3 - Female Reproductive Histology Flashcards
What are the two phases of the menstrual cycle?
Approximately when does ovulation occur?
Follicular Phase (Days 1-13) - Follicule developing, egg inside
Ovulation (Day 14) - Egg release
Luteal Phase (Days 15-28) - Corpus Luteum, LH Spikes, releasing progesterone
How does the uterine (endometrium) lining change with the menstrual cycle?
(Compare to Follicular/Luteal Phases)
- Follicular Phase
- Menses (1-4)
- Proliferative Phase (5-14) - Estrogen!
- Luteal Phase
- Secretory Phase (15-26) - Progesterone!
- Premenstrual Phase (27-28)
What hormone is tested for ovulation in home kits?
What enduces follicle development?
What is the main hormone for the follicular and luteal phases?
What is required to keep the lining of the uterus?
LH (Lh Surge)
Increased FSH
Follicular - Estrogen
Luteal - Progesterone
Progesterone needed to keep lining of uterus; without it (or normal reduction) causes atrophy
What suspends the ovaries on either side of the uterus?
What suspends in on the lateral side?
Medial Anchor to Uterus - Broad Ligament
(also Proper Ovarian Ligament)
Lateral Anchor - Suspensory Ligament
What is the inner ovary devided into?
- Inner Medulla
- Loose connective tissue
- Blood vessels
- Lymphatics
- Nerves
- Outer Cortex - “movement”
- Ovarian Follicles
- Egg development tract
What are follicles formed during fetal development awaiting their turn to enter development known as?
What are they halted in until puberty?
Once they develope a single row of cuboidal epithelium, what are they called?
- Unilaminar follicles are Primarordial Follicles
- They are halted in Meiosis I until puberty
- Unilaminar Primary Follicle
Primary Follicles
(or Unilaminar Primary Follicle)
Primordial Follicle on outer edge
Multilaminar Primary Follicle at center right
Unilaminar Primary Follicle
Zona Pellucida surrounding nucleus of oocyte
Left, primary follicles, unilaminar and multilaminar
Right: Once follicle gets many layers, it becomes a Granulosa Cell (Follicular Cells or Secondary Follicle
What do granulosa cells synthesize?
What does the follicular fluid provide source or, and what are their collections called?
Once this fluid is present, what is the oocyte called?
What is completed at this stage?
Granulosa cells synthesize estrogens
Follicular Fluid is rich in estrogen and forms small antral lakes
Once fluid is created, termed Secondary Follicle
Meiosis I is completed
What happens to the cohort of developing follicles?
What occurs to the antral lakes?
What does the oocyte sit on?
What is opposite of this?
All but one (usually…) degenerate
Antral lakes fuse into single antrum
Oocyte sits on pedestal of granulosa cells called cumulus oophorus
Opposite this is corona radiata
Right of oocyte = Coronda Radiata (closer to Antrum)
Left of oocyte = Cumulus Oophorus
Center “Lake” = Antrum of Mature Follicle
Surrounding Antrum/Oocyte = Granulosa Cells
Top Outer - Theca Externa - Muscle Cells
Top Inner - Theca Interna - Contributes to Corpus Luteum
Basement membrane separates the Granulosa Cells which makes Cumulus Oophorus to left of oocyte
Corona Radiata on right
Oocyte surrouned by Zona Pellucida at center right
A = Antrum, Antral Cavities
Corona Radiata adjacent Antrum
Cumulus Oophorus closed section of granulosa cells
Theca Interna - Contributes to Corpus Luteum
Theca Externa - Muscle
Which ovarian ligament features the vascular bundle?
Suspensory Ligament and Broad Ligament
What is the purpose of fimbrae?
What is the opening of the uterine tube called? What does it lead to?
Finger-like projections from uterine tube which reach out and catch the oocyte at ovulation
Opening is infundibulum leads to the Uterine Tube Proper
What does the old follicle become following ovulation?
What major hormone does this structure secrete? Purpose?
What represents the remnants of the follicle and make up most of the new structure above?
