The uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes are part of the internal female reproductive system. The fallopian tubes receive an ovum after ovulation Ovulation The discharge of an ovum from a rupturing follicle in the ovary. Menstrual Cycle and help move it and/or a fertilized embryo Embryo The entity of a developing mammal, generally from the cleavage of a zygote to the end of embryonic differentiation of basic structures. For the human embryo, this represents the first two months of intrauterine development preceding the stages of the fetus. Fertilization and First Week toward the uterus via ciliated cells lining the tubes and peristaltic movements of its smooth muscle. The uterus has a thick wall made of smooth muscle (the myometrium) and an inner mucosal layer (the endometrium Endometrium The mucous membrane lining of the uterine cavity that is hormonally responsive during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. The endometrium undergoes cyclic changes that characterize menstruation. After successful fertilization, it serves to sustain the developing embryo. Embryoblast and Trophoblast Development). The most inferior portion of the uterus is the cervix, which connects the uterine cavity to the vagina Vagina The vagina is the female genital canal, extending from the vulva externally to the cervix uteri internally. The structures have sexual, reproductive, and urinary functions and a rich blood supply, mainly arising from the internal iliac artery. Vagina, Vulva, and Pelvic Floor: Anatomy. Externally, the cervix is lined by stratified squamous cells; however, the cervical canal is lined by columnar epithelium Epithelium The epithelium is a complex of specialized cellular organizations arranged into sheets and lining cavities and covering the surfaces of the body. The cells exhibit polarity, having an apical and a basal pole. Structures important for the epithelial integrity and function involve the basement membrane, the semipermeable sheet on which the cells rest, and interdigitations, as well as cellular junctions. Surface Epithelium: Histology. The transition point is known as the squamocolumnar junction Squamocolumnar junction Esophagus: Anatomy, which is the site of most cervical cancers. These organs are supplied by the uterine and ovarian arteries Arteries Arteries are tubular collections of cells that transport oxygenated blood and nutrients from the heart to the tissues of the body. The blood passes through the arteries in order of decreasing luminal diameter, starting in the largest artery (the aorta) and ending in the small arterioles. Arteries are classified into 3 types: large elastic arteries, medium muscular arteries, and small arteries and arterioles. Arteries: Histology and innervated by the autonomic nervous system Nervous system The nervous system is a small and complex system that consists of an intricate network of neural cells (or neurons) and even more glial cells (for support and insulation). It is divided according to its anatomical components as well as its functional characteristics. The brain and spinal cord are referred to as the central nervous system, and the branches of nerves from these structures are referred to as the peripheral nervous system. Nervous System: Anatomy, Structure, and Classification.
Last updated: 9 Mar, 2022
The uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes are all important organs in the female reproductive tract.
The uterus and fallopian tubes are pelvic organs.
At around 6 weeks, the mesothelium of the gonads Gonads The gamete-producing glands, ovary or testis. Hormones: Overview and Types invades underlying mesoderm Mesoderm The middle germ layer of an embryo derived from three paired mesenchymal aggregates along the neural tube. Gastrulation and Neurulation, forming the primitive sex Sex The totality of characteristics of reproductive structure, functions, phenotype, and genotype, differentiating the male from the female organism. Gender Dysphoria cords. Paramesonephric (i.e., mĂĽllerian) ducts develop alongside the mesonephric ducts and fuse at the caudal end. At this stage, the mesonephric ducts are functioning as part of the primitive urinary system ( mesonephros Mesonephros One of a pair of excretory organs (mesonephroi) which grows caudally to the first pair (pronephroi) during development. Mesonephroi are the permanent kidneys in adult amphibians and fish. In higher vertebrates, proneprhoi and most of mesonephroi degenerate with the appearance of metanephroi. The remaining ducts become wolffian ducts. Development of the Urogenital System); however, as the definitive kidney (from the metanephros Metanephros Development of the Urogenital System) takes over, the mesonephric ducts will begin differentiating into male genital structures in males or will regress in females.
Image by Lecturio.Development of the uterus, cervix, and
vagina
Vagina
The vagina is the female genital canal, extending from the vulva externally to the cervix uteri internally. The structures have sexual, reproductive, and urinary functions and a rich blood supply, mainly arising from the internal iliac artery.
