fallopian tube

Information about fallopian tube

Fallopian tube
Schematic frontal view of female anatomy
Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view. (Fallopian tubes visible at top right and top left.)
Latintuba uterina
subject #267 1257
Arteryovarian artery, uterine artery
Lymphlumbar lymph nodes
PrecursorMüllerian duct
MeSH Fallopian+Tubes
Dorlands/Elsevier t_21/12827008
The Fallopian tubes, also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges (singular salpinx) are two very fine tubes leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus.

Anatomy

There are two Fallopian tubes,attached to either side of the cornual end of the uterus, and each terminating at or near one ovary forming a structure called the fimbria.

The Fallopian tubes are not directly attached to the ovaries, but open into the peritoneal cavity (essentially the inside of the abdomen); they thus form a direct communication between the peritoneal cavity and the outside via the vagina.

In humans, the Fallopian tubes are about 7–14 cm long.

Regions

There are four regions of the fallopian tube from the ovary to the uterus:[1]

Histology

Enlarge picture
Layers of the wall of the fallopian tube.
There are three layers of the fallopian tube:[2]
  • Mucosa - the distinctive folds of the mucosa are the most unusual feature. The folds contain ciliated cells and "peg cells".[3][4] The region of the fallopian tube can be approximated by looking at the mucosa, because the folds are most elaborate at the ampulla and almost nonexistent at the intramural portion.
  • Muscularis externa
  • Serosa

Motility

The Fallopian tubes are mobile, and have been observed on time-lapse videography moving about the pelvis.

Although anatomical illustrations have them proceeding from the uterine horns to the ovary, this is not the case for most of the menstrual cycle, and a tube may cross to the other side or lie on top of the uterus.

Function in fertilization

When an ovum is developing in an ovary, it is encapsulated in a sac known as an ovarian follicle.

On maturity of the ovum, the follicle and the ovary's wall rupture, allowing the ovum to escape and enter the Fallopian tube. There it travels toward the uterus, pushed along by movements of cilia on the inner lining of the tubes. This trip takes hours or days. If the ovum is fertilized while in the Fallopian tube, then it normally implants in the endometrium when it reaches the uterus, which signals the beginning of pregnancy.

Occasionally the embryo implants into the Fallopian tube instead of the uterus, creating an ectopic pregnancy, commonly known as a "tubal pregnancy".

Embryology and homology

The Fallopian tubes are not homologous to the vas deferens or any other structure in males.

Embryos have two pairs of ducts to let gametes out of the body; one pair (the Müllerian ducts) develops in females into the Fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina, while the other pair (the Wolffian ducts) develops in males into the epididymis and vas deferens.

Normally, only one of the pair of tubes will develop while the other regresses and disappears in utero.

Pathology

Pelvic inflammatory disease can strike the fallopian tubes. This might cause a fallopian tube obstruction.

Surgery

The surgical removal of a Fallopian tube is called a salpingectomy. To remove both sides is a bilateral salpingectomy. An operation that combines the removal of a Fallopian tube with removal of at least one ovary is a salpingo-oophorectomy. An operation to restore a fallopian tube obstruction is called a tuboplasty.

Etymology and nomenclature

They are named after their discoverer, the 16th century Italian anatomist, Gabriele Falloppio.

Though the name 'Fallopian tube' is eponymous, some texts spell it with a lower case 'f' owing to the theory that the adjective 'fallopian' has been absorbed into modern English as the de facto name for the structure.

The Greek word salpinx (σαλπιγξ) means "trumpet".

Additional images


Sectional plan of the gravid uterus in the third and fourth month.

Broad ligament of adult, showing epoöphoron.

Uterus and right broad ligament,, seen from behind.

pelvis and its contents, seen from above and in front.

Posterior half of uterus and upper part of vagina.

The arteries of the internal organs of generation of the female, seen from behind.

Uterus and uterine tubes.

Female internal reproductive anatomy.

Histology


See also

References

1. ^ SUNY Labs 43:04-0101 - "The Female Pelvis: The Oviduct"
2. ^ Histology at USC rep/c_27
3. ^ Histology at USC rep/c_31
4. ^ [1]

External links

 •  • [ e]
Female reproductive system
Ovaries/OogenesisGerminal epithelium • Tunica albuginea • cortex (Cumulus oophorus, Stroma) • Medulla
Follicles/Folliculogenesiscorpus (hemorrhagicum, luteum, albicans) • Theca folliculi (externa, interna) • Follicular antrum (Follicular fluid) • Corona radiata • Zona pellucida • Membrana granulosa (Granulosa cells)
LigamentsProper • Suspensory • Round • Broad (Mesovarium, Mesosalpinx, Mesometrium) • Cardinal
Fallopian tubesIsthmus • Ampulla • Infundibulum • Fimbria
Uteruscervix/neck (External orifice, Canal of the cervix, Internal orifice) • corpus/body (Cavity of the body, Fundus) • layers (Endometrium, Myometrium, Perimetrium)
VulvaMons pubis • Labium  (Labial commissures, Frenulum labiorum pudendi, Labia majora, Cleft of venus, Labia minora, Vulval vestibule, interlabial sulci) • Clitoris  (Clitoral hood , Clitoral glans, Frenulum clitoridis, Clitoral crura, Corpus cavernosa, Vestibular bulbs) • Vagina (Bartholin's glands, Bartholin's ducts, Skene's glands, Skene's ducts, Fossa of vestibule of vagina, Vaginal fornix, Hymen)
BreastMammary glands • Nipple • Areola • Lactiferous duct
OtherG-spot • Urethral sponge
Latin}}} 
Official status
Official language of: Vatican City
Used for official purposes, but not spoken in everyday speech
Regulated by: Opus Fundatum Latinitas
Roman Catholic Church
Language codes
ISO 639-1: la
ISO 639-2: lat
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Arteries are muscular blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.[1] All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary and umbilical arteries, carry oxygenated blood.

