Fallopian Tube (Human Anatomy): Image, Functions, Diseases, and Treatments

The fallopian tubes are two tubes in a woman's pelvis that connect her ovaries to her uterus on both sides. Oocytes are transported via them and fertilised in this way.

The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine tubes, oviducts, or salpinges) in females, are paired tubes that extend from the uterus to the ovaries. The fallopian tubes are an essential component of the female reproductive system. In other mammals, they are simply referred to as oviducts.

The oviducts, also known as fallopian tubes, are hollow seromuscular structures that originate at the uterine horns, run laterally inside the superior border of the wide ligament's mesosalpinx, and terminate near the ipsilateral ovary.

The length of oviducts is about 11 to 12 cm and the radius of the oviducts is less than 0.5 mm. The fallopian tube is made up of four anatomical parts: the uterus, the isthmus, the ampulla, and the infundibulum. The medial most area of the uterus is made up of the uterine ostium and a small stretch near to the uterine horn.

The isthmus is anatomically close to the uterine component. The ampulla, which is positioned laterally to the isthmus, is the normal site of fertilisation. The infundibulum connects the uterus to an abdominal ostium, which allows access to the peritoneal cavity, and fimbriae, which collect the released oocyte during menstruation.A single fimbria termed the fimbria ovarica connects the infundibulum to the neighbouring ovary. The fallopian tubes transport the fertilised egg or gamete from the ovary to the uterus and also act as a fertilisation site.

• Salpingitis and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: The inflammation of the fallopian tube that is known medically as salpingitis. This disease is a type of PID. Salpingitis can affect either one or both of the fallopian tubes, and if it is not treated, it can lead to long-term complications. Salpingitis is a common cause of infertility.
• Tubo-Ovarian Abscess: Up to fifteen percent of women who have polycystic ovary syndrome will develop tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA), which is one of the most significant and deadly consequences of acute salpingitis. It is developed due to acute salpingitis with collection of pus within an anatomic space formed by joining or attachment of adjacent structures involving the fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and in rare cases the intestines. Also an abscess is the collection of pus in a newly formed space. Nevertheless, the treatment for both of these illnesses is the same.
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Inflammation of the female reproductive organs can be caused by a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). The most common cause of this condition is the transmission of bacteria from the vagina to the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries via sexually transmitted organisms. It's possible that you won't even notice the signs and symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease until it's too late.
• Pyosalpinx: Pyosalpinx is also called tubal abscess in which the Fallopian tube is blocked as a result of which leads to the accumulation of pus. This condition most frequently occurs as a consequence of the spread of bacteria from the lower genital tract.
• Hydrosalpinx: The swollen and fluid-filled tube is referred to as a hydrosalpinx. A hydrosalpinx can occur when the end portion of a fallopian tube is damaged or blocked, which can cause the tube to become filled with fluid.
• Salpingitis Isthmica Nodosa: Salpingitis isthmica nodosa (SIN), sometimes called Fallopian tube diverticulosis, is an inflammatory nodular thickening of the uterine tube. This is also known as Fallopian diverticulosis. In some cases SIN can also result in infertility or ectopic pregnancies.
• Endosalpingiosis: Endosalpingiosis is characterised by ectopic, cystic glands bordered by fallopian tube-type ciliated epithelium. This is endosalpingia. Endosalpingiosis may affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, myometrium, or pelvic peritoneum. It may also affect retroperitoneal or axillary lymph nodes.
• Ectopic Pregnancy: An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in which a fertilised egg gets implanted outside the uterus, and most of the time it is implanted in the fallopian tube. The fallopian tube isn't meant to accommodate a growing embryo and can't dilate. This may cause maternal haemorrhage. Ectopic pregnancy is life-threatening and needs prompt medical intervention.
• Isolated Tubal Torsion: Isolated tubal torsion with ovarian sparing is not a common condition that can result in severe pain in the lower abdomen.
• Infertility: Infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant despite having regular, unprotected sexual activity for a period of at least a year while attempting to conceive.
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS hormone imbalance affects ovulation. Polycystic ovarian syndrome causes acne, abnormal hair growth, insulin resistance, and obesity (PCOS). It's the leading cause of female infertility.
• Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: This condition, which is also known as premature ovarian failure occurs due to an immunological response or by the loss of eggs from your ovary before they are fully matured, which could occur due to genetics or chemotherapy. After the age of 40, the ovary stops producing eggs and the amount of oestrogen produced drops significantly.
• Paratubal Cyst: Cysts of the paratubal follicle are typically asymptomatic; they are most frequent in women between the ages of 30 and 40; and they are typically discovered inadvertently after surgery performed for other gynecologic causes.
• Leiomyomas: A leiomyoma, or fibroid, is a benign smooth muscle tumours that rarely (0.1%) becomes cancerous. Leiomyomas are fibroids. Leiomyoma, often known as uterine fibroids, is linked to genetic abnormalities in smooth muscle cells. The uterus, small intestine, and the oesophagus are the locations where leiomyomas mostly occurs.
• Polycythemia: It may occur from high erythropoietin production in a paraneoplastic disease.
• Lipomas: It is a round or oval shaped lump of the tissue that is present beneath the skin. Lipomas can be either benign or can spread to other areas as in case of malignant type. It is composed of fat, wiggles about easily when touched, and does not typically result in any discomfort. Lipomas are able to develop in any part of the body.
• Adenomatoid Tumours: Fallopian tube adenomatoid tumours are prevalent and often linked with leiomyomas and adenomyosis. They look as one to two centimetre subserosal nodules with a grey-white hue. Solid or cystic, mesothelial, formed by the fusion of adenoid and angiomatoid tumours.
• Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a painful condition in which tissue that looks like endometrium is formed outside the uterus. Endometriosis affects ovaries, fallopian tubes, and pelvic tissue. Endometrial-like tissue may be seen outside the pelvic organ area.

