Female Embryology,

Anatomy and Histology

A Gari

MD.

1-Embryology

Gonads.
Internal Genitalia.
External Genitalia.

A-Embryology (Gonads)

Starts @ 4 weeks.
Thickened peritoneal (coelomic) membrane
(genital ridge)
Y chromosome can be identified by 7 w.
First follicles is seen @ about 20 weeks.

B-Embryology (Internal
Genitalia)

Paramesonephric duct (mullerian)

vs.
Mesonephric duct (wollfian).

Upper vagina, cervix, uterus and

tubes are formed from the
paramesonephric ducts.
Absence of Y chromosome is the key
factor.
If present MIF
If notregression of wollfian ducts
(10-16w)

C-Embryology (External
Genitalia)

By 7th week M&F appearance are the

same.
Genital tubercle and urogenital
membrane
(endo/ecto dermal cells)

*Genital folds (laterally) Labia Majora

*Urogenital folds (medially) Labia
Minora, Prepuce and Clitoris.

C-Embryology (External Genitalia)

contd

2 - Female Anatomy

Abdominal cavity:

Female Anatomy

Abdominal wall (gross anatomy)

Surgical Incisions

The Bony Pelvis:

The Internal Organs

The Uterus thick walled

pear shaped muscular
organ. Usually
anteverted anteflexed,
approximately 7.5 cm.
Long, 5cm broad.
The uterus is located
inside the pelvis
immediately dorsal to
the urinary bladder and
ventral to the rectum.
The myometrium is 3
lyers
L-O-L

Vagina:
H shape with rugea.
No glands
8-12 cm in length.
Supplied with (vaginal art.).
Lymphatics varies according to the
segment.

Cervix:
3-4cm in length X 8 mm
Uterine / Cx ratio varies with age.
Columnar epith.
Blood supply (3-9 o'clock)
Lymphatics:

Tubes:
10-14-cm
4 segments
Interstitial 2 cm.
Isthmus 4 cm
Ampullary 4-6-cm
Infundibulum 20-25 finger projections.
Inner circular and outer longitudinal
muscles.
Blood supply: uterine & ovarian art.

Ovaries:
1.5x2.5x4 cm
Rests on the ovarian fossa.
IP & Ovarian ligaments:
Blood supply: Art Vs Venous.

Perineum

Perineum

Pelvic Diaphragm

Urogenital diaphragm

Bartholins glands.
Skenes glands.

Blood supply

Blood supply

Lymphatic drainage

3- Histology of the Female

Genital tract

Vulva:

-L Majora:
Cornified squamous epithelium.
-L Minora:
Less Cornified w/ no hair follicle, erectile CT

vagina
A - Mucosa

- The stratified squamous epithelium

- deep stratum basalis
- intermediate stratum spinosum
- superficial layers of flat eosinophilic cells,
contain keratin but (do not horny layer).
- typical erectile tissue.

B - Muscularis

- Inner circular and outer longitudinal layers of

smooth muscle are present.
- Inferiorly, the striated, voluntary bulbospongiosus
muscle forms a sphincter around the vagina.

C - Adventitia

- Bordering the muscularis, contains many elastic

fibres.

Cervix

Is made up of epithelium and underlying stroma.

The stroma contains an admixture of smooth muscle and
fibrous and elastic tissues.
The ectocervix is lined by nonkeratinizing stratified
squamous epithelium.
The endocervix is covered by mucin-secreting, simple
columnar epithelium,
The cells seen in a Pap smear: cells of the ectocervical and
endo-cervix.
The border between the stratified squamous epithelium of
the ectocervix and the columnar epithelium of the
endocervix is called the squamocolumnar junction
(SCJ).
Original SCJ: is the site at which the neonatal squamous
epithelium of the ectocervix meets the endocervical
columnar epithelium at birth.
New, functional or physiologic SCJ: newly formed SCJ
as a result of the dynamic remodeling that takes place
during the life of the female.

Uterus
A - The Myometrium

The muscle fibres of the uterus form layers with preferred

orientations of fibres (actually 3-4), but this is very difficult to see
in most preparations.
L.O.L

B - The Endometrium
consists of a simple columnar epithelium (ciliated cells and
secretory cells) and stroma

The mucosa forms many simple uterine glands.

The endometrium is subject to cyclic changes that result in
menstruation.

divided into two

1- basalis and 2- functionalis.

The basalis is not sloughed off during menstruation but

functions as a regenerative zone for the functionalis after its
rejection.
The functionalis is sloughed off during every menstruation.
These cyclic changes are divided into proliferative (or
follicular), secretory (or luteal), and menstrual.

Tubes (Oviducts)
A - The mucosa

Is formed by a ciliated and secretory

epithelium.
The number of ciliated cells and secretory
cells varies along the oviduct.

B - The muscularis
- inner circular muscle layer.
- outer longitudinal layer.
- inner longitudinal layer is present in the
isthmus and the intramural part of the
oviduct.
-

C The Serosa

Thanks