1: Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System
- Page ID
- 91764
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Chapter Authors:
Wessam Ibrahim, MD, Ph.D., MEHP
Michael Dauzvardis, Ph.D.
This chapter addresses the foundational anatomical knowledge of the female pelvis and perineum. It covers the anatomy of the female reproductive system, including the bony pelvis, joints, muscles, ligaments, internal pelvic and perineal organs, vasculature, innervation, and relevant clinical applications.
The chapter will include mnemonics that should help the learner to remember complex anatomical relations.
The content of this chapter is appropriate for, or easily adapted for the following audiences:
By the end of this chapter, learners will be able to
- Describe the anatomical arrangement of the female pelvis, including bones, ligaments, muscles, joints, vasculature, and innervation (lumbar and sacral plexus).
- Recall the female urinary system components while classifying the importance of the peritoneal arrangement concerning female reproductive organs.
- Explain the anatomical description, important relations, blood supply, venous drainage, innervations, ligaments, and clinical applications of female reproductive organs, including the ovary, fallopian tube, uterus, and vagina.
- Describe the anatomical arrangement, muscles, blood supply, venous drainage, innervation, and clinical correlations of the female perineum, including the boundaries and contents of anal and urogenital triangles.
- Recognize the anatomical structure and function of the female breast, describing the importance of lymphatic drainage and blood supply in the spread of breast cancer.
Common anatomical terms
Each chapter in this textbook has a corresponding Glossary section. The terms listed below are commonly used anatomical regional and directional terminology that appear throughout the entire textbook.
Regional Terms
- Coxal – hip
- Femoral – thigh
- Gluteal – butt
- Inguinal – groin (junction of trunk and thigh)
- Lumbar – lower back
- Pelvic – pelvis - anterior/interior
- Pubic – anterior, inferior pelvis
- Sacral – triangular region of the base of the spine
- Spinal cavity – division of the dorsal cavity that houses the spinal cord; also referred to as vertebral cavity
Directional Terms
- Anterior (or ventral) describes the front or direction toward the front of the body. The toes are anterior to the foot.
- Caudal describes position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column); also referred to as inferior.
- Deep describes a position farther from the surface of the body. The brain is deep to the skull.
- Distal describes a position farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body.
- Dorsal describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as posterior.
- Parietal refers to the wall of a body cavity or hollow structure.
- Posterior (or dorsal) describes the back or direction toward the back of the body. The popliteus is posterior to the patella.
- Superior (or cranial) describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper. The orbits are superior to the oris.
- Inferior (or caudal) describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column). The pelvis is inferior to the abdomen.
- Lateral describes the side or direction toward the side of the body. The pollex (thumb) is lateral to the digits.
- Medial describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body. The hallux (big toe) is the medial toe.
- Posterior describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as dorsal.
- Proximal describes a position in a limb that is nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The brachium is proximal to the antebrachium.
- Distal describes a position in a limb that is farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body. The crus is distal to the femur.
- Superficial describes a position closer to the surface of the body. The skin is superficial to the bones.
- Superior describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper; also referred to as cranial.
- Ventral describes the front or direction toward the front of the body; also referred to as anterior.
- Visceral refers to internal organs.
Term definitions from: OpenStax Anatomy & Physiology (CC BY 4.0). Access Anatomy & Physiology for free from Openstax.org
Chapter 1 Bibliography
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Chaudhry, Shazia R and Khalid Chaudhry. "Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Uterus Round Ligament." (Updated 2023 Jul 24). In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. This work is made available under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
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Chapter 1 Acknowledgements
Janet Sinn-Hanlon, iLearning@VetMed, University of Illinois at Urbana for her generous permission to use proprietary images.
Jose Beltran, Class of 2026 - Carle Illinois College of Medicine