ANATOMY

OF THE
FEMALE
GENITAL
SYSTEM

THE VULVA

1. Mons Veneris:
a pad of fat overlying the
symphysis pubis and
covered by skin & hairs.
2. Clitoris:
an erectile cavernous
structure below the
symphysis pubis.
formed of a small glans and
two corpora cavernosa.

THE VULVA

3. Labia Majora:
he outer 2 skin folds,
raised by underlying fat,
and passing back from
the mons veneris to the
perineum. The outer skin
is covered by hairs while
the inner medial surface
is smooth, hairless and
contains sebaceous and
sweat glands.
4. Labia Minora:
2 thin folds of modified
skin situated medial to
the labia majora.

THE VULVA

5. The Hymen:

a membrane, situated
about 2 cm from the
vestibule that
demarcates the
external from the
internal genital organs,
and partially closes the
vaginal orifice.

THE VULVA

6. Bartholin Glands: (Greater Vestibular

Glands):

bilateral compound racemose glands

secrete mucus during sexual excitement
situated deep in the labia majora, at the
junction of the posterior and the middle thirds
Its duct is 2 cm long and opens between the
hymen and the labium minus.

7. Vestibule:

the area between the inner aspects of the labia minora and the fourchette.
Structures that open in the vestibule are:

8. Vestibular bulbs:

oblong masses of erectile tissue that lie on each side of the vaginal introitus

9. External urethral meatus:

Urethra
The Bartholin glands ducts.
3. The vagina.

a triangular slit in the anterior part of the vestibule below the clitoris in which the urethra
opens.

10. Skenes duct:

2 blindly ending para-urethral tubules which open in the floor of the urethra, few
millimetres form the external urethral meatus.

Types of hymen

Bi-perforate

Virgin

Deflorated

Cribriform

imperforate

Blood Supply

Arterial Supply:

Internal pudendal artery: The terminal branch of the

anterior division of the internal iliac artery that ends as
the dorsal artery of the clitoris.
Branches from the femoral artery, supply the anterior
part.
Superficial and deep external pudendal arteries.

Venous Drainage:

The veins draining the vulva form a venous plexus

from which veins accompany their corresponding
arteries. The veins draining the clitoris join vaginal and
vesical venous plexuses.

Lymphatic drainage and Nerve Supply

Lymphatic Drainage of the vulva

From the skin and appendages, to the superficial inguinal lymph

nodes, to the deep inguinal and femoral lymph nodes of which
the lymph node of Cloquet drains the clitoris directly.
From the former superficial group, lymphatic channels pass to
the deep pelvic nodes including; the external iliac, common iliac,
then para-aortic lymph nodes.

Nerve Supply of the vulva

The vulva is supplied mainly from the pudendal nerve (S 2, 3 &

4).
Additional sensory nerves are supplied from; the Ilio-inguinal
nerve (L1), the genital branch of genito-femoral nerve (L 1,2), and
the posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh.

THE VAGINA

A fibromuscular tube from the vulva to

the uterus forming an angle of 60 with
the horizontal plane.

Length:

anterior wall is 8-9 cm

posterior wall is 10 -11 cm

Vaginal Fornices:

The cervix projects in the upper blind

end of the vagina that forms a pouch
(vaginal pouch) around the cervix and
is divided into four fornices : two
lateral, anterior and posterior
(deeper) fornices.

Anatomical Relations of the Vagina

Anteriorly:

Posteriorly:

Upper 1/3: trigone of urinary bladder

Lower 2/3: urethra.
Upper 1/3: peritoneum of Douglas
pouch.
Middle 1/3: ampulla of rectum.
Lower 1/3: the perineal body.

Laterally:

Lower end: Bulbocavernosus muscle,

vestibular bulb, and Bartholin gland.
1 cm above orifice: urogenital diaphragm
2 cm above the orifice: levator ani
muscle with the pelvic fascia above it.
The lateral fornix gives attachment, to
the lower part of the cardinal ligaments.
The ureters pass through the cardinal
ligaments 1 cm lateral to the vagina.

Vaginal Supports

Ligaments attached to the upper vagina:

Pubocervical ligament anteriorly,

Mackenrodts ligament laterally,
Uterosacral ligament posteriorly.

