34- Female Reproductive Histology Flashcards by Staci Thomas

The two coexisting events during the menstrual cycle are the…

Ovarian Cycle

Uterine Cycle

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In the ________ Cycle, several ovarian follicles undergo folliculogenesis in preparation for ovulation.

Ovarian

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In the ________ Cycle, it is a concurrent cycle where the endometrium prepares for implantation.

Uterine

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The ovary is lined by ________ ________ ________, which is composed of simple cuboidal epithelium and is the embryonic source of granulosa cells and stromal cells.

Ovarian Surface Epithelium (OSE)

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Granulosa Cells and Stromal Cells comprise the growing _________.

Follicles

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The overlying layer of dense CT of the ovary is called the…

Tunica Albuginea

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The ovary has a peripheral cortex with a deep medulla. The cortex contains…

Ovarian Follicles

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The ovary has a peripheral cortex with a deep medulla. The medulla contains…

CT
Interstitial Cells
Neurovasculature
Lymphatics (via the hilum)

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This ovarian cell type are epithelial cells that originate from the outer epithelial lining.

Mullerian Epithelium

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This ovarian cell type are precursor cells of the gametes.

Germ Cells

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This ovarian cell type are derived from the stromal component of the ovary (granulosa cells, thecal cells, and fibrocytes).

Sex-Cord Stromal Cells

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These are located in the cortical stroma and contain a single oocyte.

Follicles

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________ ________ and ________ ________ surround oocyte and support its growth. Early stages of oogenesis occur during fetal life.

Follicular Cells

Granulosa Cells

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Oocytes present at birth remain arrested _________.

Meiosis I

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During folliculogenesis, select follicles undergo cyclic growth and maturation. What are the phases?

Follicular Phase
Ovulatory Phase
Luteal Phase

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These are cells that have begun meiotic division, and are arrested at Prophase I.

Primary Oocyte

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These are a single layer of cells that surround a primordial follicle, associated with a basement membrane.

Follicular/Pregranulosa Cells

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These are follicular cells that proliferate and become stratified.

Granulosa Cells

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What do the Granulosa Cells eventually segregate into?

1) Cumulus Oophorous
2) Mural Granulosa Cells
3) Corona Radiata

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This is a coat of glycoproteins that encases the primary oocyte, and is involved with sperm recognition.

Zona Pellucida

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Ovarian stromal cells differentiate and form outer covering (theca) surrounding follicle. _______ _______ is steroid producing, and _______ _______ contains fibroblasts and smooth muscle.

Theca Interna

Theca Externa

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These are the cells that complete the 1st meiotic division (with LH stimulation), and enter meiosis II but arrest at metaphase II.

Secondary Oocytes

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These follicles are numerous throughout the cortex. Surrounded by simple squamous layer of follicular/pregranulosa cells.

Primordial Follicles

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Primordial Follicles become ________ _______ when the single layer of squamous granulosa cells become a simple cuboidal layer of granulosa cells.

Primary Follicles

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The _______ _______ of Primary Follicles separates the granulosa cells from the stroma of the ovary.

Basal Lamina

From Primary Follicles, the _______ _______ begins to assemble, which separates the Primary Oocyte from granulosa cells.

Zona Pellucida

Follicular cells continue to proliferate, forming a ________ follicular epithelium made of granulosa cells. Cells communicate through gap junctions. Follicle is still avascular and surrounded by a basement membrane.

Stratified ***This stage is a late primary follicle!

Small spaces appear between the granulosa layers due to cells secreting follicular fluid. Fluid accumulates, the spaces enlarge and gradually coalesce. Granulosa cells reorganize themselves around a larger cavity, called the _________.

Antrum ***This is the Secondary Follicle!

Stromal cells follicle proliferate into a stratified cuboidal epithelium, the theca. The _______ _______ is a vascularized cell layer adjacent to the basal lamina supporting granulosa, and produces androstenedione which converts to estradiol. The ________ ________ is a fibrous cell layer continuous with ovarian stroma.

