Breast and Female Reproductive System Flashcards
2 types of supportive tissue in the breast
Fibrous stroma (mesenchymal tissue) Fat (mesenchymal tissue)
Functional unit of breasts
Terminal duct lobular unit (epithelial cells)
Made out of ducts and lobules
Milk made from ductal epithelial cells and pushed out by myoepithelial cells
Fibrocystic changes
Hormonally driven
Term used to describe fibrosis and cysts
Ducts become dilated and eventually form cysts
Loose connective tissue gets replaced with dense (fibrosis)
Epithelial proliferation is almost always present
Usually does not require treatment
Fibroadenoma
Common benign tumor
Mostly young women
They are biphasic tumors: have epithelial proliferation and stromal (mesenchymal) proliferation
‘Shelled out’ surgically; no malignant potential
Breast carcinoma arise from where?
The epithelium of breast ducts and lobules
Invasive breast carcinoma
Has the capacity to metastasize and extends beyond the ducts into surrounding tissue of the breast
Into fat, blood stream, lymph nodes, and then throughout body
Ductal and lobular carcinoma in situ
Precursor lesions
Proliferation of cancerous cells limited to the ducts
No invasion through the basement membrane
Cannot metastasize
Tumor stage depends on…
Tumor size
Presence of metastases (regional lymph nodes or distant)
Most common site of metastasis
Regional lymph nodes of the axilla
Tissue types in:
- Vulva, vagina and exocervix
- Endocervix
- Fallopian tubes
- Squamous epithelium
- Glandular epithelium
- Ciliated ‘tubal’ epithelium
What hormone(s) are the
1. follicular phase
2. luteal phase
characterized by?
- Rising estrogen
2. Estrogen and progesterone
Pelvic inflammatory disease
General term used to describe inflammation/infection that ascends from lower to upper genital tract
Polymicrobial (chlamydia, GC, etc)
Results in: inflammation, abscess formation, scarring if chronic
Symptoms: none, abdominal/pelvic pain, fever, infertility
Endometriosis
Foci of endometrium found outside uterus
Most often located on ovary, pelvic peritoneum
Common, causes cyclic pain and infertility
May be getting outside of the uterus from retrograde menstrual flow
Human Papilloma Virus
Causes a variety of pathologies depending on virus type
Causes infection and sometimes neoplasia
Low versus high risk HPV
Low risk: Types 6 and 11. Cause warts and low risk lesions
High risk: Types 16 and 18 and others. Premalignant lesions of cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
Endometrial Adenocarcinoma
Related to hyperestrinism (obesity, hormone replacement therapy)
May be preceded by endometrial hyperplasia
Occurs in perimenopausal, postmenopausal women
Variable prognosis: depends on stage (and grade)
Serous tumors
In the ovary
Can be benign or malignant
Benign is just filled with serious fluid, malignant is almost completely solid
Surface epithelial tumor
Mucinous tumors
In the ovary
Benign or malignant
Surface epithelial tumor
Germ cell tumors of the ovary
Found mostly in women under 25
Arise from primordial germ cells that migrate from the yolk sac in early embryogenesis
Benign is teratoma
Occasionally are malignant ones
3 parts of the placenta
Chorionic villi (fetal vessels and exchange of nutrients)
Maternal vessels
Amniotic membranes
Placenta previa
Placenta covers cervical opening
Can be bleeding in early pregnancy
Have to have a C section
Placenta accreta
Penetrates into uterine wall (myometrium)
Placenta does not separate properly at birth
May cause extensive bleeding and require surgery (emergency hysterectomy)
