Female Reproductive System & Breast Anatomy Overview

Female Reproductive System Overview

• The female reproductive system encompasses internal and external organs
• The internal organs include ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, cervix, and vagina.
• The external structures comprise the vulva.

Breast Anatomy

• Location: Pectoral region, base extending from the 2nd to 6th ribs laterally to midaxillary line
• Structure: Nipples, areola, tubercles, axillary tail, and suspensory ligaments
• Tissue types: Glandular (lobules and ducts), connective, and fatty tissue.

Breast Blood Supply

• Perforating branches of internal thoracic artery and intercostal arteries
• Axillary artery with lateral thoracic and thoracoacromial branches
• Circular areolar plexus, axillary and internal thoracic veins
• Afferent mammary and external jugular veins

Breast Lymphatic Drainage

• Drainage based on quadrants, including axillary and parasternal nodes
• Lymph flow also drains to infra- and supraclavicular areas
• Some of the lymph also drains superiorly to the supradiaphragmatic areas.

Clinical Significance of the Breast

• Conditions like breast abscess (mastitis), cysts, and tumors.
• Abnormalities like micromastia (hypoplasia) and macromastia (abnormal enlargement)
• Gynecomastia (enlarged male breast tissue)
• Breast Cancer: Location, symptoms, stages, and associated risk factors

Ovaries: Gross Anatomy

• Located posterior and inferior to the uterine tubes, weighing 5-8 grams.
• They have lateral and medial surfaces
• Possess upper and lower poles with anterior and posterior borders

Uterine Tubes: Gross Anatomy

• Tubal intramural portion
• Tubal isthmic portion
• Tubal ampullary portion
• Fimbriated infundibulum

Uterus: Gross Anatomy

• Hollow, thick-walled, muscular reproductive organ
• Located in the true pelvis
• Consists of the body, fundus, and cervix

Uterus: Position

• Commonly positioned anteverted and anteflexed—angle of anteflexion approximately 125 degrees and angle of anteversion about 90 degrees
• Insertion of IUCD (intra-uterine contraceptive device) plays a significant role in positioning considerations.

Uterus: Parts

• Fundus: superior part
• Body: main part
• Cervix: lower part which extends into the vagina.

Uterus: Body (Parts)

• Two surfaces: anterior and posterior
• Two lateral borders
• Ostium: proximal/ distal opening of fallopian tube
• Isthmus: cervical end—inferior and posterior part of uterus

Uterus: Body (Additional Details)

• Two surfaces (anterior and posterior) and two lateral borders (rounded and convex)
• Associated ligament (broad ligament) connects to the lateral pelvic walls
• Pouch of Douglas (recto-uterine pouch), space for fluid accumulation

Uterus: Blood Supply

• Main arteries supplying the uterus are the uterine arteries, branching from the internal iliac arteries.
• Uterine venous plexus is an important part of the drainage system
• Drainage of blood vessels returns to the internal iliac veins

Vagina: Gross Anatomy

• Part of the female reproductive tract
• Superior, posterior and lateral positions to the cervix
• Narrow canal-like structure (3–5 inches).
• Has a potential space between the opposing walls of the vagina

Vaginal Fornices

• At the vault of the vagina, the fornix is divided into posterior, anterior parts and two lateral fornices.
• The posterior fornix is associated with the rectouterine pouch (cul-de-sac)

Vaginal Artery

• Part of the blood supply to the upper third of the vagina, originates from the uterine artery.
• Branching from internal iliac artery, vessels supply the upper part.

Vagina Lymphatic Drainage

• Drainage patterns differ based on the section of the vagina (superior, middle, and lower).
• Superior lymph drains to internal and external iliac nodes, middle to internal iliac nodes, and lower parts to superficial inguinal, common iliac and sacral lymph nodes.

Vulva: Anatomy

• External female genitalia.
• Structures include the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris, vestibule, Bartholin's glands, and hymen.

Vulva: Blood Supply

• Internal pudendal arteries
• Internal pudendal veins

Vulva: Lymphatic Drainage

• Initially, lymphatic drainage to superficial inguinal lymph nodes,.

Vulva: Innervation

• External and internal portions of the vulva have sensory and parasympathetic nervous, coming from the
• Various nerves, including ilioinguinal, genitofemoral, perineal branches of pudendal nerve, and posterior cutaneous nerves

Greater Vestibular Glands

• Bartholin's glands; homologous to the bulbourethral glands in males
• Located in the superficial perineal pouch
• Secrete lubricating fluid

Bartholin's Glands: Function

• Secrete mucus, aiding lubrication during sexual activity.
• Obstruction of the openings may cause Bartholin's cysts.

Clinical Significance

• Ectopic Pregnancy

• Locations where ectopic pregnancies commonly occur (tubal, interstitial, infundibular).

• Prolapse

• Degree of uterovaginal prolapse (first, second, and third degree), associated features.