Anatomy and Histology of the Female Reproductive System: Focusing on the Uterus and Cervix, Exercises of Cancer Cytogenetics

Download Anatomy and Histology of the Female Reproductive System: Focusing on the Uterus and Cervix and more Exercises Cancer Cytogenetics in PDF only on Docsity! HST 071 IN SUMMARY FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM FEMALE PELVIC ANATOMY UTERUS • Composed of smooth muscle, collagen connective tissue, vessels, nerves, lymphatics • Corpus – body (mainly smooth muscle) • Cervix (neck) – mainly collagen • Supported by utero-sacral ligaments, cardinal ligaments • Round ligaments – no supportive value • Broad ligament – not a ligament but rather two layers of peritoneum containing vessels, lymphatics • Space between leaves of broad ligament are extra peritoneal • Lymphatic of cervix drain to base of broad ligament • Lymphatic of upper uterus drain to ovarian plexus • Ovaries are BEHIND uterus and usually lie in cul-de-sac • Blood supply: uterine arteries (ascending and descending branches, ovarian vessels • Ureter travels UNDER the uterine vessels (“water runs under bridge”) • Ureter is about 1.5 cm from cervix (easily injured during hysterectomy) • Bladder and urethra above uterus – may prolapse into vagina (urethrocele, cystocele) • May cause urinary stress incontinence (loss of urine with cough or sneeze) • Short female urethra may result in urinary tract infections • Perineum innervated by S2,3,4 by branches of pudendal nerve • Genitofemoral nerve innervates the upper vulva HISTOLOGY • Portio of cervix – stratified squamous epithelium, originally was columnar epithelium that underwent squamous metaplasia • May contain “Nabothian cysts” – glands that became obstructed through overlying squamous metaplasia – normal finding of no significance • Cervical canal lined with ciliated columnar epithelium with crypts that extend into the collagenous lamina propria • Endometrium consists of columnar epithelium that undergoes hormonal change each month and ultimately sheds (known as “decidua”) ABNORMAL BLEEDING • Menorrhagia - excessive at regular intervals • Menometrorrhagia – excessive at regular intervals • Intermenstrual Bldg – between normal cycles • Polymenorrhea - <21 day intervals • Oligomenorrhea - >35 day intervals • Hypomenorrhea – regular but small amounts • Postmenopausal – unanticipated after one year of amenorrhea • Pregnancy related, Infection, Neoplasm, Hormonal, Iatrogenic, Systemic 14 docsity.com