ANATOMY OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM IS COMPOSED OF THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA (VULVA), THE FEMALE INTERNAL
GENITALIA AND THE BREAST.

THE FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA OR THE VULVA

THE VULVA IS COMPOSED OF: THE MONS PUBIS, THE LABIA MAJORA, THE LABIA MINORA, THE CLITORIS, THE VESTIBULE, THE
URETHRAL ORIFICE, THE VAGINA, THE HYMEN, THE FOURCHETTE, AND THE PERINEUM.

THE MONS PUBIS OR MONS VENERIS:

THIS IS A PAD OF FAT LYING ABOVE THE SYMPHYSIS PUBIS. IT IS COVERED WITH SKIN AND HAIR GROWS ON IT FROM THE TIME
OF PUBERTY.

THE LABIA MAJORA (“GREATER LIPS”)

THESE ARE TWO FOLDS OF FAT AND AREOLAR TISSUE COVERED WITH SKIN AND PUBIC HAIR ON THE OUTER SURFACE. THEY
RISE FROM THE MONS PUBIS ABOVE AND MERGE AT THE PERINEUM BEHIND AND BELOW.

THE LABIA MINORA (“LESSER LIPS”)

THESE ARE TWO THIN FOLDS OF SKIN LYING BETWEEN THE LABIA MAJORA. ANTERIORLY THEY DIVIDE TO ENCIRCLE THE
CLITORIS. POSTERIORLY THEY FUSE TO FORMING THE FOURCHETTE.

THE CLITORIS:
THIS IS A SMALL RUDIMENTARY ORGAN CORRESPONDING TO THE MALE PENIS. IT IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND HIGHLY
VASCULAR AND PLAYS A PART IN ORGASM DURING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.

THE VESTIBULE:
THIS IS THE SMOOTH PINK AREA ENCLOSED BY THE LABIA MINORA. IT IS PERFORATED BY THE URETHRA ORIFICE ABOVE AND
THE VAGINA ORIFICE BELOW.

THE URETHRAL ORIFICE:

IT LIES 2.5 CM POSTERIOR TO THE CLITORIS. ON EITHER SIDE LIE THE OPENINGS OF THE SKENE’S DUCTS. THE PARA URETHRAL
GLANDS OF SKIN LIE ON THE SIDE WALLS OF THE URETHRA.

THE VAGINAL ORIFICE OR VAGINAL INTROITUS:

IT OCCUPIES THE POSTERIOR TWO THIRDS OF THE VESTIBULE. IT IS PARTIALLY OCCLUDED BY A THIN MEMBRANE KNOWN AS
THE HYMEN. IT IS TURN DURING THE FIRST SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AND FURTHER TURN AGAIN DURING THE BIRTH OF THE
BABY.

BARTHOLIN’S GLANDS:
THESE ARE TWO SMALL GLANDS THAT LIE IN THE POSTERIOR PART OF THE LABIA MAJORA. THEIR DUCTS OPEN ON EITHER SIDE
OF THE VAGINA ORIFICE. THEY SECRETE MUCUS WHICH LUBRICATES THE VAGINAL OPENING.

THE PERINEUM IS THE PORTION LYING BETWEEN THE ANUS AND THE VAGINAL ORIFICE. IT STRETCHES DURING DELIVERY
AND IS LIABLE TO TEAR IF NOT WELL PROTECTED.

BLOOD SUPPLY: THE BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE VULVA IS BY THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL PUDENDAL ARTERIES. VEINOUS
DRAINAGE IS BY THE CORRESPONDING VEINS.

LYMPH DRAINAGE IS VIA THE INGUINAL GLANDS.

NERVE SUPPLY IS BY BRANCHES OF THE PUDENDAL NERVE. THE VAGINAL NERVES SUPPLY THE VESTIBULAR BULB AND THE
CLITORIS.