• Sonohysterogram: In Sonohysterogram, ultrasound is used to detect masses in the uterus that are causing the blockage of the fallopian tubes. Sonohysterogram is also known as a sonohysteroscopy.
• Hysterosalpingogram: A hysterosalpingogram, also known as an HSG, is a type of x-ray procedure that involves having a special contrast dye injected into your fallopian tubes. This procedure is used to know whether there is a blockage in the fallopian tube or not.
• Laparoscopy: Through the use of a laparoscope, the doctor will be able to view the region surrounding the ovaries and fallopian tubes. As it is possible to know whether or not there is blockage in the fallopian tubes it is used.
• Ultrasound: In contrast to an abdominal ultrasound, also known as a transabdominal ultrasound, which involves placing the probe on the patient's stomach, a transvaginal ultrasound involves putting an ultrasound wand into the vagina. It gives the medical professional a clearer view of the internal organs, such as the uterus and the ovaries.
• Saline sonohysterogram (SIS): This test is used to examine the lining of the uterus to look for the presence of polyps, fibroids, or any other abnormalities that can be present.
• Hysteroscopy: During a hysteroscopy, a device known as a hysteroscope is placed inside the vagina and moved through the cervix. A hysteroscope is a flexible, thin device that contains a camera on it. The obstetrician or other medical professional inserts it into the uterus so that they may examine the cavity of the organ.
• X-ray Hysterosalpingogram: It is also known as an HSG. In this procedure a dye is injected into the cervix, and the specialist look for the abnormality using an X-ray as the dye travels along the fallopian tube. This test looks for any potential obstructions.
• Urine Culture: Urine culture refers to the process of collecting urine and cultivating it in a laboratory in order to determine the infectious cause of fallopian tube dysfunction. This test is used in order to look for the cause of Infections.
• Urethral Swab: Urethral Swab refers to the procedure in which a piece of soft tissue is surgically implanted inside the female reproductive organ. The inflammation of the urethra, as well as other illnesses, can be accurately diagnosed with the use of this method.
• CT Scan: A fallopian tube CT scan may assist diagnose fallopian tube cancer. The CT scan is used to find the tumour or mass as well as measure the characteristics of the mass or tumour, including its shape and size.Pelvic Ultrasound: Pelvic ultrasound produces images that are used to look for the organs and structures present within the female pelvis.

• Pelvic and Tubal Surgery: Tubal ligation is used for the permanent control of birth. It's also known as female sterilisation. It's a surgical procedure in which the fallopian tubes are cutted or blocked to avoid fertilisation of the egg and the sperm. Tubal ligation is sometimes confused with hysterectomy, but they're very different.
• In vitro Fertilization: In vitro fertilisation is a process of fertilisation where an egg is combined with sperm in vitro. In this procedure there is monitoring and stimulating of a woman's ovulatory process, an ovum or ova is removed from her ovaries and allowing the sperm to fertilise them in a culture medium in a laboratory.
• Laparoscopic Surgery: Laparoscopy is a surgical process in which a surgeon has to access the inside of the abdomen and pelvis without making large incisions or cut in the skin. This is also called keyhole surgery or minimally invasive surgery.
• Fallopian Tube Removal: A salpingectomy is a surgical procedure where one or both of a woman's fallopian tubes are removed. It's performed to treat certain conditions of the Fallopian tubes and ectopic pregnancies, and as a preventative measure for women at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.
• Chemotherapy: If the disease has spread beyond the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum, specialists use chemotherapy in order to decrease the size of tumor before cytoreductive or debulking surgery. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
• Brachytherapy for Fallopian Tube Cancer: Brachytherapy is an internal therapy in which the radiation source is placed inside your body. Brachytherapy involves placing radioactive implants, such as metal pellets, seeds, ribbons, wires, needles, capsules or tubes in small sealed holders inside your body.

• Steroids for reducing inflammation of Fallopian Tube: Glucocorticoids are used to treat inflammation caused by immune-related malignancies such as basal cell carcinoma. In addition, glucocorticoids have the ability to dampen the immune system. Dexamethasone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and hydrocortisone are a few examples of different Corticosteroids.
• Analgesics for Pain in Fallopian Tube: Analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are all examples of medications that are able to provide at least some relief from the discomfort caused by inflammation of the diaphragm.
• Muscle relaxants for Stiffness in Fallopian Tube: Orphenadrine, metaxalone, methocarbamol, orphenadrine, tizanidine, and carisoprodol are some of the muscle relaxants that a specialist may give.
• Antibiotics for infection in Fallopian Tube: Ampicillin-sulbactam plus doxycycline is effective against C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, and anaerobes for women with tubo-ovarian abscess. A single intramuscular or oral dose of penicillin can treat gonococcal PID that is not penicillin resistant; penicillin-resistant infection can be treated with a cephalosporin or ciprofloxacin.
• Antivirals for treating infection of Fallopian Tube: Antiviral drugs support the body's natural defences against virus infection. The medications can lessen the severity of symptoms and cut the duration of a viral illness. Examples are aciclovir, valaciclovir, famciclovir, penciclovir, cidofovir, foscarnet and the immune response modulator.