11(b). Female Reproductive Tract Flashcards
What are the ovaries?
Paired organ lying on either side of the uterus close to the lateral pelvis wall
What does the ovaries attach to? (3)
- Boread ligament by mesentery
- Uterus by utero-ovarian ligament
- Pelvic wall by the suspensory ligament
The ovaries are covered by what?
A single layer of modified mesothelium
What is the tunica albuginea?
A poorly defined connective tissue layer of the ovary
What is the stroma of the ovary divided into?
Cortex and medulla
Describe the ovarian cortex.
- Spindle stronal cells arranged in whorls/storiform pattern
- Ovarian follicles
- Some leutinised cells
Describe the ovarian medulla.
- Loose fibroelastic tissue with blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves
- Rete ovarii- analogue of rete testis present at the hilum
Describe ovary primordial follicles.
- Located at the periphery of the cortex
- Contains primary oocyte in a resting state
- Surrounded by a single layer of epithelial cells (granulosa cells)
What stimulates follicular development?
Cyclic FSH secretion from the anterior pituitary
What happens during follicular development?
- Follicular epithelial cells proliferate
- Oocyte enlarges
- Stromal cells become organised into connective tissue sheath
- Zona pellucida forms directly around the oocyte
What happens in secondary follicular development?
- Formation of antrum (follicular fluid filled space)
- CT differentiates into inner Theca interna and outer Theca externa
- Oocyte is supportes in the antrum by a stalk of granulosa cells (Cumulus oophorus)
Describe mature follciles.
- Ovum is surrounded by thick zona pellucida
- A layer of granulosa cells surround the oocyte- corona radiata
- Basal lamina
- Theca interna and Theca externa
Approximately how many primordial follicles are present at birth?
400,000
Aprroximately how many primordial follicles mature to ovulate?
400
What happens when a follicle converts into a corpus luteum?
Leutinisation of the granulosa theca cells occurs (polygonal, larger, abundant lipid cytoplasm)
What does corpus luteum secrete?
Progesterone and oestrogen
What happens to corpus luteum when pregnancy does not occur?
They regress
When does regression of corpus luteum occur?
8-9 days after ovulation of pregnancy does not occur
Describe corpus luteum regression.
- Granulosa cells decreae in size, develop pykinotic nuclei + accumulate abnormal lipid
- Cells undergo dissolution and are phagocytoses
- There is progressive ingrowth of connective tissue
- Eventually they may be resorbed/replaced by ovarian stroma
What is corpus albicans?
Well circumscribed structure with convolutred borders, almost entirely composed of densely packed collagen with occasional follicles
What are the fallopian tubes?
- Run throughout the length of the broad ligament
- Transports ovum to uterus
- Fertilization occurs here
What are the 4 segments of the fallopian tube?
- Intramural- inside uterine wall
- Isthmus- 2-3cm thick-walled
- Ampulla- expanded area
- Infundibulum- trumpet-shaped opening to peritoneum with fimbriae
What are the 3 layers of the fallopian tubes?
- Mucosa
- Muscularis (myosalpinx)
- Serosa
Describe the fallopian mucosa.
- Thrown into branching folds (plicae)
- 2 cell types (secretory and ciliated)
Descrobe the fallopian muscularis.
- Inner circular layer
- Outer longitudinal layer
Describe the fallopian serosa.
Connective tissue covered by mesothelium
What are the 3 layers of the uterus?
- Endometrium
- Myometrium
- Serosa
What are the layers of the endometrium?
- Deep basal layer- stratum basalis
- Superficial functional layer- stratum compactum and stratum spongiosum
Describe the edometrium during proliferative phase.
- Oestrogen stimulation
- Straight proliferating glands with mitotic activity
- No luminal secretions
- Stromal cells are spindled and compact, showing mitotic activity
Describe the endometrium during the secretory phase.
- Progesterone stimulation
- Early = sub-nuclear glycogen vacuoles
- Mid = vacuoles above and below the mucleus and later intraluminal secretions, glands are more rounded, stroma-oedema
- Late = elongated and saw-toothed glands with more intraluminal secretions, stroma- apiral arterioles, decidual change
Describe the endometrium during menstrual phase.
- Progesterone stimulation withdrawn
- Stronal haemorrhage and granulocytes
- Stronal and glandular fragmentation
Describe the myometrium.
Thick muscular wall with 3 ill-defined layers of smooth muscle
What are the 3 smooth muscle layers of the myometrium?
- Inner longitudinal
- Middle circular
- Outer longitudinal
Describe the endocervix.
- Loose fibromuscular stroma lined by simple columnar ciliated epithelium
- Thrown into crypts
Describe the ectocervix.
- Dense smooth muscle stroma lined by non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
- Sites of squamocolumnar junction varies
- Atrophic in postmenopausal women
Describe the vagina mucosa.
- Lined by non-keratinising stratified squamous epithelium
- Stroma contains elastic fibres and a rich vascular network
Describe the vagina muscular wall.
- Smooth muscle cells
- Inner circular
- Outer longitudinal
Describe the vagina adventitia.
Loose connective tissue
What do the vulva consist of?
Mons pubis, clitoris, labia minora, labia majora, vulvar vestibyla, hymen, urthral meatus, Skein’s gland, Bartholins gland, Introitus
Describe the labia majora.
Lined by keratinising stratified squamous epithelium and has skin adnexae
Describe the labia minora.
Mostly non-keratinising stratified squamous epithelium
Describe Bartholin’s gland.
- Tubuloalveolar glands
- Acini lined by mucus-secreting epithelium
Describe the minor vestibular glands.
Simple tubular glands lined by mucus-secreting epithelium
Describe Skein’s glands.
- Analogous to prostate
- Lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium
Describe the hymen.
Lined by non-keratinising squamous epithelium
Describe the clitoris.
Erectile tissue rich in blood vessels