THE INTERNAL GENITALIA

COMPOSITION
THE FEMALE INTERNAL GENITALIA ARE COMPOSED OF:
THE VAGINA; THE UTERUS; THE FALLOPIAN TUBES, AND THE OVARIES
THE VAGINA
THE VAGINA IS A MUSCULAR TUBE THAT RUNS FROM THE VULVA UPWARDS AND BACKWARDS TO JOIN THE CERVIX. IT LIES IN
THE PELVIC CAVITY BETWEEN THE URINARY BLADDER AND THE RECTUM. THE ANTERIOR WALL MEASURES 7.5 CM LONG AND
THE POSTERIOR WALL 10 CM.

RELATIONS
ANTERIORLY LIES THE URETHRA AND THE URINARY BLADDER
POSTERIORLY LIES THE POUCH OF DOUGLAS, THE RECTUM, AND THE PERINEAL BODY
SUPERIORLY LIES THE UTERUS.
LATERALLY ON EITHER SIDE LIES THE PELVIC FASCIA AND THE URETERS.
STRUCTURE:
THE VAGINA HAS THREE LAYERS, THE OUTER FIBROUS COAT MADE OF PELVIC FASCIA, A MIDDLE MUSCULAR LAYER MADE OF
CIRCULAR MUSCLE FIBERS, AND AN INNERMOST LINING OF SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM WHICH IS THROWN INTO RIDGES
CALLED RUGAE. THIS RUGAE PERMIT THE VAGINA TO STRETCH DURING INTERCOURSE AND DELIVERY OF THE BABY.

THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VAGINA IS KNOWN AS THE VAULT. THE CERVIX PROJECTS INTO THIS UPPER PART.
SURROUNDING THE CERVIX IS A RECESS WHICH IS DIVIDED INTO TWO LATERAL FORNIXES, THE POSTERIOR AND THE ANTERIOR
FORNIX. THE POSTERIOR FORNIX IS THE DEEPEST.

CONTENT: THE VAGINA HAS NO GLANDS BUT IT IS KEPT MOIST BY SECRETIONS FROM THE CERVIX AND TRANSUDATES FROM
BLOOD VESSELS. THE VAGINA IS ACIDIC (PH OF 4.5) OWING TO THE ACTION OF THE LACTOBACILLUS ON GLYCOGEN
DEPOSITS ON THE VAGINAL WALL TRANSFORMING IT TO ACID. THIS ACID HELPS TO PROTECT THE VAGINA FROM THE
GROWTH OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA.

THE NORMAL FLORA OR INHABITANT OF THE VAGINA IS THE LACTOBACILLUS (DODERLAIN’S BACILLI).
BLOOD SUPPLY IS BY THE VAGINAL ARTERY AND A BRANCH OF THE UTERINE ARTERY.
VENOUS DRAINAGE IS BY THE CORRESPONDING VEINS.
LYMPH DRAINAGE IS BY THE INTERNAL ILIAC, THE SACRAL AND THE INGUINAL GLANDS.
NERVE SUPPLY IS BY THE PELVIC PLEXUS.
FUNCTIONS OF THE VAGINA
IT IS A PASSAGE THAT ALLOWS THE ESCAPE OF MENSTRUAL FLOW.
IT RECEIVES THE PENIS AND THE EJECTED SPERM DURING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
IT PROVIDES AN EXIT FOR THE FETUS DURING DELIVERY.
THE UTERUS
THE UTERUS IS A PEAR-SHAPED MUSCULAR ORGAN SITUATED IN THE TRUE PELVIS WITH ITS PEAR-SHAPED END POINTING
DOWNWARDS INTO THE UPPER PART OF THE VAGINA AND THE BASE POINTING UPWARDS. IN THE NON-PREGNANT STATE

IT WEIGHS 60 G AND MEASURES 7.5 CM LONG, 5CM WIDE AND 2.5CM THICK.

POSITION: THE UTERUS IS ANTEVERTED AND ANTEFLEXED I.E. IT LEANS FORWARD AND BENDS FORWARD ON ITSELF.

STRUCTURE OF THE UTERUS:

THE UTERUS IS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS- THE FUNDUS, THE BODY, AND THE CERVIX. THE FUNDUS IS THE DOMED
PORTION ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE FALLOPIAN TUBES. THE BODY OR CORPUS IS THE PORTION BETWEEN THE CERVIX

AND THE LEVEL OF THE UTERINE TUBES.

