Fallopian tube

Sketch of a human embryo from Gray's Anatomy; from eight and a half to nine weeks old, showing the mullerian (paramesonephric ducts), their position, and how they are becoming fused

After ovulation, the egg (oocyte) passes from the ovary (left) through the Fallopian tube to the uterus (right).

lmplantation sites resulting in normal or ectopic pregnancies

Example and location of some surgical procedures performed on the Fallopian tubes

Numbered image showing parts of the Fallopian tubes and surrounding structures: 1. ovary 2. medial surface 3. lateral surface 4. free border 5. mesovarial margin 6. tubal extremity 7. uterine extremity 8. Fallopian tube 9. distal opening of the Fallopian tube 10. infundibulum of the Fallopian tube 11. fimbriae of the Fallopian tube 12. ovarian fimbria 13. ampulla of the Fallopian tube 14. isthmus of the Fallopian tube 15. uterine part of the Fallopian tube 16. proximal opening of the Fallopian tube

Female reproductive system: 1. Vulva: 2. labia majora, 3. labia minora, 4. vestibule 5. Clitoris: (with 6. glans and 7. body) 8. bulb of vestibule 9. Vagina: 10. hymen, 11. lumen, 12. wall, 13. fornix (lateral) 14. Uterus: Parts: 15. cervix, 16. body and 17. fundus, 18. orifices: external and internal, 19. cervical canal, 20. uterine cavity; Layers: 21. endometrium, 22. myometrium, and 23. perimetrium 24. Fallopian tube: 25. isthmus, 26. ampulla, 27. infundibulum, 28. fimbria (with 29. fimbria ovarica) 30. Ovary 31. Visceral pelvic peritoneum: 23. perimetrium, 32. broad ligament (with 33. mesosalpinx, 34. mesovarium, and 35. mesometrium) Ligaments: 36. round, 37. ovarian, 38. suspensory of ovary Blood vessels: 39. ovarian artery and vein, 40. uterine artery and veins, 41. vaginal artery and veins Other: 42. ureter, 43. pelvic floor (levator ani), 44. femoral head, 45. hip bone, 46. internal iliac vessels (anterior branches), 47. external iliac vessels, 48. abdominal cavity

Image showing the right Fallopian tube (here labeled the uterine tube) seen from behind. The uterus, ovaries and right broad ligament are labeled.

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

- Fallopian tube

298 related topics

Ovary

Organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum.

The ovaries form part of the female reproductive system, and attach to the fallopian tubes

Micrograph of the ovarian cortex from a rhesus monkey showing several round follicles embedded in a matrix of stromal cells. A secondary follicle sectioned through the nucleus of an oocyte is at the upper left, and earlier stage follicles are at the lower right. The tissue was stained with the dyes hematoxylin and eosin.

The process of ovulation and gamete production, oogenesis, in a human ovary.

Polycystic ovaries typically found in polycystic ovarian syndrome

Ovary of a marine fish and its parasite, the nematode Philometra fasciati

When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm.

Cilium

Membrane-bound organelle found on most types of cell, and certain microorganisms known as ciliates.

SEM micrograph of the cilia projecting from respiratory epithelium in the trachea

Illustration depicting motile cilia on respiratory epithelium.

Tracheal respiratory epithelium showing cilia and much smaller microvilli on non-ciliated cells in scanning electron micrograph.

Scanning electron micrograph of nodal cilia on a mouse embryo

Motile cilia are also present in the fallopian tubes of female mammals where they function in moving the egg cell from the ovary to the uterus.

Female reproductive system

[[Image:Scheme female reproductive system-number-full-cropped.svg|thumb|300px|

Sagittal MRI showing the location of the vagina, cervix, and uterus

Illustration depicting female reproductive system (sagittal view)

Frontal view as scheme of reproductive organs

24. Fallopian tube:

Oviduct

Passageway in animals from an ovary.

In human females this is more usually known as the Fallopian tube or uterine tube.

Ovulation

Release of eggs from the ovaries.

Following a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), an oocyte (immature egg cell) will be released into the uterine tube, where it will then be available to be fertilized by a male's sperm within 12 hours. Ovulation marks the end of the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle and the start of the luteal phase.

Ovulation occurs about midway through the menstrual cycle, after the follicular phase, and is followed by the luteal phase. Note that ovulation is characterized by a sharp spike in levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), resulting from the peak of estrogen levels during the follicular phase.

This diagram shows the hormonal changes around the time of ovulation, as well as the inter-cycle and inter-female variabilities in its timing.

Chance of fertilization by day relative to ovulation

During the luteal (post-ovulatory) phase, the secondary oocyte will travel through the fallopian tubes toward the uterus.

Gabriele Falloppio

Italian Catholic priest and anatomist often known by his Latin name Fallopius.

Gabriele Falloppius explaining one of his discoveries to the Cardinal Duke of Ferrara

He was one of the most important anatomists and physicians of the sixteenth century, giving his name to the Fallopian tube.

Peritoneum

Serous membrane forming the lining of the abdominal cavity or coelom in amniotes and some invertebrates, such as annelids.

Median sagittal section of pelvis, showing the arrangement of fasciæ

Horizontal disposition of the peritoneum in the lower part of the abdomen

Sagittal section through posterior abdominal wall, showing the relations of the capsule of the kidney

Topography of thoracic and abdominal viscera

Horizontal disposition of the peritoneum in the upper part of the abdomen

The peritoneal space in males is closed, while the peritoneal space in females is continuous with the extraperitoneal pelvis through openings of the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the vagina.

Zygote

Eukaryotic cell formed by a fertilization event between two gametes.

After fertilization, the conceptus travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus while continuing to divide without actually increasing in size, in a process called cleavage.