uterine tubes

Primary

fallopian tube carcinoma: review of MR imaging findings. Thirty-two-year-old female imaged for other purposes. T2WI coronal oblique section through the pelvis showing a normal uterus, both ovaries, and the full length of the left fallopian tube. On the right hand side of the image, an illustration of the fallopian tube anatomy can be observed, based on the MR image see on the left, showing the four segments of the tube: intramural, isthmus, ampulla, and fimbriae

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Fallopian

tube • Female reproductive tract vessels (Gray's illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Female reproductive tract vessels (Gray's illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 23 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-95586 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Fallopian

tube • Hysterosalpingogram (normal) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Morgan, M. Hysterosalpingogram (normal). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 23 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-41788 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Fallopian

tube • Uterine tube - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Bawazeer, A. Uterine tube. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 23 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-70297 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Fallopian

tube • Obstructed fallopian tube post PID - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Obstructed fallopian tube post PID. Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 23 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-74351 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

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The Fallopian tube, also known as the uterine tube or less commonly the oviduct, is a paired hollow tube that bridges between each ovary and the uterus and functions to convey the mature ovum from the former to the latter. If conception occurs, it normally does so within the tube. It can be affected by a wide range of pathology.

Gross anatomy

The Fallopian tube is approximately 10-12 cm long and 1-4 mm in diameter. It bridges the gap between the ovary laterally, and the uterus medially. Through it, the ovum passes into the uterine cavity. The peritoneal reflection draping over the salpinges forms the mesosalpinx.

The Fallopian tube is divided into 5 anatomic segments (from lateral to medial, through the path of an ovum after ovulation):

fimbriae: ~25 finger-like projections that drape over the ovary
- the ovarian fimbriae are longer than the others and are attached to the tubal pole of the ovary
infundibulum: a funnel-shaped lateral part that drapes over the ovary with the fimbriae emanating from it
- it opens into the peritoneal cavity at the abdominal ostium
ampulla: the widest and longest section, forming over half the length
isthmus: immediately lateral to the uterus, it is the narrowest segment, as its name suggests
interstitial or intramural segment: the section within the myometrium

See mnemonic here.

Relations

The extrauterine part of the Fallopian tube courses between the two folds of the broad ligament, at its superior aspect .

at its medial end, the interstitial segment is continuous with the uterotubal junction, a continuation of the endometrial cavity
at its lateral end, the infundibulum opens into the peritoneal cavity

Blood supply

arterial supply: tubal branch of the ovarian artery (lateral one-third) and terminal (tubal) branch of the uterine artery (medial two-thirds)
venous drainage:
- lateral one-third via the pampiniform plexus to the ovarian veins
- medial two-thirds via the uterine plexus to the internal iliac vein

Lymphatic drainage

via ovarian vessels to the para-aortic nodes and uterine vessels to the internal iliac chain
some drainage also to the inguinal nodes via the round ligament

Innervation

autonomic supply from the ovarian and uterine plexuses
parasympathetic: vagus for the lateral half, pelvic splanchnic to the medial half
sympathetic from the thoracic and lumbar spinal segments (T10- L1)

Variant anatomy

absent unilateral
hypoplastic unilateral
hypoplastic bilateral
abnormal entry into uterine body or fundus

Histology

Like many other muscular hollow tubes, it has two layers of muscle (inner circular, outer longitudinal), and is lined by a mixture of ciliated and non-ciliated columnar epithelium. It is the former that pushes the ovum towards the uterus.

Radiographic features

The normal Fallopian tube is not visualized at cross-sectional imaging unless it is outlined by fluid. In the presence of peritoneal fluid or contrast material, the Fallopian tubes appear as paired, thin, serpentine juxta-uterine structures extending either anteriorly or posteriorly into the cul-de-sac.

Fluoroscopy

Contrast studies can be completed by performing a hysterosalpingogram (HSG).

History and etymology

The fallopian tube is named after Gabriel Fallopius, an Italian anatomist (1523-62). He is the same anatomist who gave his name to the Fallopian ligament and the Fallopian canal. Despite the eponym, the word "fallopian" is most often used in lower case.