Theca Interna | Theca Externa

In this type of follicle, the antrum accumulates more fluid and reaches its maximum size (2 cm). It has thick thecal layers and bulges at the surface of the ovary, visible with ultrasound.

Mature (Graffian) Follicle

In the Mature (Graffian) Follicle, the granulosa cells thin out and are segregated by fluid into 3 things. 1) The _______ _______ _______ line the follicular wall, actively synthesize and secrete estrogen, and produce follicular fluid. 2) ________ ________ anchor the primary oocyte to the follicle and is a nutrient delivery channel. 3) The ________ ________ are granulosa cells anchored to the ZP (Zona Pellucida).

Mural Granulosa Cells Cumulus Oophorous Corona Radiata

During a typical menstrual cycle, one follicle becomes the dominant follicle. The other primary and antral follicles undergo ________, failure of a follicle to ovulate.

Atresia

_________ is the mechanism that ensures regression of the follicle without causing an inflammatory response. There is a collapse of the ________ ________, which is thick folded basement membrane material.

Apoptosis | Glassy Membrane

During the Ovulatory Phase, the mature preovulatory follicle protrudes from the ovarian surface, forming a ________. Proteolytic activity of the Theca Externa and Tunica Albuginea causes rupture.

Stigma

During the Ovulatory Phase, a surge of _______ causes primary oocyte to complete meiosis I into a secondary oocyte (arrested metaphase II). This oocyte undergoes ovulation and enters the oviduct.

During the Ovulatory Phase, the _______ _______ _______ and _______ _______ will repair OSE damage following follicle rupture.

Mural Granulosa Cells | Theca Interna

During the Luteal Phase, after ovulation the residual Mural Granulosa Cell layer folds and becomes part of the ________ ________.

Corpus Luteum

During the Luteal Phase, there is breakdown of follicle basal lamina. Blood vessels invade empty antrum, blood flows and coagulates forming a _________ _________ (temporary).

Corpus Hemorrhagicum

During the Luteal Phase, thecal cells differentiate. Mural Granulosa Cells become ________ _______ _______, and Theca Interna Cells become _______ _______ _______.

Granulosa Lutein Cells | Theca Lutein Cells

The Corpus Luteum promotes endometrial changes that support...

Implantation

These cells appear during the Luteal Phase. They are hypertrophic and have a steroid-secreting appearance. They secrete progesterone and estrogen with FSH and LH stimulation. They will express LH receptors, which is an essential step for luteinization.

Granulosa Lutein Cells

These cells appear during the Luteal Phase. They produce androstenedione and progesterone with LH stimulation.

Theca Lutein Cells

If fertilization occurs, Corpus Luteum continues to produce progesterone and estrogen. This is under stimulatory action of ________ from the trophoblast layer.

hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)

If fertilization does not occur, Corpus Luteum begins the involutions stage at about 14 days after ovulation. _________, the regression of the Corpus Luteum, leads to the formation of the ________ ________, which is a scar of CT (Type I collagen with few fibroblasts). Forms at the site of the Corpus Luteum after involution, gradually becomes very small.

Luteolysis | Corpus Albicans

These are paired ducts that provide a fertilization microenvironment and transport embryo to uterus.

Oviduct

The wall of the Oviduct consists of a folded mucosa, a muscularis layer, and a thin serosa covered by visceral peritoneum with __________.

Mesothelium

The mucosal folds of the Oviduct are most prominent in the _________ and get smaller closer to the uterus. They are completely absent in the uterine part.

Ampulla

What are the parts of the Uterine Tube (Oviduct)?

(Ovary) -- Infundibulum -- Ampulla -- Isthmus -- Uterine Part -- (Uterus)

The wall of the Oviduct has a mucosal layer that consists of simple columnar epithelium with lamina propria of loose CT. It also has ________ ________ and ________ _______ ________ that are sensitive to estrogen signaling and increase in size.

Ciliated Cells | Secretory Peg Cells

The wall of the Oviduct has a smooth muscle layer with an inner _________ layer and outer _________ layer. There is also a serosa layer with large blood vessels.