Levator ani muscles : pubo-vaginalis part

Triangular ligament, and the Perineal membrane.
Vaginal fascia: Connective tissue fascia that condenses
anteriorly forming the vesico-vaginal fascia and
posteriorly forming the recto-vaginal fascia.

Histology of the Vagina

The cut section of the vagina

is H shaped with
approximation of the anterior
to the posterior vaginal walls.
It is formed of
Three layers;

mucosa, formed of squamous

epithelium without glands, the
musculosa, which is
fibromuscular with some fibres
from the levator ani inserted into
it, and the
adventitia, which is connective
tissue continuous with the
paracolpos.

Blood Supply

Arterial supply:
The vaginal artery (from internal iliac artery)
Additional branches from:
Middle rectal artery (from internal iliac artery)
Inferior rectal artery (from the internal pudendal artery, of the
internal iliac artery)

Venous drainage:
A plexus around the
vagina (the vaginal
plexus), drain into the
internal iliac vein by
veins that accompany
their corresponding
arteries.

Lymphatic drainage and Nerve Supply

Lymphatic drainage of the vagina

lower 1/3 drains to the inguinal lymph nodes,

upper 1/3 follows lymphatic drainage of the cervix,
middle 1/3, drains in both upper and lower directions.

Nerve supply of the vagina:

The pudendal nerve gives sensory fibres to the lower

vagina.

Applied Anatomy

Vaginal Prolapse:
Weakness of the vaginal
supports (ligaments, fascia and
muscles) may lead to:
descent of anterior vaginal
wall (cystocele or
urethrocele),
descent of posterior vaginal
wall (rectocele or
enterocele), or
descent of the vaginal vault
after hysterectomy (vault
prolapse).

Applied Anatomy

The posterior fornix:

offers a passage to the pouch of

Douglas for performing
culdoscopy, culdocentesis and for
drainage of a pelvic abscess.

The lateral fornix:

The ureter lies 1-2 cm lateral to it

so that it may be injured during
clamping the angle of the vagina
in hysterectomy operation.

Applied Anatomy

Pudendal nerve block:

Transvaginal injection of a
local anaesthetic solution
around the pudendal nerve
as it passes around the
ischial spine gives a local
anaesthesia sufficient for
minor operations on the
vulva and vagina, and has
been used for low forceps
operations in obstetrics.

THE UTERUS

A pear shaped hollow

muscular organ
Measuring around 7.5
x 4.0 x 2.5 cm in the
longitudinal,
transverse, and
anteroposterior
diameters.
It is slightly larger in
the multipara than in
the nullipara.

Divisions
1. The corpus uteri:
Body that lies above the
internal os
Cornu = the area of
insertion of the fallopian
tubes
Fundus lies above the
insertion of the tubes.
Three structures are
attached to the cornu

round ligament anteriorly,

Fallopian tube centrally,
ovarian ligament posteriorly.

Divisions
2. The isthmus:

an area 4-5 mm in
length that lies
between
the
anatomical internal
os above, and the
histological internal
os below. It is lined
by low columnar
epithelium and few
glands.
The
isthmus
expands
during
pregnancy forming
the lower uterine
segment (10 cm)
during
the
last
trimester.

Divisions
3. The cervix:
The elongated lower part of the uterus
Measuring 2.5-3.0 cm.
Divided by the vaginal attachment into
supravaginal portion above
vaginal portion (portio-vaginalis)
below.
The cervical canal is the cavity that
communicates above with the uterine
cavity at the internal os and below
with the vagina at the external os.
The external os is round in nulliparas
and slit shaped in multiparas.
The cervical mucosa has two ridges
(anterior and posterior) from which
transverse ridges radiate to form the
arbor vitae uteri.

Position

The uterus is kept in an

anteverted anteflexed position
(AVF), with the external os
lying at the level of the ischial
spines, by the support of the
cervical ligaments, endopelvic
fascia and pelvic floor
muscles (levator ani).
Anteversion: The uterus is
inclined anteriorly to axis of
the vagina.
Anteflexion: The body of the
uterus is bent forwards upon
the cervix.

Relations of the Body of the Uterus

Anteriorly:

Posteriorly:

The bladder and

vesicouterine pouch.
The pouch of
Douglas.

Laterally:

The broad ligament

on each side.

Relations of the Supravaginal cervix

Anteriorly:

Posteriorly:

Forms the anterior wall of Douglas pouch.