The circulatory system is extremely important for sustaining life.
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In human anatomy, the ovarian artery is a blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the ovary. It arises from the abdominal aortic artery below the renal artery, and does not pass out of the abdominal cavity. It can be found in the suspensory ligament of the ovary.
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The uterine artery is an artery in females that supplies blood to the uterus.

Structure

The uterine artery usually arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It travels to the uterus, crossing the ureter anteriorly.
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The lymphatic system is a complex network of lymphoid organs, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, lymphatic tissues, lymph capillaries and lymph vessels that produce and transport lymph fluid from tissues to the circulatory system.
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The lumbar lymph nodes are a group of lymph nodes residing in the lumbar region.

They consist of the following groups:
  • right and left lateral aortic lymph nodes
  • preaortic lymph nodes
  • retroaortic lymph nodes (or 'postaortic')

See also


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Embryology is the study of the development of an embryo. An embryo is defined as any vertebrate in a stage before birth or hatching. Embryology refers to the development of the egg cell (zygote) after fertilization and the differentiation of cells into tissues and organs.
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The Müllerian ducts (or paramesonephric ducts) are paired ducts of the embryo which empty into the cloaca.

Regulation of development

The development of the Müllerian ducts is controlled by the presence or absence of "AMH", or anti-Müllerian hormone (also known as
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Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) is a huge controlled vocabulary (or metadata system) for the purpose of indexing journal articles and books in the life sciences. Created and updated by the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM), it is used by the MEDLINE/PubMed
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Elsevier, the world's largest publisher of medical and scientific literature, forms part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has substantial operations in the UK, USA and elsewhere.
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For ovary as part of plants see ovary (plants)
An ovary is an egg-producing reproductive organ found in female organisms. They are usually purple. It is often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system.
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Mammalia
Linnaeus, 1758

Subclasses & Infraclasses
  • Subclass †Allotheria*
  • Subclass Prototheria
  • Subclass Theria

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uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina; the other is connected on both sides to the fallopian tubes.
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In the female reproductive system, the fimbria (plural, fimbriae) is a fringe of tissue around the ostium of the Fallopian tube, in the direction of the ovary.

An ovary is not directly connected to its adjacent Fallopian tube.
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In higher vertebrates, the peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity - it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs. It is composed of a layer of mesothelium supported by a thin layer of connective tissue.
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Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism.
If you are prevented from editing this page, and you wish to make a change, please discuss changes on the talk page, request unprotection, log in, or .
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The third part of the uterine tube is the the infundibulum. It terminates with the ostium of Fallopian tube, surrounded by fimbriae, one of which, the ovarian fimbria is attached to the ovary.
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In the female reproductive system, the fimbria (plural, fimbriae) is a fringe of tissue around the ostium of the Fallopian tube, in the direction of the ovary.

An ovary is not directly connected to its adjacent Fallopian tube.
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The ampulla is the second portion of the uterine tube. It is an intermediate dilated portion, which curves over the ovary.

It is the most common site of human fertilization.
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The first part of the uterine tube is the isthmus tubae uterinae. It is the medial third, and it is constricted.

External links

  • SUNY Labs 43:04-0105 - "The Female Pelvis: The Oviduct"
  • Image at okstate.

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The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular: mucosa) are linings of mostly endodermal origin, covered in epithelium, and are involved in absorption and secretion. They line various body cavities that are exposed to the external environment and internal organs.
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cilium (plural cilia) is an organelle found in eukaryotic cells. Cilia are thin, tail-like projections extending approximately 5–10 micrometers outwards from the cell body.
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The muscular coat (or muscular layer, or muscular fibers, or muscularis propria, or muscularis externa) is a region of muscle in many organs in the vertebrate body, adjacent to the mucous membrane. It is responsible for gut movement such as peristalsis.
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In anatomy, a serous membrane, or serosa, is a smooth membrane consisting of a thin layer of cells which excrete a fluid, known as serous fluid. Serous membranes line and enclose several body cavities, known as serous cavities, where they secrete a lubricating fluid which
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Time-lapse photography is a cinematography technique whereby each film frame is captured at a rate much slower than it will be played back. When replayed at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing.
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The uterine horns are the points where the uterus and the uterine tubes meet.

It is one of the points of attachment for the round ligament of uterus (the other being the mons pubis.

The Fallopian tubes often (but not always) attach to the uterine horns as well.
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The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiologic changes that occurs in the females of several mammals, including human beings and other apes.[1] Humans are the only species that has a menstrual cycle with concealed ovulation.
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ovum (plural ova) is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. The word is derived from Latin, meaning egg or egg cell. Both animals and embryophytes have ova. The term ovule
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Ovarian follicles are the basic unit of female reproductive biology, they are roughly spherical aggregations of cells found in the ovary. They contain a single oocyte (aka ovum or egg).
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uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina; the other is connected on both sides to the fallopian tubes.
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