Female Histology

Question 1

Name the parts of the Fallopian tube

Answer 1

Fimbria which capture the ovum
Infundibulum which the fimbria are attached to
Ampulla - wide segment where fertilisation occurs
Isthmus
Intramural part within uterine wall

Question 2

What does the wall of the Fallopian tube consist of?

Answer 2

Inner mucosa - epithelium and lamina propria
Muscular layer
Serosal covering

Question 3

Type of epithelium in F. tube?

Answer 3

Columnar

• ciliated
• non-ciliated (peg cells), secrete mucus

Question 4

How does the epithelium of the F tube change as it approaches the uterus?

Answer 4

Relative no. of peg cells increases

In the ampulla, ciliated cells predominate

Question 5

Structure of the wall of the uterus?

Answer 5

Endometrium - simple columnar resting on lamina propria

Myometrium - four layers of smooth muscle

Question 6

What is in the lamina propria of the uterus?

Answer 6

Glands

Connective or stromal elements

Question 7

Arterial supply to the uterus?

Answer 7

Paired uterine arteries which branch to form arcuate arteries in the myometrium.
Arcuate arteries give rise to
-straight arteries (stratum basalis)
-coiled arteries (stratum functionalis)

Question 8

What can the endometrium be divided into?

Answer 8

Functional (stratum functionalis) and basal (stratum basalis) layers.
Stratum functionalis subdivided into outer compact and deeper spongy layers

Question 9

Significance of the functional and basal layers?

Answer 9

Functional layer is shed during menstruation

In the next cycle, a new functional layer develops from cells lining the glands in the basal layer

Question 10

What are the three stages in the cycle in the uterine endometrium? Hormones which control them?

Answer 10

Proliferative phase under control of oestrogen
Secretory phase under control of progesterone
Menstrual phase caused by drop in progesterone

Question 11

What happens to the glands in the endometrium during the proliferative phase?

Answer 11

• growth in depth of s. functionalis leads to increasing length of glands which are straight, unbranched and tubular at this stage
• cells surrounding the developing glands (stromal cells) proliferate

Question 12

What happens to the glands during the secretory phase?

Answer 12

Increase in progesterone causes more development of endometrium
Glands grow faster than surrounding LP so become very coiled

Question 13

What changes happen to the stroma during the secretory phase?

Answer 13

Becomes oedematous

Stromal cells start to develop into decidual cells

Question 14

What do the decidual cells do if fertilisation occurs?

Answer 14

Contribute to the formation of the placenta and secrete prolactin

Question 15

What allows the stratum basilis to stay and the s. functionalis to be shed?

Answer 15

Falling progesterone leads to spasm of spiral arteries so SF becomes necrotic
Spasm of arteries believed to be due to locally released prostaglandins
Coiled arteries do not go into spasm so SB stays

Question 16

Where does the cervix extend to and from?

Answer 16

Between the internal and external Os

Portion between called the cervical canal

Question 17

Epithelium of the cervix?

Answer 17

Simple columnar
On the inner aspect of the external Os, stratified squamous
Contains many mucus-secreting glands

Question 18

Epithelium of the vagina?

Answer 18

Stratified squamous

Question 19

Layers of the vaginal wall?

Answer 19

Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscular layer containing smooth and skeletal muscle

Question 20

What do the epithelial cells of the vagina do and why?

Answer 20

Accumulate glycogen under the influence of oestrogen. Provides substrate for lactobacilli to keep the low pH of the vagina

Question 21

How is the vagina lubricated?

Answer 21

Does not have glands

Mucus produced by cervical glands and vestibular glands which open into the vestibule

Question 22

How does the junction between cervical and vaginal epithelium move?

Answer 22

At puberty - at the external Os

Moves to cervical canal during reproductive life