Laterally:

Urinary bladder.

1/2 an inch lateral to the internal os the ureter is

crossed by the uterine artery (i.e. ureter below the
uterine artery).

The uterosacral, cardinal, and pubocervical

ligaments are attached to its posterior, lateral,
and anterior surfaces respectively.

Histology of the Uterus

Three layers:

1. Endometrium:
(mucosa)
2. Myometrium
(musculosa)
3. The peritoneal
covering or
perimetrium

Histology of the Uterus

Endometrium:
Lined by simple
cubical or
columnar
epithelium
Contains tubular
glands.
Shows cyclic
changes with the
menstrual cycle
under the
influence of
ovarian hormones

Histology of the Uterus

Myometrium
Three layers

outer longitudinal
muscle layer
middle layer of
interlacing crisscross muscle
fibres surrounding
the blood vessels
inner circular
muscle layer

Histology of the Uterus

Perimetrium:
Anteriorly:

Posteriorly:

firmly attached to the fundus and body till the isthmus

where it becomes loose and is reflected on the
superior surface of the urinary bladder forming the
vesicouterine pouch.
firmly attached to the fundus, body, cervix, and
posterior vaginal fornix then is reflected on the pelvic
colon forming the Douglas pouch.

Laterally:

the anterior and posterior peritoneal coverings blend

as the anterior and posterior layers of the broad
ligaments.

Histology of the Cervix

Endocervix: Lined by simple

columnar epithelium with compound
racemose glands or crypts that are
liable to chronic infection. It
secretes alkaline cervical mucus.
Muscle layer: Outer longitudinal
and inner circular muscles.(2 layers
only)
Ectocervix: Formed of stratified
squamous epithelium covering the
outer portion of the cervix. The
junction between squamous and
columnar epithelium at the external
os is either abrupt or it may form a
transitional zone 1-3 mm known as
the transformation zone.

Blood Supply
Arterial supply:
THE UTERINE ARTERIES

Arise from the anterior

division of internal iliac
artery.
in the base of the broad
ligament, crossing above the
ureter 1/2 an inch lateral to
the supravaginal cervix.

2 branches:

An ascending
A descending branch

Blood Supply

The ascending branches

pass upwards in a
tortuous manner parallel
to the lateral border of the
uterus between the 2
layers of the broad
ligament to end by
anastomosing with
branches of the ovarian
arteries near the uterine
cornu.
The descending cervical
branch supplies the lower
cervix.

Blood Supply

Venous drainage:

Starts as a plexus between the 2 layers of the broad ligament

(Pampiniform plexus) that communicate with the vesical plexus and
drains into the uterine and ovarian veins.

Lymphatic drainage:

Fundus: To the para-aortic lymph nodes via ovarian vessels.

Cornu: To the superficial inguinal lymph nodes via lymphatics of the
round ligament.
Body: To the internal then external iliac lymph nodes via the uterine
vessels.
Isthmus: As that of the cervix.
Cervix: Two groups of lymphatics:
Primary groups: Paracervical, parametrial, obturator, internal and
external iliac nodes.
Secondary groups: Common iliac, para-aortic, and lateral sacral lymph
nodes.

Nerve supply of the Uterus

The cervix and body are relatively insensitive to

touch, cutting and burning.
The cervix is sensitive to dilatation and the body
is sensitive to distension.
Innervations

Parasympathetic form S2,3,4

Sympathetic from:

T5 and T6 (motor)
T10, T11, T12, and L1 (sensory).

Both reach the uterus through branches of inferior

hypogastric plexus.

THE FALLOPIAN TUBE

2 tortuous tubes (10 cm in length) lie in the free

upper part of the broad ligament.
They blend medially with the cornu of the uterus
Laterally their free outer end curves backwards
towards the ovary.
Their lumen communicates between the uterine
and the peritoneal cavities.

THE FALLOPIAN TUBE

4 parts
1. Interstitial part (1
cm): pierces the
uterine wall, very
narrow, no
peritoneal covering,
no outer longitudinal
muscles.

2. Isthmus (2 cm): straight, narrow, thick walled portion lateral to

uterus.
3. Ampulla (5 cm): the widest, tortuous, thin walled outer part.
4. Infundibulum (2 cm): trumpet shaped outer end opens into the
peritoneal cavity by the tubal ostium.
The ostuim is surrounded by fimbriae, one of which is long and
directed towards the ovary (fimbria ovarica).