Circular-Spiral | Longitudinal

Peristaltic contraction and _________ activity propel the oocyte/zygote toward the uterus.

Ciliary

The uterus wall has three layers, which are...

Endometrium Myometrium Perimetrium

This layer of the uterus is composed of simple columnar epithelium with simple tubular endometrial glands. It has a functional layer that is lost during menstruation and supplied by spiral arteries. There is also a basal layer retained during menstruation.

Endometrium

This layer of the uterus has poorly defined smooth muscle. It has a central, circular layer that is thick with blood vessels called stratum vasculature. Outer and inner layers contain longitudinally or obliquely arranged fibers.

Myometrium

This layer of the uterus is serosa covering the posterior surface and part of the anterior surface (remainder is adventitia).

Perimetrium

_______ _______ supply blood to the endometrium. There is a straight segment that supplies the basal layer, and a coiled segment that supplies the functional layer and stretches with endometrial growth.

Arcuate Arteries

Before menstruation, in the endometrium there is contraction of the artery that occurs at the straight-coiled junction. This reduces blood flow and causes destruction of the...

Functional Layer

What are the phases of the menstrual cycle?

``` Menstrual Phase (Days 1-4) Proliferative Phase (Days 5-14) Secretory Phase (Days 15-28) ```

What phase of the menstrual cycle is being described? -- Corpus Luteum regresses -- Reduced blood supply leading to ischemia and necrosis of functional layer -- Functional layer sloughs away; Basal layer retained

Menstrual Phase (Days 1-4)

What phase of the menstrual cycle is being described? -- Glands proliferate and cover surface -- Spiral arteries elongate and become convoluted, extend from basal into functional layer -- Estrogen-dependent

Proliferative Phase (Days 5-14)

What phase of the menstrual cycle is being described? -- Endometrium reaches max thickness -- Spiral arteries continue to grow and extend into functional layer -- Glands appear "saw tooth" -- Estrogen and progesterone

Secretory Phase (Days 15-28)

If pregnancy takes place, endometrial stroma undergoes histologic changes following implantation. Fibroblasts become ________ _______ which are enlarged, polygonal, and more active in protein synthesis. These store lipids and glycogen, undergoing the _______ _______.

Decidual Cells | Decidual Reaction

The ________ ________ provides and immune-protective environment for the embryo and moderates syncytiotrophoblast invasion. The entire endometrium is now called the _________, separates into functional layers involved in placental development.

Decidual Reaction | Decidua

The cervix communicates with the uterine cavity and the vagina through the ________ ________. It has mucosa with crypts and branched mucus-secreting tubular glands.

Endocervix Canal

The _______ _______ within the cervix increase the surface area of mucus-producing. Composed of simple columnar cells.

Cervical Crypts

Cervical Crypt height vary with the time of the menstrual cycle and secretory activity. They can become occluded and dilated forming ________ ________.

Nabothian Cysts

This is the external segment of the cervix, lined by stratified squamous epithelium.

Ectocervix

This is the abrupt epithelial transition between the endocervix and the ectocervix.

Transformation Zone

What are the epithelium types that the Transformation Zone changes to in the cervix?

Endocervix = Simple Columnar CHANGES TO Ectocervix = Nonkeratinized Stratified Squamous

This is a fibromuscular type consisting of a mucosal layer, muscularis layer, and adventitial layer.

Vagina

This mucosal layer of the vagina is composed of what epithelium?

Nonkeratinized Stratified Squamous

The mucosal layer of the vagina is kept moist by the mucus from the ________ ________ and ________ ________.

Uterine/Endocervical Glands | Glands of Bartholin (Vestibule)

The musuclaris layer of the vagina has circular and longitudinal smooth muscle, and the adventitial layer has dense CT. The mucosa will fully differentiate with cycling ________, stratification increases.

Estrogen

What is a hallmark of identifying vaginal tissue?

Vaginal wall lacks glands