The Fallopian tubes - also known as the uterine tubes, oviducts, or salpinges - are hollow tube-like paired muscular organs.

Typically they are 4 to 5 inches (10 - 12 cm) long and extend from the uterine horns to the superior pole of the ovary connecting the uterine cavity with the peritoneal cavity.

The Fallopian tubes are located intraperitoneally on the superior border of the broad ligament of the uterus. The superior part of the broad ligament that contains the Fallopian tubes is known as the mesosalpinx.

The Fallopian tubes have four parts (from lateral to medial):

Infundibulum - the most distal part located at the superior pole of the ovary; it is funnel-shaped and ends with many finger-like projections along the edges of the infundibulum over the medial surface of the ovaries called the fimbriae; they catch the released oocyte during ovulation; one fimbria is better developed than the others, it is also the longest and have a connection with the superior pole of the ovary, it is known as the ovarian fimbria; the Fallopian tube ends with a distal opening called the abdominal ostium which is connected to the peritoneal cavity;
Ampulla - makes up half of the total length of the tube and is also the widest part; it is the site where the fertilization usually takes place;
Isthmus - the narrowest part that is located at the border between the fundus of the uterus and the body of the uterus; the site between the isthmus and the wall of the uterus is called the uterine horn;
Uterine part - also called the intramural part - goes through the wall of the uterus and ends with a proximal tubal opening to the uterine cavity called the uterine ostium.

The wall of the Fallopian tube consists of several layers: mucous membrane (mucosa), muscular layer, and serosa.

The mucous membrane of the Fallopian tubes is covered by cilia. Together with the contractions of the smooth muscle cells located in the muscular layer, and the flow of secretion from the secretory peg cells located in the epithelium, the cilia help to transport the oocyte to the uterus.

Therefore, the main functions of the Fallopian tubes are transporting the oocyte to the uterus and providing location for the fertilization of the oocyte.

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Fallopian tubes