ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

This is a lateral view of an internal female reproductive system. Ovaries having both side
of the pelvic with 4 cm long. The peritoneum holds the ovaries in place. Each primary ovarian
follicle contains an oocyte, a potential ovum or egg cell. Surrounding the oocyte are the follicle
cells, which secrete estrogen. Maturation of a follicle, requiring FSH and estrogen, was described
previously in the section on oogenesis. A mature follicle may also be called a graafian follicle,
and the hormone LH from the anterior pituitary gland causes ovulation, that is, rupture of the
mature follicle with release of the ovum.

There are two fallopian tubes (also called uterine tubes or oviducts); each is about 4
inches (10 cm) long. The lateral end of a fallopian tube encloses an ovary, and the medial end
opens into the uterus. The end of the tube that encloses the ovary has fimbriae, fringelike
projections that create currents in the fluid surrounding the ovary to pull the ovum into the
fallopian tube.

The fundus is the upper portion above the entry of the fallopian tubes, and the body is the
large central portion. The narrow, lower end of the uterus is the cervix, which opens into the
vagina.
 The outermost layer of the uterus, the serosa or epimetrium, is a fold of the peritoneum.
The myometrium is the smooth muscle layer; during pregnancy these cells increase in size to
accommodate the growing fetus and contract for labor and delivery at the end of pregnancy. The
lining of the uterus is the endometrium, which itself consists of two layers. The basilar layer,
adjacent to the myometrium, is vascular but very thin and is a permanent layer. The functional
layer is regenerated and lost during each menstrual cycle. Under the influence of estrogen and
progesterone from the ovaries, the growth of blood vessels thickens the functional layer in
preparation for a possible embryo.

The vagina is a muscular tube about 4 inches (10 cm) long that extends from the cervix to
the vaginal orifice in the perineum (pelvic floor). It is posterior to the woman’s fallopian tube.
Development then proceeds as if the ova had been fertilized naturally.

The vaginal opening is usually partially covered by a thin membrane called the hymen,
which is ruptured by the first sexual intercourse or by the use of tampons during the menstrual
period.

Reference:

Scanlon, V., & Sanders, T. (2007). Essentials of Anatomy and Physiolog (L. Deitch, A.

Sorkowitz, & I. Richman, Eds.) [Review of Essentials of Anatomy and
Physiolog]. F. A. Davis Company.
 OVERVIEW

Ovarian cancer or also known as ovarian carcinoma, is a serious ,life threatening disease
to women. It is said that the disease itself may contribute to infertility and other serious
complication. The molecular carcinogenesis of the disease is said to be unrecognize due to some
factors affecting it. According to a study, the palliative care may vary to the patient’s response to
relapse. There are relapse treatment that was completed within 6 months are called “platinum
resistant”. Long treatment tends to response more and are called “platinum sensitive”.

The surgery will only be an option when it comes to the response of the patient to the
management given. The main goal was to prolong symptoms free to the patient because the
disease is incurable. (Vicus et al., 2016)

Patient who are experiencing ovarian cancer are commonly malignant. Hence, high
mortality rate of women are caused by the said disease. (Edmondson & Todd, 2008). To some
studies, a sudden change of hormone in the body may contribute a factor of risk of having an
ovarian cancer. Specifically the estrogen and the estrogen metabolite. (Trabert et al., 2016).

Reference:
Vicus, D., Small, W., & Covens, A. (2016, January 1). Chapter 61 - Ovarian Cancer (L.
L. Gunderson & J. E. Tepper, Eds.). ScienceDirect; Elsevier.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323240987000617
Edmondson, R. J., & Todd, A. R. (2008, January 1). Ovarian Cancer (H. K. (Kris)
Heggenhougen, Ed.). ScienceDirect; Academic Press.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123739605002574
Trabert, B., Brinton, L. A., Anderson, G. L., Pfeiffer, R. M., Falk, R. T., Strickler, H. D.,
Sliesoraitis, S., Kuller, L. H., Gass, M. L., Fuhrman, B. J., Xu, X., & Wentzensen,
N. (2016). Circulating Estrogens and Postmenopausal Ovarian Cancer Risk in
the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study. Cancer Epidemiology
Biomarkers & Prevention, 25(4), 648–656. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-
9965.epi-15-1272-t