Gynecology is the study of the female reproductive system. It focuses on disorders of the female reproductive organs, including the external genitalia like the vulva and internal genitalia like the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina. The fallopian tubes transport the ovum from the ovaries to the uterus, aided by finger-like projections called fimbriae and hair-like projections called cilia. The fallopian tubes were named after Gabriele Falloppio, a 16th century Italian physician and surgeon who provided accurate descriptions of the uterine tubes. A total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is a procedure that removes the uterus, cervix

1. Gynecology
The Study of the Female
Reproductive System

2. “Gynecology”
• from the Greek, gynaikos
gyno- pertaining to
woman
• -logy, meaning study of
• Thus, gynecology literally
is the “study of women”
• modern gynecology
focuses on disorders of
the female reproductive
organs

3. What is gynecology?
• The medical specialty
concerned with the – External genitalia
female reproductive • Vulva
organs – Labia majora, labia
minora, and clitoris
– Internal genitalia
• Uterus
• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Vagina
– Extends to the
external surface of
the body

4. Some history…
• The historic taboo
associated with the
examination of female
genitalia has inhibited the
science of gynecology
• This 1822 drawing by
Jacques-Pierre Maygnier
shows a "compromise"
procedure, in which the
physician is kneeling
before the woman but
cannot see her genitalia
• Modern gynecology has
shed most of these
inhibitions…but there is
still a lot to learn!

5. It’s all Greek to me…
• Dated from 1800 BCE, The Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus is the oldest
known medical text reporting gynecological concerns, such as fertility,
pregnancy, contraception etc.
– Each section deals with a specific problem and contains diagnosis and treatment,
but, no prognosis is suggested
– treatments are non surgical, suggesting applying medicines to the affected body
part or swallowing them
– The womb is at times seen as the source of complaints manifesting themselves in
other body parts
• According to the Suda, the ancient Greek physician Soranus of Ephesus
practiced gynecology in Alexandria and Rome
– treatise Gynaikeia
• J. Marion Sims is considered the father of American
• gynecology
– Learned to repair vesicovaginal fistulas
– Used experimental procedures on slaves
Sim’s speculum

6. Focus on the fallopian tube
• The falloian tube transports the ovum from the
ovaries to the uterus
– Finger like projections called fimbriae expand from
the tubes
– Fimbriae catch and guide the ovum from the ovaries
after ovulation
– Small hair-like projections called cilia on the cells of
the fallopian tube lining propel the ovum through the
tube to the uterus
– Fertilization, where the sperm meets the egg, usually
occurs in the upper half of the fallopian tube

7. What’s in a name?
• Also referred to as uterine tubes
or oviducts
• Named fallopian for Gabriele
Falloppio
– 16th-century Italian physician and
surgeon who was an expert in
anatomy, physiology and
pharmacology
– Considered an early expert on
syphilis, one of the great surgeons
of the age, and often seen as a
hero of anatomy
– "Observationes anatomicae", a
work of great originality,
contributed to the understanding
of:
• centers of ossification
• detailed account of muscles
• the vascular system and the
kidneys
– Falloppio’s description of the
uterine tubes were sufficiently
accurate and thus, bear his name

8. fallopian tube
fertilization

9. Supercalafragilistic expialadocious
• Total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salpingo-
oophorectomy…the longest term in medical
history!
• Refers to the removal of the uterus, cervix,
ovaries, and fallopian tubes
• Procedure is used when cancer is present in the
uterus and has spread to other organs or tissues
in the reproductive system

11. TAH/BSO
• Procedure includes 3 surgeries:
– TAH: Total abdominal hysterectomy
• removal of uterus and cervix
– BSO: Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
• Removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries
– Pelvic node dissection
• removal of lymph nodes in pelvis

12. Check out this book on the procedure,
recovery and other resources:

13. resources cited
• biology.clc.edu
• Fremgen, Bonnie F. & Frucht, Suzanne S.
Medical Terminology: A Living Language:
3e. New Jersey: Pearson Education. 2005
• hhsc.ca
• medterms.com
• revolutionhealth.com
• wikipedia.org