The vaginal fornix is the gutter-like recess at the top of the vagina surrounding the part of the cervix that projects into it. It is divided into anterior, posterior and two lateral parts. The posterior fornix is the deepest.
| Location | At the vaginal vault, encircling the vaginal part of the cervix |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Uterovaginal plexus |
| Blood Supply | Vaginal artery; Uterine artery (vaginal branch) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Provides a reservoir for semen near the cervix and gives clinical access to the cervix and pelvic structures.
The posterior fornix lies directly against the rectouterine pouch, the lowest part of the peritoneal cavity, so fluid or pus there can be sampled or drained through it (culdocentesis). Through the lateral fornices the examiner can feel the ovaries and tubes during bimanual examination; the ureter and uterine artery lie close by. Pessaries and diaphragms sit in the fornices.
Pus collecting in the rectouterine pouch, which can be felt and drained through the posterior fornix.
Descent of the top of the vagina after hysterectomy from loss of apical support.
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