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33. The anatomy and development of the female external genital organs. The
histology of the vagina.
Posted in Pelvis by Sahaja on January 3, 2009

33. The anatomy and development of the female external genital organs. The histology of the vagina.

Anatomy:The anatomy of the female external genital organs.

Vulva (female external genital organs)

Similar to male genital organs except:

vagina pierces UG diaphragm

urethra associates w/ ant wall of vagina
genital folds do not unite @ midline –> instead forms vestibule
bulbus does not unite @ midline

Vulva is made up of:

1. mons pubis
2. labia majora
3. labia minor
4. clitoris
5. vestibule
6. bulbus vestibuli
7. greater vestibular glands
8. vaginal orifice
9. ext. urethral orifice

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Mons Pubis:

rounded elevation of pubic area above symphysis

subcutaenous CT – inc @ puberty, dec w/ menopause
covered w/ pubic hair = secondary sexual sign (maturity)

Labia Majora:

external covering of the vestibule

contain fat as well, and smooth m bundles
also covered w/ hair
L & R join @ ant/post commissure – post usually disappears after having a child
bulb of vestibule and glands below them
round ligament inserts here after emerging from inguinal canal
outer surface is covered w/ pigmented skin w/ many sebaceous glands

Labia Minora:

small hairless folds w/in labia minora

enclose the vestibule directly
united posteriorly via frenulum of labia minora, clitoris
unites ant to form prepuce of clitoris
contain bulbospongiosus m
high # of nerve endings = primary erogenic organ

Clitoris (homologus to male penis)

a) Root

crura of clitoris originate from inf ramus of pubis

ischiocavernosus m covers the crura
L & R crus join @ midline and angle down to form body

b) Body

suspended from pubis symphysis via suspensory ligament

made from union of corpora cavernosa

c) Glans

made from corpora cavernosum

under cover of prepuce when flaccid
protrudes when erected
rich in n endings –> stimulate for orgasm

Vestibule

space enclosed by labia minora

has ext urethral orifice
openings of paraurethral glands
contains openings of vagina, urethra, and greater vestibular glands

Bulbus vestibuli (analogous to bulb of penis, corpus spongiosum)

don’t unite @ midline

separated by vagina
become erect during sexual excitement = erectile tissue

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open labia minora

bulbospongiosus m. covers bulb

Vaginal orifice

located @ post part of vestibule

behind ext opening of urethra
Hymen closes off vaginal opening, leaves an opening, breaks during 1st sexual intercourse

Ext urethral orifice

small opening @ ant part of vestibule

just in front of ant wall of vagina
2-3 cm post to clitoris
contains ducts of paraurethral glands (analogous to prostate) – will secrete the female ejaculate

Greater vestibular glands

@ post end of bulb of vestibule

behind vaginal orifice
open @ side of labia minora
secrete lubricant (mucus) during sexual excitement
also surrounded by bulbospongiosus m
lubricate vaginal orifice for penetration

Blood supply:

ext pudendal a (femoral a) – supplies skin

int pudendal a (int iliac a) – skin , sexual organs, perineal muscle
labial a
deep dorsal a of clitoris
drained by int pudendal v

Lymph Drainaga: superficial inguinal lymph nodes

.erve supply:

Ilioinguinal n (lumbar plexus)

genital br of genitofemoral n (lumbar plexus)
pudendal n
cut br of femoral n

PNS = inc vaginal secretion, excitation of clitoris, erection for tissue in bulbs of vestibule

Vagina:

Function = organ of copulation & birth

excretory duct for menstrual blood

inf part of birth canal
participates in sexual intercourse

General Info:

runs from cervix of uterus –> vestibule

7-9 cm, usually flat

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has transverse folds, which flatten during sex to accomadate penis = rugae
30-40 degrees back from vertical plane
opens into vestibule of vulva
opening partially closed off by hymen

upper end divided into 4 fornices = 1 ant, 1 post, 2 lat that surround vaginal portion of cervix
ant fornix = shallowest, touches fundus of bladder
post fornix = deepest and touches rectouterine pouch, covered w/ peritoneum of rectum post
lat fornix = uterus, uterine a/v – w/in broad lig of uterus