Vagina, Vulva, and Pelvic Floor: Anatomy (anterior view) from the paramesonephric (mĂĽllerian) ducts and the
urogenital sinus
Urogenital Sinus
Congenital Malformations of the Female Reproductive System.
Pink structures are derived from the
paramesonephric ducts
Paramesonephric ducts
A pair of ducts near the wolffian ducts in a developing embryo. In the male embryo, they degenerate with the appearance of testicular anti-mullerian hormone. In the absence of anti-mullerian hormone, mullerian ducts give rise to the female reproductive tract, including the oviducts; uterus; cervix; and vagina.
Development of the Urogenital System; yellow structures are derived from the
urogenital sinus
Urogenital Sinus
Congenital Malformations of the Female Reproductive System.
The uterus is often tilted or bent forward or backward. It is clinically important to determine the orientation Orientation Awareness of oneself in relation to time, place and person. Psychiatric Assessment of the uterus before any uterine procedure in order to minimize risks of complications (like uterine perforation Perforation A pathological hole in an organ, blood vessel or other soft part of the body, occurring in the absence of external force. Esophagitis). The 5 orientations are:
The uterus is in contact with a number of other organs and spaces:
Fallopian tubes are also known as uterine tubes. These paired, thin muscular tubes are attached to the uterus and are approximately 10 cm in total length. There are 4 parts, as follows, in order from lateral to medial.
There are 5 major ligaments that attach to the uterus and/or fallopian tubes: the broad, cardinal, round, utero-ovarian, and uterosacral ligaments Uterosacral ligaments Vagina, Vulva, and Pelvic Floor: Anatomy.
Histologically, the uterus is composed of 3 layers:
Epithelial lining:
Stroma:
H&E-stained histologic slide depicting an unusually “clean”
squamocolumnar junction
Squamocolumnar junction
Esophagus: Anatomy of the cervix.
This slide shows the boundary between the ectocervix, made up of
stratified squamous epithelium
Stratified squamous epithelium
Surface Epithelium: Histology on the left, and the endocervix, made up of columnar
epithelium
Epithelium
The epithelium is a complex of specialized cellular organizations arranged into sheets and lining cavities and covering the surfaces of the body. The cells exhibit polarity, having an apical and a basal pole. Structures important for the epithelial integrity and function involve the basement membrane, the semipermeable sheet on which the cells rest, and interdigitations, as well as cellular junctions.
Surface Epithelium: Histology on the right.
Normal parous (meaning the individual has had a vaginal birth) cervix, as viewed on
colposcopy
Colposcopy
The examination, therapy or surgery of the cervix and vagina by means of a specially designed endoscope introduced vaginally.
Cervical Cancer Screening:
A. Exocervical mucosa
B.
Transformation zone
Transformation zone
Diagnostic Procedures in Gynecology between exocervix and endocervix
C. Endocervical mucosa appearing at external cervical os
D. Nabothian cyst (mucus-filled cyst)
The fallopian tubes have 3 layers:
Histologic specimen showing the mucosa and muscularis layer in low
power
Power
The probability that a test will correctly reject a false null hypothesis.
Statistical Tests and Data Representation.
The inset is a high-power magnification of the mucosal layer showing the ciliated
epithelium
Epithelium
The epithelium is a complex of specialized cellular organizations arranged into sheets and lining cavities and covering the surfaces of the body. The cells exhibit polarity, having an apical and a basal pole. Structures important for the epithelial integrity and function involve the basement membrane, the semipermeable sheet on which the cells rest, and interdigitations, as well as cellular junctions.
Surface Epithelium: Histology with peg cells.
Human fallopian tube wall.
Image: “Fallopian tube (lamina propoia)” by Jpogi at English Wikipedia. License: Public DomainHistology of ciliated columnar epithelium Epithelium The epithelium is a complex of specialized cellular organizations arranged into sheets and lining cavities and covering the surfaces of the body. The cells exhibit polarity, having an apical and a basal pole. Structures important for the epithelial integrity and function involve the basement membrane, the semipermeable sheet on which the cells rest, and interdigitations, as well as cellular junctions. Surface Epithelium: Histology of the fallopian tube.
