Gross and Microscopic Anatomy of Female Reproductive System - Part 1

The female reproductive organs include,

-        External genitalia

-        Internal genitalia

                                            lateral view of female reproductive organs

E          

     External Genitalia

C     collectively known as Vulva

• ·       Consists of
• -        -Labia majora
• -        Labia minora
• -        Clitoris
• -        Vaginal orifice
• -        Vestibule
• -        Hymen
• -        Vestibular gland

(                Bartholin’s glands)

L    Labia Majora

·       Two large folds form the boundary of the vulva

·       Composed of skin, fibrous tissue and fat

·       Contain large number of sebaceous and eccrine sweet glands

·       Anteriorly the folds join in front of the symphysis pubis

·       Posteriorly the folds merge with the skin of the perineum

·       At puberty, hair grows on the mons pubis and on the lateral surfaces of the labia majora

 

Labia Minora

·       Two small folds of skin between labia majora

·       Contains numerous sebaceous and eccrine sweet glands

Vestibule

·       The cleft between labia minora

·       Vagina, urethra and ducts of the greater vestibular glands open into the vestibule

Clitoris

·       Corresponds to the penis in male

·       Contains sensory nerve endings and erectile tissue

 

Vestibular Glands (Bartholin’s glands)

·       Situated one on each side near the vaginal opening

·       Small pea size

·       Their ducts open into the vestibule, immediately lateral to the attachment of the hymen

·       Secrete mucus, keep the vulva moist

                 

Blood supply, nerve supply and lymph drainage

 

·       Arterial supply

-        By branches from the internal pundendal arteries that branch from the internal iliac arteries

-        By external pundendal arteries that branch from the femoral arteries

 

·       Venous drainage

-        Veins form a large plexus around the area which eventually drain into internal iliac veins

 

·       Lymph drainage

-        Through the superficial inguinal nodes

 

·       Nerve supply

-        By branches from pundendal nerves

 

Perineum

·       The perineum is a roughly triangular area

·       Extends from the base of the labia minora to the anal canal

·       Consists of connective tissue, muscle and fat

·       Gives attachments to the muscles of the pelvic floor

 

Internal Genitalia

Lie in the pelvic cavity

Consists of,

-        Vagina

-        Uterus

-        Two uterine tubes

-        Two ovaries

 

 

            Vagina

·       A fibromuscular tube

·       Extend from vestibule of vulva to uterine cervix

·       The vaginal wall consists of 3 layers

-        Mucosa

-        Muscularis

Adventitia

        

            

Mucosa

-        Folded (thickness of folds varies according to location and hormonal stimulation

-        Lined with the stratified squamous epithelium ( glycogenated and Keratinized)

-        Basal cell layer consists of , single layer of columnar cells, nuclei is hyperchromatic, uniform, surrounded by scant cytoplasm

-        Parabasal layer

Consists of 2 -5 layers of cuboidal squamous cells with central hyperchromatic nuclei

The intermediated and superficial layers

-        Variable thickness

-        Cells contain moderate to large amount of cytoplasm

-        Variable amount of glycogen maybe presented

-        Nuclei – dispersed chromatin in intermediated layer

     Pyknotic nuclei in superficial layer

Lamina Propia

-        Lies beneath squamous epithelium

-        Consists of a loos fibrovascular stroma (contains elastic fibers, nerves and blood vessles)

-        Large stellate or spindle shaped stromal cells

-        Occasionally multinucleation

-        No glands

Muscularis

·       Consists of poorly delineated, inner circular and outer longitudinal bundles of smooth muscles

Adventitia

·       Comprises a thin coat of dense connective tissue

·       Contains lymphatic and venous plexuses and nerve bundles

 

Blood supply, nerve and lymph drainage

·       Arterial supply

·       An arterial plexus id formed round the vagina, derived from the uterine and vaginal arteries which are branches of the internal iliac arteries

 

·       Venous drainage

·       A venous plexus situated in the muscular wall, drains into the internal iliac veins

 

·       Lymph drainage

 

·       This is through the deep and superficial iliac glands

 

·       Nerve supply

 

·       This consist of,

 

Parasympathetic fibers from the sacral outflow

Sympathetic fibers from the lumber outflow

Somatic sensory fibers form the pundendal nerves