16th February 2024

Female reproductive system

Female internal genital organs consist of ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina. The ovary lies typically against the lateral wall of the pelvis. Each ovary is closely related to the distal part of the fallopian tube. The fallopian tube has five segments. From lateral to medial, these are Fimbriae-finger-like projections draping over the ovary, infundibulum, ampulla (usual site of fertilisation), isthmus and intramural parts. It extends from the uterus’s upper side to the ovary’s region. The uterus is a pear-shaped organ. This is divided into the fundus, body, and cervix. The cervix opens into the superior end of the vagina. The long axis of the uterus is typically bent forward at about a 90-degree angle to the long axis of the vagina, resulting in the anteversion of the uterus. 

The vagina extends superiorly and posteriorly from the vulva to the uterus. Its superior half lies above the pelvic floor, whereas the lower half lies within the perineum. The upper vaginal wall surrounds the cervix and forms the vaginal fornices. Two spaces are created by the peritoneal reflection over the urinary bladder, vagina and rectum, called the uterovesical and rectovaginal pouch (pouch of Douglas). The rectovaginal pouch is the most dependent part in females in an erect position. One peritoneal fold on each side extends from the uterus to the lateral pelvic wall, known as the broad ligament.