Image: “Histology of ciliated columnar epithelium Epithelium The epithelium is a complex of specialized cellular organizations arranged into sheets and lining cavities and covering the surfaces of the body. The cells exhibit polarity, having an apical and a basal pole. Structures important for the epithelial integrity and function involve the basement membrane, the semipermeable sheet on which the cells rest, and interdigitations, as well as cellular junctions. Surface Epithelium: Histology of the fallopian tube” by Mikael Häggström. License: CC0 1.0The primary blood supply to the uterus is via the uterine artery. The fallopian tubes are supplied by the anastomosis between the uterine and ovarian arteries Arteries Arteries are tubular collections of cells that transport oxygenated blood and nutrients from the heart to the tissues of the body. The blood passes through the arteries in order of decreasing luminal diameter, starting in the largest artery (the aorta) and ending in the small arterioles. Arteries are classified into 3 types: large elastic arteries, medium muscular arteries, and small arteries and arterioles. Arteries: Histology.
Posterior view of the uterus showing the blood supply and venous drainage to the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovary.
The main blood supply to the uterus is via the uterine artery, a branch of the internal iliac. The ovarian artery also provides the uterus with arterial blood via an anastomosis with the ascending branch of the uterine artery. Arcuate arteries Arteries Arteries are tubular collections of cells that transport oxygenated blood and nutrients from the heart to the tissues of the body. The blood passes through the arteries in order of decreasing luminal diameter, starting in the largest artery (the aorta) and ending in the small arterioles. Arteries are classified into 3 types: large elastic arteries, medium muscular arteries, and small arteries and arterioles. Arteries: Histology branch off of the uterine artery, supplying the myometrium.
Image by Lecturio.The primary lymphatic drainage for each section of the uterus and fallopian tubes is through:
The uterus and tubes are innervated by the autonomic nervous system Nervous system The nervous system is a small and complex system that consists of an intricate network of neural cells (or neurons) and even more glial cells (for support and insulation). It is divided according to its anatomical components as well as its functional characteristics. The brain and spinal cord are referred to as the central nervous system, and the branches of nerves from these structures are referred to as the peripheral nervous system. Nervous System: Anatomy, Structure, and Classification ( ANS ANS The ans is a component of the peripheral nervous system that uses both afferent (sensory) and efferent (effector) neurons, which control the functioning of the internal organs and involuntary processes via connections with the CNS. The ans consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Autonomic Nervous System: Anatomy). Nerve fibers Nerve Fibers Slender processes of neurons, including the axons and their glial envelopes (myelin sheath). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the central nervous system. Nervous System: Histology of the ANS ANS The ans is a component of the peripheral nervous system that uses both afferent (sensory) and efferent (effector) neurons, which control the functioning of the internal organs and involuntary processes via connections with the CNS. The ans consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Autonomic Nervous System: Anatomy pass via splanchnic nerves → inferior hypogastric plexus → uterovaginal plexus
Cervical cancer Cervical cancer Cervical cancer, or invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC), is the 3rd most common cancer in women in the world, with > 50% of the cases being fatal. In the United States, ICC is the 13th most common cancer and the cause of < 3% of all cancer deaths due to the slow progression of precursor lesions and, more importantly, effective cancer screening. Cervical Cancer: typically arises from the transformation zone Transformation zone Diagnostic Procedures in Gynecology out of premalignant lesions due to infection with high-risk HPV HPV Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a nonenveloped, circular, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Papillomaviridae family. Humans are the only reservoir, and transmission occurs through close skin-to-skin or sexual contact. Human papillomaviruses infect basal epithelial cells and can affect cell-regulatory proteins to result in cell proliferation. Papillomavirus (HPV) strains. Early cervical neoplasia is asymptomatic, though it may present with contact bleeding (e.g., bleeding with intercourse). Diagnosis is often made by routine screening Screening Preoperative Care with a cervical Pap smear Pap smear Cytological preparation of cells collected from a mucosal surface and stained with Papanicolaou stain. Cervical Cancer Screening with cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus Human papillomavirus Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a nonenveloped, circular, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Papillomaviridae family. Humans are the only reservoir, and transmission occurs through close skin-to-skin or sexual contact. Human papillomaviruses infect basal epithelial cells and can affect cell-regulatory proteins to result in cell proliferation. Papillomavirus (HPV) (hrHPV) testing, and biopsy Biopsy Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body. Ewing Sarcoma.