9. Follicular Development and Female Reproductive Tract (Dennis)

Question 1

What sort of epithelium is the ovarian surface epithelium?

Answer 1

Simple squamous to low cuboidal.

Question 2

What is contained within the ovarian cortex?

Answer 2

Connective tissue and follicles with primary oocytes.

Question 3

What is found within the medulla of the ovaries?

Answer 3

Connective tissue, interstitial cells, neurovasculature, and lymphatics.

Question 4

Where is the theca interna and externa located?

Answer 4

Outside the basement membrane of the secondary follicle and onwards.

Question 5

What is the function of the theca interna?

Answer 5

The theca interna is vascularized, supports the granulosa, and produces androstenedione which is then converted into estradiol.

Question 6

What feature is necessary for determination of a primary follicle?

Answer 6

Cuboidal granulosa cells.

Question 7

What feature is necessary for the determination of the secondary follicle?

Answer 7

Call-Exner bodies, which join together to form the antrum

Question 8

From where is the follicular fluid found in the antrum derived?

Answer 8

From the blood vessels of the theca interna, reaching the antrum by osmotic gradient.

Question 9

Identify the blanked out regions.

Answer 9

Question 10

How does the released gamete escape from the mature follicle?

Answer 10

Proteolytic actions of the theca externa and the tunica albuginea.

Question 11

What repairs the damage to the ovarian surface epithelium after gamete release?

Answer 11

The theca interna and the mural granulosa cells.

Question 12

Describe luteinization.

Answer 12

Residual mural granulosa cells fold in on themselves and become a part of the corpus luteum.

The basal lamina of the follicle degenerates.

Blood vessels invade the empty antrum of the residual follicle and form the corpus hemorrhagicum.

The mural granulosa cells become granulosa lutein cells.

The theca interna cells become thecal lutein cells.

The structures then signal endometrial changes that support implantation and continuance of the pregnancy before the placenta is created.

Question 13

What are the respective roles of the granulosa lutein cells and the theca lutein cells in luteinization?

Answer 13

The granulosa lutein cells secrete progesterone and estrogen with FSH/LH stimulation. They also express LH receptors, which is essential.

The theca lutein cells produce progesterone and androstenedione with LH stimulation.

Question 14

What happens to the corpus luteum in the event of fertilization, and in the absence of fertilization?

Answer 14

If fertilization occurs, hCG signals the corpus luteum to continue producing progesterone and estrogen.

If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum will wait fourteen days before involuting, and then will become the corpus albicans – stromal connective tissue that has replaced degenerating luteal cells.

Question 15

Which important mechanism that we studied is apoptotic?

Answer 15

Follicular atresia.

Question 16

What are the four regions of the oviduct in the order that an egg passes through them?

Answer 16

Proximal infundibulum with fimbrae.

Ampulla.

Isthmus.

Intramural/intrauterine portion.

Question 17

Which regions of the oviduct are lined by mucosal folds that project into the lumen?

Answer 17

The ampulla and the isthmus.

Question 18

What sort of epithelium to be expect to find in the wall of the oviduct?

Answer 18

Simple columnar epithelium.

(With or without cilia depending upon the presence of estrogen and progesterone.)

Question 19

What hormone, secreted during folliculogenesis, stimulates the epithelial cells of the wall of the oviduct to become taller and ciliated?

Answer 19

Estrogen.

Question 20

What happens to the epithelium of the wall of the oviduct in response to progesterone?

Answer 20

The simple columnar epithelium become shorter and less ciliated.

Question 21

What stimulates non-ciliated secretory cells (peg cells) tube secrete nutrients?

Answer 21

Estrogen (release during folliculogenesis).

Question 22

Which layer of the uterus is lost during menstruation?

Answer 22

The functional layer of the endometrium.

Question 23

What is unique about the muscle fibers in the myometrium?

Answer 23

They can be longitudinally or obliquely arranged in a disorganized manner.

Question 24

The straight and coiled segments, which supply the two layers of the endometrium, come off of what arteries?

Answer 24

The arcuate arteries.

Question 25

What is the function of the uterine glands?

Answer 25

Supplies nutrients to the developing embryo if implantation occurs.

Question 26

What are the timing and characteristics of the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle?

What hormone stimulates this phase?

Answer 26

During days 5 to 14, the uterine glands proliferate and cover the surface of the endometrium, spiral arteries elongate and become convoluted – extending from the basal layer into the functional layer.

The proliferative phase is estrogen-dependent.

Question 27

What are the timing and characteristics of the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 27

During days 15-28, the uterine glands become convoluted and take on a saw tooth appearance, the endometrium reaches its maximal thickness, spiral arteries continue to grow and extend into the functional layer, and we have considerable leukocyte infiltration into the stroma.

The secretory phase is stimulated by estrogen and progesterone.

Question 28

What is the function of the decidual cells?

Answer 28

They respond to increased progesterone levels to provide an immuno-protective environment for the embryo.

Mediates the syncytiotrophoblast cells.

Question 29

What are the characteristics of the endocervix?

Answer 29

Simple columnar epithelial cells on a folded mucosa with deep crypts.

Question 30

What are nabothian cysts?

Answer 30

Occluded and dilated cervical crypts.

Nabothian cysts can be used to identify the endocervix.

Question 31

What is the epithelium of the ectocervix?

Answer 31

Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

Question 32

What are the hallmarks for the identification of the vagina histologically?

Answer 32

Stratified squamous epithelium.

Absence of glands.

Question 33

What are the differences in the histology of the vagina during ovulation and after ovulation?

Answer 33

Ovulation – mediated by estrogen – the stratified epithelium is fully differentiated and thicker. Acidophilic squamous cells can be seen.

After ovulation – mediated by progesterone – squamous cell thickness decreases, but basophilic polygonal cells and neutrophils/lymphocytes increase