Vaginal Fornix – Female Reproductive Organs

00:00 If we carry on looking at the vagina, then deep within the vagina as it is approaching the cervix, we find a region known as the fornix and that's this region here which essentially as a gutter-like structure. A gutter-like ring that surrounds the cervix which is protruding into the vault of the vagina.

00:21 Protruding into the actual cavity of the vagina. And here we can see in this diagram we have what's known as the external os and that is a small opening which we can see here as well.

00:34 The opening that is continuous with the cavity of the uterus and the vagina.

00:39 And we can see the cervix this region here, is actually pushing into the vagina, this region just here. And as it pushes in, it leaves a gutter that surrounds the cervix.

00:51 And this gutter which we can appreciate is around here here we have the wall of the vagina here and here is known as the fornix.

00:59 And we can recognize four parts to a fornix.

01:04 We can have an anterior portion a posterior portion and two lateral portions.

01:09 So this is the anterior aspect of the fornix. This is the posterior aspect.

01:15 And around the sides of the cervix, we will found the more lateral, so deep within here, we find the lateral aspect of the fornix.

01:23 But this is a continuous gutter most like a moat that surrounds a castle.

01:28 We have mentioned previously that the posterior fornix is the deepest of these fornices. And it’s important because it is closely related to the rectouterine pouch.

01:40 And I have mentioned previously that the rectouterine pouch, this peritoneal pouch here is deep and free fluid and pus can collect in this region.

01:52 Access to this pouch is best served by passing through the vagina and through the posterior fornix and we can see it passing through in this direction.

02:00 So transvaginal approach through the vagina, through the posterior fornix to drain free fluid or pus from the rectouterine pouch.