What are the thin, flexible tubes extending from the uterus toward the ovaries called?

The thin, flexible tubes extending from the uterus toward the ovaries are called fallopian tubes. These structures play a crucial role in the reproductive system, serving as the pathway for eggs to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. After an ovarian follicle releases an egg during ovulation, the fallopian tubes help guide the egg toward the uterus, where it may meet sperm for potential fertilization.

The fallopian tubes are lined with cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures that help in moving the egg or embryo along the tube. This movement is essential for successful reproduction, as it allows the egg to be encountered by sperm and can lead to fertilization before the fertilized egg, or zygote, continues its journey to implant in the uterus.

Other options refer to different structures with specific functions in the urinary or reproductive systems. Ureters, for instance, are tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and ovarian ligaments help support the ovaries in their anatomical position but do not involve transport of eggs. Ovarian tubes is not a commonly accepted term in anatomical texts, further reinforcing that fallopian tubes is the correct terminology for the described structures.