Female Histology Flashcards
pulsatile release of GnRh
increased frequency of pulses= increased LH release
decreased frequency of pulses=increased FSH and decreased LH
tunica albuginia
capsule of the ovary
made of simple cuboidal epithelium
subtended by dense irregular CT
focally eroded at time ovulation
primordial follicle
prmary oocyte
46c, diploid 4N
arrested at prophase I for 12-50ish years
squamous follicular cells surround it, joined by desmosomes
unilaminar Primary follicle
oocyte rapidly grows
follicular cells cuboidal
zona pellucida begins to form
multilaminar primary follicle
follicular cells become multilayered
ZP continues to develop
Theca interna begins to show up (from stroma around follicle)
Secondary follicle
antrum appears
granulosa (follicular) cells proliferate and secrete E2
Thecal cells develops from T.I. (separated by BM from granulosa cells ) —> T, androstenedione
graafian follicle
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
liquor folliculi
filled with plasma transudate
steroid hormones, GAGs, INHIBINS
Zona pellucida
glycoprotein coat that separates the primary oocyte from the rest of the follicular cells
forms in unilaminar primary follicular cells
dominant follicle
ones that contain the most FSH-R
produce E2 until mid-cycle when positive feedback begins
corpora hemorrhagicum
blood fills the follicular antrum during ovulation
oocyte upon ovulation
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)
follicular atresia
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
luteal phase
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
corpus luteum during pregnancy
hCG rescues the CL if pregnancy does occur, maintained for 6 months.
relaxin
secreted by the CL in later stages of pregnancy
increases pliability of pelvic CT to facilitate parturition
corpus albicans
scar left by involuted CL
partially or completely disappear over time
estrogen effect on puberty
stimulate growth of uterus and breast
develop female somatic profile (fat deposition)
estrogen effects on menstrual cycle
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
estrogen effects on pregnancy
growth of mammary gland duct system
myometrial hypertrophy
increases uterine blood flow
progesterone during puberty
minimal effect on breath growth
maturation of secretory cells
progesterone during menstrual cycle
trophic effect on uterine glands
stimulates thick cervical mucus secretion
**decreases things in the oviduct that inhibit things moving towards the uterus
progesterone during pregnancy
growth of mammary gland alveoli
impedes ovarian cycle by feedback to pituitary
produced by ovum to signal sperm
oviduct histology
simple columnar epithelium
ciliated (most beat in direction of the uterus)
(primary force of ovulation is the muscular )
Peg cells
secretory cells of oviduct
Tallest midcycle and shortest in premenstrual period
uterus histology
Serosa
myometrium
endometrium (mucous membrane)
myometrium
fibromuscular coat surrounding endometrium
layers of smooth muscle surrounded by CT
undergoes hyperplasia and hypertrophy
numerous gap junctions
**arcuate aa.
pars functionalis
of endometrium
sloughed off during menstruation
pars basalis
portion retained during menstruation
forms germinal tissue
renews pars functionalis
supplied by straight aa.
menstrual phase
sloughing of functionalis WBCs and macrophages invade stroma for functionalis
coiled aa. become compact
Cervix histology
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
vagina surface layers
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
