9. Follicular Development and Female Reproductive Tract (Dennis) Flashcards

1
Q

What sort of epithelium is the ovarian surface epithelium?

A

Simple squamous to low cuboidal.

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2
Q

What is contained within the ovarian cortex?

A

Connective tissue and follicles with primary oocytes.

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3
Q

What is found within the medulla of the ovaries?

A

Connective tissue, interstitial cells, neurovasculature, and lymphatics.

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4
Q

Where is the theca interna and externa located?

A

Outside the basement membrane of the secondary follicle and onwards.

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5
Q

What is the function of the theca interna?

A

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

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6
Q

What feature is necessary for determination of a primary follicle?

A

Cuboidal granulosa cells.

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7
Q

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

A

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

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8
Q

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

A

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

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9
Q

Identify the blanked out regions.

A
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10
Q

How does the released gamete escape from the mature follicle?

A

Proteolytic actions of the theca externa and the tunica albuginea.

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11
Q

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

A

The theca interna and the mural granulosa cells.

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12
Q

Describe luteinization.

A

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.

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13
Q

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

A

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.

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14
Q

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

A

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.

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15
Q

Which important mechanism that we studied is apoptotic?

A

Follicular atresia.

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16
Q

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

A

Proximal infundibulum with fimbrae.

Ampulla.

Isthmus.

Intramural/intrauterine portion.

17
Q

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

A

The ampulla and the isthmus.

18
Q

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

A

Simple columnar epithelium.

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

19
Q

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

A

Estrogen.

20
Q

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

A

The simple columnar epithelium become shorter and less ciliated.

21
Q

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

A

Estrogen (release during folliculogenesis).

22
Q

Which layer of the uterus is lost during menstruation?

A

The functional layer of the endometrium.

23
Q

What is unique about the muscle fibers in the myometrium?

A

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

24
Q

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

A

The arcuate arteries.

25
Q

What is the function of the uterine glands?

A

Supplies nutrients to the developing embryo if implantation occurs.

26
Q

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

What hormone stimulates this phase?

A

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.

27
Q

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

A

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.

28
Q

What is the function of the decidual cells?

A

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

Mediates the syncytiotrophoblast cells.

29
Q

What are the characteristics of the endocervix?

A

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

30
Q

What are nabothian cysts?

A

Occluded and dilated cervical crypts.

Nabothian cysts can be used to identify the endocervix.

31
Q

What is the epithelium of the ectocervix?

A

Nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium.

32
Q

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

A

Stratified squamous epithelium.

Absence of glands.

33
Q

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

A

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