Exam 5 Review: Chapter 27 Uterine Anatomy
uterine tubes = oviducts - The muscular passages, lined by a partially ciliated and highly folded mucosa, through which the eggs = ova pass from the ovary to the uterus after ovulation; they are the usual site for fertilization; they provide a mucous secretion to nourish the gametes which pass through them; each is divided into parts: the fimbriae, infundibulum, ampulla, tube or duct proper, and isthmus which merges with the uterus; peristaltic waves and a fluid current generated by the ciliated simple columnar epithelial lining assist in the movement of eggs = ova (and to a lesser degree, spermatozoa, by reverse peristalsis) along their length; they are open to both the interior of the uterus and to the peritoneal cavity; they perform complex movements to position themselves to be in allignment with the ovulated egg = ovum; they are supported within the pelvic cavity by the mesosapinx, a portion of the broad ligament.
infundibulum - The expanded funnel-shaped distal end of the uterine tube = oviduct to which the fimbriae are attached; medially it narrows to merge with the ampulla.
fimbriae - The fringe of finger-like projections of tissue at the distal ends of the uterine tube = oviduct which are extensions from the infundibulum; they move to position themselves near the site or ovulation on the ovary surface are covered in ciliated epithelium which creates a fluid current drawing peritoneal fluid, and at ovulation, if all goes well, the discharged egg = ovum, into the interior of the uterine tube = oviduct.
ampulla - The goblet-shaped dilatation (expansion) near the distal end of the uterine tube = oviduct which merges with the infundibulum to which the fimbriae are attached; medially it narrows to form the uterine tube = oviduct proper.
uterus - The hollow muscular organ located in the pelvic cavity of the female, between the urinary bladder and the rectum, in which the early embryo (blastocyst stage) implants and develops; it elaborates a supportive structure, the placenta, in conjunction with the embryo, to provide close connections between fetal and maternal circulation for the purpose of exchanging nutrients, respiratory gases, wastes, and various regulatory substances; it is divided into a fundus, body, isthmus, and cervix; its wall consists of an inner glandular mucosa, the endometrium, a thick muscularis, the myometrium, and a serosa, the epimetrium; the endometrium undergoes cyclical change, regulated by FSH and LH from the anterior pituitary, a part of the menstrual cycle; it is supported within the pelvic cavity by the broad and round ligaments. aka -- womb.
fundus - The broad rounded thick muscular base of the uterus located superior to the attachment of the uterine tubes and that portion farthest from the cervix.
body - The main portion of the uterus located inferior to the fundus and the attachment of the uterine tubes and superior to the isthmus.
isthmus - The short narrowed portion of the uterus located inferior to the body and superior to the cervix.
cervix - The narrow rounded end of the uterus which projects inferiorly into the vaginal canal; it has a narrow lumen, the cervical canal, which is guarded by a thick cervical mucus to prevent microbial contamination of the uterus by the adjacent normal flora of the vaginal canal; spermatozoa must penetrate this cervical mucus in order to traverse the uterus and uterine tubes = oviducts to locate and fertilize the egg = ovum.
cervical mucus - The thick secretion of the cervical glands which fills the cervical canal and covers the external opening ("os") of the cervix to prevent microbial contamination of the uterus by the adjacent normal flora of the vaginal canal; spermatozoa must penetrate this cervical mucus in order to traverse the uterus and uterine tubes = oviducts to locate and fertilize the egg = ovum; to facillitate penetration by spermatozoa, the secretions become less viscous after the midcycle pulse of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary; failure of this hormonally regulated change in viscosity can be a cause of infertility.
serosa - A simple squamous lining found in the various ventral body cavities which lines the walls of the cavities and the organs contained therein and produces a watery serous fluid which lubricates the lining surfaces.
perimetrium - The outer serous lining of the uterus, a portion of the visceral peritoneum.
muscularis - The muscular coat or tunic of any hollow organ or tubular structure; its contractions propel the contents of the organ elsewhere; it lies between the inner submucosa and the outer adventitia or serosa; in the uterus, it consists of interlacing buncles of smooth muscle which contract rhythmically during labor to discharge the infant and afterbirth from the womb; it is regulated by autonomic NS impulses, oxytocin and prostaglandins.
myometrium - The thick muscularis layer of the uterine wall which consists of interlacing buncles of smooth muscle which contract rhythmically during labor to discharge the infant and afterbirth from the womb; it is regulated by autonomic NS impulses, oxytocin and prostaglandins.
mucosa - The specialized epithelial lining which produces a lubricating fluid containing the sticky protein mucin which traps microbes and dirt particles and protects any body structure which is continuous with the external environment except for the skin itself.
endometrium - The inner glandular mucous membrane lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium and supported by a complex vascular supply, which lines the uterus; it consists of two layers, an deeper permanent stratum basalis and a variable superficial stratum functionalis; the stratum functionalis is sloughed off at the end of each menstrual cycle as a blood tinged discharge, but then grows again, under the influence of changing levels of estrogens and progesterone from the corpus luteum of the ovary; it is the tissue layer in which the early embryo (blastocyst stage) implants and develops; it elaborates a supportive structure, the placenta, in conjunction with the embryo, to provide close connections between fetal and maternal circulation for the purpose of exchanging nutrients, respiratory gases, wastes, and various regulatory substances.
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endometrial glands - The complex branched tubular mucous glands of the inner mucosal lining of the uterus which fluctuate in length as a part of the uterine cycle of growth and degeneration of the endometrium of the uterus.
stratum functionalis - The superficial thicker (~2/3 of total) variable layer of the endometrium which arises from stem cells in the deeper stratum basalis layer, whose vessels and glands repeatedly gives rise to this layer in accord with the uterine cycle; the tissues of this layer are responsive to the reproductive hormone changes; this layer is sloughed off at the end of each menstrual cycle as a blood tinged discharge, but then grows again, under the influence of changing levels of estrogens and progesterone from the corpus luteum of the ovary.
stratum basalis - The deeper thinner (~1/3 of total) permanent basal layer of the endometrium whose stem cells, vessels and glands, repeatedly gives rise to the thicker superficial stratum functionalis layer in accord with the changing levels of estrogens and progesterone which regulate the uterine cycle; the tissues of this layer itself are unresponsive to the reproductive hormone changes.
List:
7. the organs and the functions of each organ in the female
reproductive system.
| Organ | Function(s) |
| ovary | produce eggs via meiosis; ovulate eggs periodically; synthesize estrogens and progesterone |
| uterine tubes = Fallopian tubes = oviducts | provide location and peristalsis to encourage ovum to encounter spermatozoans for purposes of fertilization |
| uterus | receive, implant, and nourish developing embryo/fetus; form placenta; expel fetus by muscular contractions at term |
| vagina | receive penis during intercourse; form exterior portion of birth canal |
| external genitalia | for sexual arousal |
| breast | secondary sexual characteristic; source of colostrum and milk to nourish neonate |
Sketch and label:
15. a chart illustrating the histological changes in the female uterine cycle.
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16. a longitudinal section of the uterus. List the functions of each part.
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Coronal or Frontal View of Longitudinal Section |
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Midsagittal View of Longitudinal Section |
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Describe:
1. the gross and histological structure of the uterine tube. List their
functions.
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Gross Structure of the Uterine Tube |
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Histological Structure of the Uterine Tube |
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2. the gross and histological regions of the uterus. List their functions.
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Gross Structure of the Uterus |
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