What is their role?
What cells are at the periphery of the structure above? Purpose?
Corpus Luteum
Major secretion = Progesterone, prepares uterus to accept fetilized ovum
Granulosa Lutein Cells make up 80% of Corpus Luteum
These cells produce progesterone and convert androgens produced by the theca-lutein cells into estrogens
Theca Lutein Cells are at periphery of Corpus Luteum, produce progesterone and androgens
Theca Lutein Cells at arrows, produce androgens and progesterone
Granulosa Lutein Cells, produce progesterone and convert androgens produced by Theca Lutein cells to progesterone (majority of corpus luteum)
Corpus Luteum
Theca Lutein dark stained smaller cells
Lipid Vacuoles white bubbles
Granulosa Lutein Cells long arrow (progesterone, convert androgens)
If pregnancy does not occur, what becomes of the corpus luteum?
Atrophies via involution
Progesterone drops, corpus luteum becomes inacative scar, called Corpus Albicans
Corpus Albicans
If pregnancy occurs, what becomes of the Corpus Luteum?
Remains active for ~ 3 months
Elevated progesterone levels required to sustain early pregnancy
Placenta will eventually take over the role of progesterone secretion
Purpose of Uterine (fallopian) Tube?
What is the epithelial lining of the tube?
Transmits egg from ovary to uterus
Ciliated Cells, Secretory Peg cells
Uterine Tube wall
CC = Ciliated Cell
PC = Secretory Peg Cell
Uterine Tube Wall
Uterine Tube
Ciliated Columnar Cells
Secretory Peg Cells
What is the upper 2/3 of the uterus?
Area above entry of uterine tubes (very top)
Lower 1/3?
Upper 2/3 = Body
Fundus is at very top
Lower 1/3 = Cervix
Cervix of Uterus
Cervical Gland top right secretes mucus to aid sperm
Lymphocytes at transition of epithelium
Lower stratified squamous nonkeratinizing epitherlum of cervix
Branches cervical gland which aids in mucus secretion
Larger image of cervix
Nabothian Cysts
“Pimple” in Cervix
What are the three layers of the uterus?
Endometrium - inner mucosal layer, columbar epithelium with glands
Myometrium - Thickest part, muscular layer which expels fetus during childbirth
Perimetrium - Outer serosa
What are the two regions of the endometrium?
-
Stratum Functionale (sheds monthly)
- Superficial
- Columnar Epithelium with secretory glands
- Sheds/Regenerates
-
Stratum Basale (rebuilds)
- Deeper highly vascularized layer
- Responsible for regenerating stratum functionale each month
- Does NOT respond to progesterone
What stimulates stratum functionale to be rebuilt?
Estrogen stimulates stratum functionale to be rebuilt?
Represents proliferative phase
What occurs during the secretory phase with the stratum functionale?
Progesterone from Corpus Luteum stimulates secretory phase and continued growth of Stratum Functionale
What causes endometrial ischemia?
Spiral Arteries contract when corpus luteum involutes
Decreased in progesterone drives this
What phase is shown?
Proliferative Phase
What phase?
Secretory Phase
What phase?
Premenstrual Phase
Phase of uterus?
Proliferative
Phase of uterus?
Secretory Phase
Uterus phase?
Menstrual uterus, note blood
What are the three layers of the wall of vagina?
- Mucosal (inner): Stratified squamous epithelium, no glands, vaginal rugae that act as friction ridges for intercourse and allow distension during childbirth
- Muscular Layer: Smooth muscle, primarily used during childbirth
- Fibrous Layer (adventitia): Attaches vagina to surrounding tissue
Vagina
What are mammary glands modified forms of?
What is each lobe divided into?
What doe these contain?
What do these expand near the nipple to?
Sweat glands
Each lobe is divided into lobules
Lobules contain glands composed of alveolar glands and a lactiferous duct leading to nipple
Explands near nipple to form lactiferous sinus, where milk is stored before it drains at the nipple
Inactive mammary gland
Active Mammary Gland
