Ward Round Notes

An ectopic pregnancy refers to a pregnancy which starts outside the womb. This is usually in the uterine tubes, but may include the gastric area, the ovaries or the cervix. Ectopic pregnancies are usually caused by factors which prevent or slow the oocyte from arriving at the womb. This includes physical blockages, and hormonal factors. Scarring of the uterine tubes from previous pelvic infections may increase the risk of ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies may result in the rupture of the uterine tubes and severe haemorrhage during the first 8 weeks of gestation which may be fatal to both mother and child. Symptoms of ectopic pregnancies include abnormal vaginal bleeds, amennhorea (lack of menstruation), breast tenderness, Lower back pain, pain on one side of the pelvis, nausea or pain in lower abdomen or pelvic area. If left untreated symptoms may extend to fainting, sharp pain in the abdomen and shoulders, and pressure on the rectum. Internal bleeding may also lead to s...

The female reproductive system consists of the ovaries, uterine tubes, the uterus, vagina and external organs collectively called the vulva. The mammary glands are also considered a part of the reproductive system. The ovaries The ovaries are the female gonads. They are the size of an unshelled almonds and have the same embryonic origins as testes. The ovaries produce gametes and hormones. The ovaries are found on either side of the uterus, in the superior side of the pelvic cavity. It is suspended in place by a series of ligaments. This includes the mesovarium derived from the broad ligament of the uterus, the ovarian ligament and the suspensory ligament . Each ovary contains a hilum where vessels enter, and where the mesovarium attatches. Ovaries consist of the germinal epithelium made up of epithelial cells, over a capsule of connective tissue called the tunica albuginea . Beneath this lies the ovarian cortex , which contains many ovarian follicles surrounded by dense ...

The Anatomical Position The anatomical position is a standardized position of the body used as a point of reference to avoid confusion when describing parts of the body. A body in the anatomical position is upright, with limbs straight, toes together and hands and palms facing forward.

The male reproductive system consists of the testes, a series of ducts, accessory glands and supporting structures. Sperm is produced in the testes. It then flows into the epididymis where it is stored, before it is propelled through a series of ducts to the exterior. The sperm matures within the ducts. Accessory sex glands secrete substances necessary to protect the gametes and to facilitate their movement along different portions of the ducts. The supporting structures play several roles including the delivery of sperm into the female reproductive tract and the support of the testes.

Unlike oogenesis, spermatogenesis occurs at puberty. Spermatogenesis occurs in the seminiferous tubules of the testes, and takes between 65 and 75 days to occur. However about 300 million sperm complete spermatogenesis each day. Spermatogenesis begins with spermatogonia (spermatogonium s.)  found beneath the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules. The spermatogonia are sperm cells which are undifferentiated and undergo mitosis. The cells which remain near the basement membrane remain as a reservoir of undifferentiated cells, whereas those which loose contact squeeze through a blood-testis barrier and differentiate into primary spermatocytes .