THE CERVIX OR NECK IS THE LOWER POINTED PORTION OF THE UTERUS WHICH OPENS INTO THE UPPER PART OF THE
VAGINA. THE CERVIX OPENS INTO UTERINE CAVITY THROUGH THE INTERNAL OS. IT ALSO OPENS INTO THE VAGINA
THROUGH THE EXTERNAL OS. THE CERVIX ENCLOSES A SMALL CANAL WHICH IS FILLED WITH MUCUS DURING PREGNANCY.
THE ISTHMUS IS THE NARROW AREA BETWEEN THE CERVIX AND THE UTERINE CAVITY. IT MEASURES 7MM LONG AND IT
ENLARGES DURING PREGNANCY TO FORM THE LOWER UTERINE SEGMENT.
LAYERS:
THE UTERUS HAS THREE LAYERS. THE OUTERMOST LAYER IS THE PERIMETRIUM. IT IS FIBROUS AND PROTECTS
THE UTERUS. THE MIDDLE LAYER IS THE MUSCULAR LAYER OR MYOMETRIUM. IT CONTAINS BLOOD VESSELS, NERVES

AND LYMPHATICS. THIS LAYER CONSISTS OF LONGITUDINAL, CIRCULAR AND OBLIQUE MUSCLE FIBERS ARRANGED IN A

FIGURE OF EIGHT MANNER. THIS ARRANGEMENT MAKES THEM TO ACT LIKE LIVING LIGATURES LIGATING BLOOD

VESSELS THEREBY CONTROLLING BLEEDING AFTER DELIVERY AND DURING MENSES.

THE INNERMOST LAYER IS THE ENDOMETRIUM. IT IS MADE UP OF CILIATED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM AND DIPS DOWN
TO FORM GLANDS WHICH SECRETE MUCUS. IT IS THIS LAYER OF THE UTERUS WHICH IS SHED MONTHLY DURING

MENSTRUATION.

BLOOD SUPPLY: THE BLOOD SUPPLY IS BY THE UTERINE ARTERY WHICH IS A BRANCH OF THE INTERNAL ILIAC ARTERY.
VENOUS DRAINAGE IS BY THE CORRESPONDING VEINS.
LYMPH DRAINAGE IS BY THE INTERNAL ILIAC GLANDS AND THE AND OTHER PELVIC LYMPH GLANDS.
NERVE SUPPLY IS BY THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, VIA THE HYPOGASTRIC OR PELVIC PLEXUS.
FUNCTIONS OF THE UTERUS:
It provides an environment for the implantation of the fertilized ovum and shelters the fetus
during pregnancy.
IT NURTURES THE GROWING THE DEVELOPING FETUS.
IT SHEDS THE ENDOMETRIUM ONCE EVERY MONTH.
IT CONTRACTS TO EXPEL THE FETUS AT TERM.
IT CONTROLS BLEEDING AFTER DELIVERY AND DURING MENSES.
RELATIONS:
ANTERIORLY IS THE UTERO-VESICAL POUCH AND THE URINARY BLADDER.
POSTERIORLY IS THE RECTO-UTERINE POUCH OR POUCH OF DOUGLAS AND THE RECTUM.
LATERALLY; ON EITHER SIDE OF THE UTERUS ARE THE BROAD LIGAMENTS, THE UTERINE TUBES, AND THE OVARIES.
SUPERIORLY ARE THE INTESTINES
INFERIORLY IS THE VAGINA.
SUPPORTS OF THE UTERUS
THE UTERUS IS SUPPORTED IN THE PELVIC CAVITY BY THE PELVIC FLOOR, THE PELVIC ORGANS AND BY SEVERAL
LIGAMENTS. THESE LIGAMENTS ARE: -
1. THE TRANSVERSE CERVICAL LIGAMENTS OR THE CARDINAL LIGAMENTS OR “MACKENROID’S LIGAMENTS”
2. THEY LEAVE FROM THE SIDES OF THE CERVIX TO THE SIDEWALLS OF THE PELVIS.
3. THE UTERO-SACRAL LIGAMENTS: THEY PASS BACKWARDS FROM THE CERVIX TO THE SACRUM BEHIND.
4. THE PUBOCERVICAL LIGAMENTS: THEY PASS FROM THE CERVIX, UNDER THE BLADDER, TO THE PUBIC BONE.
5. THE BROAD LIGAMENTS: THE ARE FORMED FROM FOLDS OF PERITONEUM WHICH DRAG DOWN OVER THE UTERINE
TUBES.
6. THEY HANG DOWN LIKE A CURTAIN AND SPREAD FROM THE SIDES OF THE UTERUS TO THE SIDEWALLS OF THE
PELVIS.
7. THE ROUND LIGAMENTS: THEY LEAVE FROM THE CORNUAL OF THE UTERUS, PASS IN BETWEEN THE FOLDS OF THE
BROAD LIGAMENTS, THROUGH THE INGUINAL CANAL TO INSERT INTO THE LABIUM MAJUS.
8. THE OVARIAN LIGAMENTS: THEY LEAVE FROM THE CORNUA OF THE UTERUS, PASS DOWN BETWEEN THE FOLDS OF
THE BROAD LIGAMENTS TO THE OVARIES.