Tubal functions

Ovum Pick Up, at the time of ovulation, by their

free fimbrial end,
Transport Of The Ova through the tubal lumen,
by their peristaltic and ciliary movements, and
Production Of Secretions necessary for
capacitation of the sperm and nutrition of the
ova during their journey, by their lining cells.

Anatomical Relations

Bounded

above by loops of intestine

below by the broad ligament and
its contents.
medially they blends with cornu of
the uterus while
laterally they are bounded by the
lateral pelvic wall.

The ovaries lie posterior and

inferior to the Fallopian tubes at
each side.

Histology of the Fallopian tubes

Mucosa (endosalpnix): Arranged

into 4-5 main longitudinal ridges
that give rise to subsidiary folds
or plicae. It is lined by columnar
partially ciliated epithelium.
Muscle layer: Outer longitudinal
and inner circular involuntary
smooth muscles. It is thick at the
isthmus and thin at the ampulla.
Serosa (peritoneal covering): The
extrauterine part is covered by
peritoneum in the upper margin
of the broad ligament.

Blood Supply & Lymphatic Drainage

Arterial supply:

Venous drainage:

para-aortic LNs directly via ovarian lymphatics.

Nerve supply

Right ovarian vein drains directly into the IVC

Left ovarian vein drains into the left renal vein.

Lymphatic drainage:

branches from both the uterine artery, and the ovarian artery.

sympathetic and parasympathetic fibres

Applied anatomy

Tubal pain is referred to the tubal points (On the lower

abdominal wall 1/2 an inch above the midinguinal points).

THE OVARY

Almond shaped
Lying in the fossa
ovarica on the lateral
pelvic wall,
Measuring 3 x 2 x 1
cm.
Not covered by
peritoneum.
Surface is pearly
white and corrugated
by the effect or the
monthly ovulatory
activity.

Ovarian Attachments

Three attachments:

The mesovarium: A peritoneal

fold that suspends the ovary to
the back of the broad ligament.
The infundibulopelivc ligament:
suspends the upper pole of the
ovary to the lateral pelvic wall
and carries the ovarian
vessels, nerves and
lymphatics.
The ovarian ligament: attaches
the lower pole to the cornu of
the uterus.

Anatomical Relations

The ovary is bounded

medially by the Fallopian tube,

laterally by the lateral pelvic wall.
superiorly and anteriorly it is
surrounded by the small intestine
inferiorly by the ovarian fossa
where the ureter and the internal
iliac vessels pass.

Histology of the Ovary

The ovary is subdivided into; Cortex, Medulla, and Hilum.
The Medulla: The central core of the ovary surrounded by the cortex
and continuous with the hilum. It is formed of connective tissue.
The Cortex: The outer active part of the ovary that produces
hormones and oocytes. Formed of:
The surface epithelium: of cuboidal cells, called the germinal
epithelium, covering the free surface of the ovary
CT stroma: Composed of dense CT containing the oocytes. It is
condensed on the surface to form the tunica albuginea.

The Hilum: Is the site of attachment of the mesovarium that carries

blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics entering and leaving the
ovary.

Histology of the Ovary

Blood Supply and Lymphatic Drainage

Arterial supply:

Venous drainage:

The ovarian veins accompany the arterial supply, and join with
the pampiniform plexus of veins and the uterine vein.

Lymphatic drainage:

Ovarian artery: Arises from the aorta at the level of L2 and

passes through the infundibulopelvic ligament.
Ovarian branch from the uterine artery; which anastomose with
the ovarian vesels at the broad ligament.

to the para-aortic LNs via the ovarian vessels.

Nerve supply

insensitive except to squeezing on P.V examination.

sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves (T10 and T11) through
the preaortic plexus that accompany the ovarian vessel.

Ovarian Artery
Ovarian
Artery and Vein

PELVIC PART OF THE URETER

The ureter is a narrow muscular

tube, about 25 cm in length.
It runs retroperitoneally from the
kidney to the urinary bladder.
At the pelvic inlet: The ureter
enters the pelvis above the
bifurcation of the common iliac
artery anterior to the sacroiliac
joint.
In the pelvis: It runs downwards
lying in front of the internal iliac
artery.

