O. 2020

The Science of Viscera (Splanchnologia)
Anatomy of Internal Organs
Female Reproductive Organs

Lecture outline:

1. Ovary  

2. Appendages of the ovary

3. Uterus  

4. Uterine tube 

5. Vagina

6. Pubic mons

7. Vestibule of the vagina

8. Labia Majora and minora

9. Clitoris

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The Internal Organs include the Ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, and vagina.

The ovary is a paired glandular organ where Female Germ Cells (oocytes) grow and mature, and Female Sex Hormones (estrogens) are produced. The ovary is located in the lesser pelvis lateral to the uterus and is attached by its lower (uterine) end to the lateral angle of the uterus via its proper ligament; the opposite (upper) end of the ovary faces the uterine tube and is called the tubal extremity. The ovary is covered externally by a Connective Tissue capsule, beneath which lies the cortex, and beneath that is the medulla. The ovarian cortex contains vesicular structures (follicles), in each of which a female germ Cell develops, while Blood Vessels and nerves pass through the medulla. Follicular formation is completed by the time of birth, with an initial reserve of 200,000–300,000 follicles, which decreases 3- to 4-fold by the age of 10. The ovaries have no ducts.

✵ The ovarian parenchyma (parenchyma ovarii) consists of the ovarian cortex (cortex ovarii) and the ovarian medulla (medulla ovarii).

✵ In the ovarian cortex (cortex ovarii), ova (ovum) mature within follicles at various Selection/3.html">Stages of development: primordial, secondary (vesicular), and mature tertiary follicles or Graafian follicles.

✵ Thus, a primary follicle (folliculus ovaricus primarius) develops into a vesicular ovarian follicle (folliculus ovaricus vesiculosus) - the Graafian follicle.

✵ After the vesicular ovarian follicle (folliculus ovaricus vesiculosus) ruptures, the ovum is released onto The surface of the ovary (ovarium) and enters the uterine tube (tuba uterina).

✵ Specifically, the ruptured vesicular ovarian follicle (folliculus ovaricus vesiculosus) - the Graafian follicle - fills with blood and transforms into a corpus luteum.

✵ If Fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum eventually regresses into a corpus albicans.

✵ Upon fertilization, the corpus luteum enlarges and develops into the corpus luteum of Pregnancy (corpus luteum graviditatis), which Functions as an endocrine gland (glandula endocrina) throughout pregnancy.

✵ The process of releasing an oocyte from the ovary is called ovulation (from Latin ovum - egg).

The mature oocyte is released from the follicle upon the rupture of its wall and emerges onto the surface of the ovary within the peritoneal cavity, from where it is drawn into the lumen of the uterine tube. A corpus luteum - an endocrine gland - forms at the site of the ruptured follicle; if fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum regresses, whereas if fertilization takes place, it enlarges and functions as an endocrine gland. Estrogens are produced by the follicular epithelium; they influence METABOLISM, increase hepatic Glycogen synthesis, promote adipose tissue deposition, regulate menstrual cycles, and support the normal course of pregnancy.

Appendages of the ovary (epoophoron)

✵ consist of a network of transverse tubules and a longitudinal duct of the epoophoron, located between the layers of the broad ligament of the uterus (mesosalpinx) between the ovary and the end of the tube.

✵ The paroophoron is a small yellowish nodule that also lies within the mesosalpinx near the tubal extremity of the ovary. Vesicular Appendices (appendices vesiculosae), or stalked hydatids, appear as fluid-filled vesicles (which may be absent in normal variants) suspended on long stalks. All ovarian appendages are vestigial structures, representing remnants of the pronephros/mesonephros and its duct.

The uterus is an unpaired hollow muscular organ designed for The Development of a fertilized egg and the gestation of a fetus during pregnancy; it consists of the fundus (the upper, expanded part), the body (the middle part), and the cervix (the lower, narrowed part). The uterus is located in the lesser pelvis, between the Urinary Bladder anteriorly and the rectum posteriorly, and is supported by ligaments and the vagina. The uterine wall has three layers: the outer perimetrium (serous membrane), the middle myometrium (muscular coat), and the inner endometrium (mucous membrane).

When the urinary bladder (vesica urinaria) is empty, the body of the uterus (corpus uteri) is tilted forward. This position is called anteversion (anteversio).

When the urinary bladder (vesica urinaria) is full, the fundus and body of the uterus (fundus et corpus uteri) are displaced backward—this is retroversion (retroversio).

In addition, an angle opening anteriorly is formed between the body and the cervix of the uterus (corpus et cervix uteri). This position is called anteflexion (anteflexio).

The suspensory apparatus of the internal genitalia includes the following ligaments.

Round ligaments of the uterus (ligg. teres uteri).

Broad ligaments of the uterus (ligg. lata uteri).

