The uterine appendages (or adnexa of uterus) are the structures most closely related structurally and functionally to the

uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...

Terminology

They can be defined in slightly different ways: * Some sources define the adnexa as the

fallopian tubes The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine tubes, oviducts or salpinges (singular salpinx), are paired tubes in the human female that stretch from the uterus to the ovaries. The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproductive system. In ot ...

and

ovaries The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. T ...

. * Others include the supporting tissues". * Another source defines the appendages as the "regions of the

true pelvis The pelvic cavity is a body cavity that is bounded by the bones of the pelvis. Its oblique roof is the pelvic inlet (the superior opening of the pelvis). Its lower boundary is the pelvic floor. The pelvic cavity primarily contains the reprodu ...

posterior to the broad ligaments". * One dictionary includes the

, and

ligament A ligament is the fibrous connective tissue that connects bones to other bones. It is also known as ''articular ligament'', ''articular larua'', ''fibrous ligament'', or ''true ligament''. Other ligaments in the body include the: * Peritoneal l ...

s (without specifying precisely which ligaments are included).

Clinical significance

The term "adnexitis" is sometimes used to describe an

inflammation Inflammation (from la, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molec ...

of the uterine appendages (adnexa). In this context, it replaces the terms oophoritis and

salpingitis Salpingitis is an infection causing inflammation in the Fallopian tubes (also called ''salpinges''). It is often included in the umbrella term of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), along with endometritis, oophoritis, myometritis, parametritis, an ...

. The term adnexal mass is sometimes used when the location of a uterine mass is not yet more precisely known. 63% of ectopic pregnancies present with an adnexal mass. Depending on the size of the mass, it could be a medical emergency. Term "Adnexectomy" in

Gynaecology Gynaecology or gynecology (see spelling differences) is the area of medicine that involves the treatment of women's diseases, especially those of the reproductive organs. It is often paired with the field of obstetrics, forming the combined ar ...

is often used for Salpingo-

Oophorectomy Oophorectomy (; from Greek , , 'egg-bearing' and , , 'a cutting out of'), historically also called ''ovariotomy'' is the surgical removal of an ovary or ovaries. The surgery is also called ovariectomy, but this term is mostly used in reference ...

(removal of both: fallopian tubes and ovaries).

Additional images

File:Illu ovary.jpg, Ovary

References

{{Authority control Mammal female reproductive system

Terminology

Clinical significance

Additional images

See also

References