PELVIC PART OF THE URETER

At the base of the broad

ligament it runs medially and
forwards
through
the
parameterium till it reaches
about 1 cm lateral to the
supravaginal cervix where it
passes below and at right angle
to the uterine artery.
The
ureter
then
passes
forwards through the ureteric
canal in the upper part of the
cardinal
ligament,
closely
related to the lateral vaginal
fornix, to enter the trigone of the
urinary bladder.

Blood supply of the ureter

branches from the

internal iliac artery

uterine artery
inferior vesical artery
vaginal artery.

Applied anatomy Ureteric injuries:

During Hysterectomy the ureter may be injured

at the following sites:

During clamping of the infundibulopelvic ligament as it

passes below the ovarian vessels in the lateral pelvic
wall.
During clamping of the uterine arteries as it passes
below the uterine artery 1 cm lateral to the cervix.
During clamping the vaginal angles, and the
parametrium 1.0 cm lateral to vaginal vault.

UTERINE AND CERVICAL LIGAMENTS

Broad ligament
Round ligament
Ovarian ligament

THE BROAD LIGAMENT

The broad ligament is a double sheet of

peritoneum that extends from the lateral wall of
the uterus to the lateral pelvic wall.
Its outer upper part forms the infundibulopelvic
ligament in which the ovarian vessels traverse
there way to the ovary.

Contents of the Broad Ligament

Round ligament
Ovarian vessels
Uterine vessels
Ureter
Parametrial lymphatics and lymph nodes
Sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves
Parametrial pelvic cellular tissue and fascia
Embryological remnants of the Wolffian ducts
Hydatid cyst of Morgagni
Koblets tubules
Epoophoron
Paroophoron Gartners duct

The Round Ligament

A fibromuscular ligament attached

to the uterine cornu.
Runs downwards and forwards in
between the two leafs of the broad
ligament to enter the inguinal canal
via the internal inguinal ring and
comes out of it at the external
inguinal ring to be inserted in the
upper part of the labium majus.
It pulls the uterus forwards and
help keeping it in an anteverted
position.

The ovarian ligament

A fibromuscular
ligament that
attaches the inner
lower pole of the
ovary to the cornu
of the uterus.
It plays no role in
pelvic support of
the uterus.

THE CERVICAL LIGAMENTS

The cervical ligaments are

condensed thickening of the
pelvic cellular tissue, that lies
between the pelvic peritoneum
above and the levators ani
below and radiates outwards
from the cervix to reach the
pelvic walls.
They act as the chief support
of the uterus and pelvic
structures

Three Pairs of Ligaments

Mackenrodts ligaments (The cardinal ligaments of the

cervix): spread out on either side from the lateral surface
of the cervix and vagina, in a fan-shaped manner, and
are inserted in the lateral pelvic wall.
Utero-sacral ligaments: From the cervix and vagina,
backwards surrounding the rectum and below the uterosacral folds of peritoneum, to become inserted in the
third piece of the sacrum.
Pubo-cervical ligaments: extend from the anterior
surface of the cervix and vagina, forwards beneath the
bladder and surrounding the urethra, to the posterior
surface of the pubis.

THE PELVIC FLOOR

All tissues lying between the pelvic cavity and,

the surface of the vulva and perineum.
Includes:

Pelvic peritoneum
Extraperitoneal fat and cellular tissue
Levators ani and their fascial coats
The triangular ligament (urogenital diaphragm)
The perineal muscles and their aponeuroses
Subcutaneous fascia and fat
Skin.

Pelvic Diaphragm
= The levator ani muscles
+ the fascia which covers their upper and lower
surfaces
In the midline, the pelvic floor is pierced by the

Urethra
Vagina
Rectum.

The Levators ani muscle

The ischiococcygeus part:

Origin from the ischial spine
Inserted into the front of the coccyx.
The iliococcygeus:
Origin from the white line on the lateral Wall of the pelvis,
inserted into tip of the coccyx and raphe
The pubococcygeus
Origin from the back of the pubic ramus
Inserted into tip of the coccyx and raphe

The pubococcygeus

Sends fibres to the urethra, vagina and rectum

to blend with their intrinsic musclesdescribed as
Pubourethralis
Pubovaginalis
Puborectalis

The Perineum