3. Proper ligaments of the ovaries (ligg. ovarii proprii, s. ligg. suspensorii ovarii)

4. Suspensory ligaments of the ovaries (ligg. suspensorium ovarii, s. infundibulopelvicum)

The uterine tube is a paired organ 15 cm long; one end of the tube opens into the uterine cavity, while the other faces the ovary. The mucous membrane of the tube is lined with ciliated epithelium, the cilia of which facilitate the movement of the ovum toward the uterus.

The uterine tube is a paired tubular organ located at the level of the upper margin of the broad ligament of the uterus (lig. latum uteri). The length of each uterine tube (tuba uterina) is 8–18 cm, and the diameter of the ampulla of the uterine tube (ampulla tubae uterinae) can range from 6 to 10 mm.

It (tuba uterina) comprises 4 parts:

- the uterine part (pars uterina), which passes through the uterine wall (paries uteri) and opens into the uterine cavity (cavitas uteri) via the uterine ostium of the uterine tube (ostium uterinae tubae uterinae);

- the ISTHMUS OF THE uterine tube (isthmus tubae uterinae), located closer to the uterus (uterus);

- the ampulla of the uterine tube (ampulla tubae uterinae), the longest part of the uterine tube (tuba uterina);

- the infundibulum of the uterine tube (infundibulum tubae uterinae), an expanded part that opens through the abdominal ostium of the uterine tube (ostium abdominale tubae uterinae) into the peritoneal cavity (cavitas peritonealis) and is surrounded by fringes of the uterine tube (fimbriae tubae uterinae), one of which—the ovarian fimbria (fimbria ovarica)—is the longest.

The vagina is a muscular-fibrous tube 8–10 cm long; its upper end fuses with the cervix of the uterus, and its lower opening leads into the vaginal vestibule formed by the Labia minora. The vaginal mucous membrane is thick and covered with prominent transverse folds that form two longitudinal ridges; in virgins, the vaginal orifice is closed by a fold of the mucous membrane—the hymen—with a small opening in the center.

The vagina is an elastic muscular-fibrous tubular organ 9 cm long that connects the uterine cavity (cavitas uteri) with the External female genitalia (organa genitalia feminina externa).

The upper part of the vagina surrounds the cervix of the uterus, forming the vaginal fornix (fornix vaginae), which has an anterior part (pars anterior), a posterior part (pars posterior), and lateral parts (partes laterales).

The vagina has an anterior wall (paries anterior) and a posterior wall (paries posterior) and opens via an orifice (ostium vaginae) into the vestibule of the vagina (vestibulum vaginae).

The external genitalia include the labia majora and minora, vestibular glands, external urethral orifice, vaginal vestibule, and clitoris.

The mons pubis (mons pubis, mons Veneris) is the lowest region of the anterior abdominal wall, a rounded fatty pad over the Pubic Symphysis (symphysis pubica) covered with Skin bearing pubic Hair. The appearance of hair and the deposition of fat on the mons pubis occur at the onset of Puberty. In women, the upper margin of the hair growth forms a horizontal line (female pattern), whereas in men, the hair extends along the Linea Alba of the abdomen as a strip or in the shape of a narrow triangle with its apex pointing toward the navel (male pattern). The skin of the mons pubis contains sweat and Sebaceous Glands. The amount of subcutaneous fat depends on heredity, age, diet, and presumably The Influence of Steroid Hormones. To the right and left of the lateral surface of the pubic region lie the pubic tubercles, which serve as landmarks for identifying the external openings of the inguinal canals, from which the round ligaments of the uterus emerge.

The vestibule of the vagina (vestibulum vaginae). The vaginal vestibule is a cleft between the labia minora into which open:

- external urethral orifice (ostium urethrae externum);

- vaginal orifice (ostium vaginae);

- ducts of the lesser vestibular glands (ductus glandularum vestibularium minorum);

- ducts of the greater vestibular glands (ductus glandularum vestibularium majorum), also known as Bartholin's glands.

The vestibular bulb (bulbus vestibuli) is situated at the Base of the labia majora on both sides of the lower end of the vagina and is composed of erectile tissue (homologous to the corpus spongiosum of the Penis).

The labia majora and minora are skin folds containing a thick layer of adipose tissue. The labia majora bound the urogenital cleft laterally, while the labia minora lie deep within them and enclose the vestibule of the vagina (a cleft-like space). The Urethra, vagina, and the ducts of the vestibular glands open into the vestibule. The vestibular glands include the greater vestibular (Bartholin's) gland and the lesser vestibular (sebaceous) glands. The vestibular bulb and the clitoris are homologous to the erectile bodies in males.

The clitoris is located at the anterior angle of the pudendal cleft and consists of a glans, a body, and crura. The body of the clitoris is formed by two erectile corpora that are capable of erection. Anteriorly, the body terminates in the glans, and posteriorly it divides into two crura attached to the inferior rami of the pubic bones.