Female Histology

Question 1

pulsatile release of GnRh

Answer 1

increased frequency of pulses= increased LH release

decreased frequency of pulses=increased FSH and decreased LH

Question 2

tunica albuginia

Answer 2

capsule of the ovary
made of simple cuboidal epithelium
subtended by dense irregular CT

focally eroded at time ovulation

Question 3

primordial follicle

Answer 3

prmary oocyte
46c, diploid 4N
arrested at prophase I for 12-50ish years

squamous follicular cells surround it, joined by desmosomes

Question 4

unilaminar Primary follicle

Answer 4

oocyte rapidly grows
follicular cells cuboidal
zona pellucida begins to form

Question 5

multilaminar primary follicle

Answer 5

follicular cells become multilayered
ZP continues to develop
Theca interna begins to show up (from stroma around follicle)

Question 6

Secondary follicle

Answer 6

antrum appears
granulosa (follicular) cells proliferate and secrete E2

Thecal cells develops from T.I. (separated by BM from granulosa cells ) —> T, androstenedione

Question 7

graafian follicle

Answer 7

near ovulation, the antrum enlarges and distends capsule ( filled with liquor folliculi-)
well developed ZP
cumulus oophrous
corona radiata
receptors for LH (binding frees it from Pro I)
secrete P before ovulation

Question 8

liquor folliculi

Answer 8

filled with plasma transudate

steroid hormones, GAGs, INHIBINS

Question 9

Zona pellucida

Answer 9

glycoprotein coat that separates the primary oocyte from the rest of the follicular cells

forms in unilaminar primary follicular cells

Question 10

dominant follicle

Answer 10

ones that contain the most FSH-R

produce E2 until mid-cycle when positive feedback begins

Question 11

corpora hemorrhagicum

Answer 11

blood fills the follicular antrum during ovulation

Question 12

oocyte upon ovulation

Answer 12

primary oocyte completes meiosis 1 at ovulation

produces a secondary oocyte and polar body

oocyte is picked up by finbriae, transported to uterus

secondary oocyte enters meiosis II but is suspended in metaphase II until fertilization

then it becomes another polar body and an ovum (1N)

Question 13

follicular atresia

Answer 13

the rest of the non-dominant follicles that are not selected

occyte dies, antrum collapses
granulosa cells die
some thecal cells die
becomes interstitial glands which secrete androgens

Question 14

luteal phase

Answer 14

corpus luteum develops
theca luteal cells secrete P and E2
Granulosa cells hypertrophy

CL is maintained by LH, but eventually, E2 will inhibit LH enough that the CL dies and menstruation occurs

Question 15

corpus luteum during pregnancy

Answer 15

hCG rescues the CL if pregnancy does occur, maintained for 6 months.

Question 16

relaxin

Answer 16

secreted by the CL in later stages of pregnancy

increases pliability of pelvic CT to facilitate parturition

Question 17

corpus albicans

Answer 17

scar left by involuted CL

partially or completely disappear over time

Question 18

estrogen effect on puberty

Answer 18

stimulate growth of uterus and breast

develop female somatic profile (fat deposition)

Question 19

estrogen effects on menstrual cycle

Answer 19

proliferation of endometrial
production of clear mucous by cervical glands
maturation of vaginal epithelium

**increases things in the oviduct to promote movement of egg to uterus

Question 20

estrogen effects on pregnancy

Answer 20

growth of mammary gland duct system
myometrial hypertrophy
increases uterine blood flow

Question 21

progesterone during puberty

Answer 21

minimal effect on breath growth

maturation of secretory cells

Question 22

progesterone during menstrual cycle

Answer 22

trophic effect on uterine glands
stimulates thick cervical mucus secretion

**decreases things in the oviduct that inhibit things moving towards the uterus

Question 23

progesterone during pregnancy

Answer 23

growth of mammary gland alveoli
impedes ovarian cycle by feedback to pituitary
produced by ovum to signal sperm

Question 24

oviduct histology

Answer 24

simple columnar epithelium
ciliated (most beat in direction of the uterus)
(primary force of ovulation is the muscular )

Question 25

Peg cells

Answer 25

secretory cells of oviduct

Tallest midcycle and shortest in premenstrual period

Question 26

uterus histology

Answer 26

Serosa
myometrium
endometrium (mucous membrane)

Question 27

myometrium

Answer 27

fibromuscular coat surrounding endometrium
layers of smooth muscle surrounded by CT

undergoes hyperplasia and hypertrophy

numerous gap junctions
**arcuate aa.

Question 28

pars functionalis

Answer 28

of endometrium

sloughed off during menstruation

Question 29

pars basalis

Answer 29

portion retained during menstruation
forms germinal tissue
renews pars functionalis
supplied by straight aa.

Question 30

menstrual phase

Answer 30

sloughing of functionalis WBCs and macrophages invade stroma for functionalis

coiled aa. become compact

Question 31

Cervix histology

Answer 31

smooth muscle in the wall
extensive dense CT (which degrades prior to parturition)

**no coiled aa. not shed during menstruation

**cervical glands secrete mucus to lubricate vagina

Question 32

vagina surface layers

Answer 32

accum glycogen mid-cycle
desquamate and release glycogen which serves as substrate for bacteria—>acidic pH

fall in estrogen reduces glycogen, becomes more alkaline = more favorable to sperm