THE FALLOPIAN TUBES OR OVIDUCTS

THE FALLOPIAN TUBES OR OVIDUCTS ARE TWO SMALL TUBES EACH TAKING ITS RISE FROM THE CORNUA OF THE
UTERUS AND GOING LATERALLY TOWARDS THE SIDEWALLS OF THE PELVIS. EACH MEASURE ABOUT 10 CM LONG AND HAS F

FOUR PORTIONS NAMELY: THE INTERSTITIAL PORTION, THE ISTHMUS, THE AMPULLA AND THE INFUNDIBULUM.

THE INTERSTITIAL PORTION IS THE PART BURIED IN THE UTERINE WALL. THE ISTHMUS IS THE NARROWEST PORTION OF
THE TUBE NEXT TO THE UTERUS. THE AMPULLA IS THE DILATED PORTION OF THE TUBE WHILE THE INFUNDIBULUM
IS THE TRUMPET-SHAPED PORTION WHICH OPENS INTO THE PERITONEAL CAVITY. THE EDGES HAVE

FINGERLIKE PROJECTIONS KNOWN AS FIMBRIA, THE LONGEST BEING FIMBRIA OVARICA WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE

OVARY.

LAYERS:
EACH TUBE HAS THREE LAYERS: THE OUTER LAYER IS PERITONEUM OR BROAD LIGAMENT, A MIDDLE MUSCULAR
LAYER OF LONGITUDINAL AND CIRCULAR MUSCLE FIBERS CONTAINING BLOOD VESSELS AND NERVES AND THE
INNERMOST LAYER OF CILIATED EPITHELIUM. THE CILIA, THE PERISTALTIC ACTION OF THE TUBE,
AND THE MUCUS IN THE TUBE HELP TO WAFT OR SWEEP THE OVUM TOWARDS THE UTERINE CAVITY.

RELATIONS OF THE TUBES:

SUPERIORLY THE - BROAD LIGAMENTS AND THE INTESTINES.
INFERIORLY THE - BROAD LIGAMENTS AND THE OVARIES
ANTERIORLY THE - BROAD LIGAMENTS AND THE INTESTINES.
POSTERIORLY - THE BROAD LIGAMENTS AND THE INTESTINES
LATERALLY - THE SIDEWALLS OF THE PELVIS
BLOOD SUPPLY IS BY THE OVARIAN ARTERY.
VENOUS DRAINAGE IS BY THE CORRESPONDING VEIN.
LYMPH DRAINAGE IS BY THE LUMBAR GLANDS.
NERVE SUPPLY IS BY THE OVARIAN PLEXUS.
FUNCTION:
IT SERVES AS A PLACE FOR FERTILIZATION OF THE OVUM.
IT RECEIVES AND CARRIES THE OVUM FROM THE OVARY TO THE UTERINE CAVITY AFTER OVULATION BY ITS
PERISTALTIC ACTION THE MUCUS AND SWEEPING MOVEMENT OF THE CILIA.