Various Views of Vagina - Topography, internal structure, etc

Topography:

ant = urethra in urethrovaginal septum, space b/w vagina and septum = urethrovaginal space
post = loops of SI (sup), rectum via rectovaginal septum
lat = contact cervix of uterus (sup)
inf = levator ani m, UG diaphragm, perineal body

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supported by:

upper part = levator ani m, transverse cervical lig, pubocervical lig, sacrocervical lig
(ligaments together = paracolpium of vagina)
fibers merge w/ fibers of paraproctium(post) and paracysticum (ant)
middle part = UG diaphragm
lower part = perineal body

Blood supply:

vaginal a (uterine a)
vaginal br of int pudendal a (inf part of vagina), middle rectal a (middle part of vaginal), int iliac a

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Venous drainage = vaginal venous plexus –> pelvic venous plexus –> int iliac v

Lymph Drainage:

Sup part = int/ext iliac l.n.

Mid part = int iliac l.n
Inf part = sacra and common iliacn l.n., superficial inguinal l.n.

.erve supply: for autonomic innervation see topic # 40

Inf hypogastric plexus

pelvic splanchnic n

Minimals for this topic:

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208. Define the visceral relations of the vagina?

The vagina is related anteriorly to the uterus and bladder and is fused with the urethra. Posteriorly, the vagina is related
to the recto-uterine pouch, the rectum and the perineal body. The lateral fornix of the vagina is related to the ureter
and uterine artery. At its upper aspect the vagina fuses with the uterus, so that it encloses the vaginal part of the cervix.

Slide #75 Vagina *H&E

Stuctures to Identify:

str squamous non keratinized epithelium

LP
2 muscular layers
adventia, with n/possible ganglia and sk. musc
* So if you see a thick epithelium that fades from pink to white as u move up = VAGIA

General Info:

no glands here – all lubrication done by cervical glands and Bartholin’s glands at entrance

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epithelium thickens and secretes glycogen under influence of estrogen

Vaginal bacteria changes the glycogen into lactic acid — acidity protects the vaginal canal from pathogens

Epith

is very characteristic of vagina

THICK, str squamous epithelium with mucosal folds
has Langerhan’s cells @ base
CT papilla coming up from under lying LP
very faint because very rich in glycogen, which can be washed away in slide prep.

Vaginal pale epithelium, notice the lymphocytes and Langerhan's cells at base of epith,
as well as CT papilla

LP

aka semi cavernous tissue = b/c a/v similar to cavernous tissue of penis
dense reg CT filled with elastic tissue for stretching of vaginal wall
MALT, lymph nodules, a/v
underlying submucosa interweaves with it
no definitve border between LP and submucosa = .O muscularis mucosae

Muscular Layer

Inner longitudinal layer, outer oblique layer

Adventia

lots of a/v and n bundles

may have PNS ggl
May have skeletal m fibers from perineal m – not part of vagina, just attached to wall of it

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Genital Rejuvemutilation?

Tagged with: Bartholin's gland, infraperitoneal, Langerhan's cells, Vagina

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This site was made for the Anatomy, Histology, Embryology class in 2nd yr, 1st semester at the University of Debrecen. All
theoretical topics are listed as described on the website of the Anatomy department.

We combined Practical class notes, Moore, Board Review Series textbooks of Gross Anatomy and Embryology, Langman’s,
DiFiore’s, as well as the Lab manual for Histology at Semmelweiss. We believe it to be all inclusive of the material you will
need for your test. We made them for ourselves, but since people asked for them, and emailing them seemed next to
impossible, we decided to post them here.

On the left are the newest topics we’ve added.

To see all the topics we’ve done so far, scroll down and click on the Category you would like to see: Head & .eck,
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Added a search box in the sidebar, so you can search for the item you want.

But the best way to find the topic that you want?

Scroll down and click on the “Link to Topics” Page. There is the list of all topics. If a link to your topic of choice
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