Female Histology & VM Lab - Bolender

Question 1

What are the three major components of the male or female reproductive system?

Answer 1

1. Gonads
2. Ducts
3. External genitalia

Question 2

1. The ovary is covered by an epithelium that goes by what name?
2. What type of epithelium is it?
3. What other epithelium is continuous with this one?

Answer 2

1. Germinal epithelium
   
   • Note the misnomer - this epithelium does not give rise to the gametes or even the follicular cells surrounding the oocytes.
2. (Simple) Cuboidal
3. Epithelium of the mesovarium

Question 3

What thin layer is located just deep to the germinal epithelium of the ovary?

What is this layer rich with?

Answer 3

Tunica Albuginea

rich in collagen

Question 4

The ovary is subdivided in to what two general areas?

Where are they in relation to each other?

Answer 4

Cortex and medulla

(the boundary between them is indistinct)

The medulla is in the central part of each ovary (i.e., deep to the cortex)

Question 5

What does the medulla of the ovary contain?

Answer 5

• blood vessels
• nerves
• lymphatics
• loose connective tissue

Question 6

What does the cortex of the ovary contain?

Answer 6

• Ovarian follicles!
• follicles are surrounded by stromal (intersitial) cells

Question 7

1. Where are hilar cells located in the ovary?
2. What do they secrete?
3. BONUS CHALLENGE:
   
   • Under what circumstances would hilar cell hyperplasia occur?

Answer 7

1. Near the hilum! (where blood vessels and nerves enter & exit the ovary)
2. Similar to Leydig cells - secrete testosterone
   
   • Possilbly a remnant from the developmental ambisexual gonad? (Web)
3. Any condition where hCG is increased:
   
   • choriocarcinoma
   • pregnancy
   • hCG administration

Question 8

Name five stages an ovarian follicle will pass through prior to fertilization.

Answer 8

1. Primordial follicle
2. Ulilaminar primary follicle
3. Multilaminar primary follicle
4. Secondary follicle
5. Mature or Graafian follicle

Question 9

1. In what stage of meiosis is a primary oocyte held in?
   
   • When does this last until?
2. In what stage of meiosis is a secondary oocyte held in?
   
   • When does this last until?

Answer 9

1. Primary oocyte: Halted at Prophrase I
   
   • This ends shortly prior to ovulation
   • Note: this is the state most oocytes are suspended in while they wait to mature, etc.
2. Secondary oocyte: Halted at Metaphase II
   
   1. This ends with fertilization

Question 10

What are the two components of a primary follicle?

Answer 10

1. Primary oocyte
2. Follicle cells (single layer)

Question 11

True or false: the follicle cells of the primordial follicle have a basement membrane.

At the primordial follicle stage, what type of epithelia are follicular cells?

Answer 11

False

Simple squamous

Question 12

What is the (notably large) nucleus of the oocyte called during the primary oocyte phase of oogenesis?

Answer 12

The Germinal Vesicle

Question 13

What protein keeps immature oocytes arrested in the first meiotic prophase?

What secretes this protein?

Answer 13

Oocyte Maturation Inhibitor

Secreted by the follicle cells surrounding the oocyte

[Sensible name, sensible source? Witchcraft!]

Question 14

Explain the difference between a primary oocyte and a primary follicle.

[Making sure you’re really awake!]

Answer 14

Primary oocytes are found within primordial follicles up through ovulation, and become secondary oocytes around that time.

The follicle, on the other hand, passes through all of its phases prior to ovulation, from primordial, through primary, to mature/secondary.

Question 15

What do the follicle cells of a primary follicle have that those of a primordial follicle do not?

At the primary follicle stage, what type of epithelia are the follicle cells now?

Answer 15

A basement membrane

Cuboidal (recall: in the primordial follicle, they are more squamous)

Question 16

Once a primary follicle has reached the multilaminar stage, what new name is given to the follicle cells?

What collective name is given to the layers altogether?

Answer 16

Individually: Granulosa cells

Collectively: Membrana Granulosa

Question 17

1. What acellular layer comes to directly surround the oocyte of a primary follice?
2. What cells are responsible for secreting the components that form this layer?
3. How does this layer appear on H&E stain

Answer 17

1. Zona Pellucida
2. Secreted by the innermost layer of granulosa cells
3. Eosinophillic

Question 18

As the primary follicle continues to grow, it **compresses **the surrounding stromal cells, forming a capsule-like layer called what?

Answer 18

Theca Interna

Question 19

What space forms within the membrana granulosa of secondary follicles?

How does the space form?

Answer 19

The Antrum

The granulosa cells create spaces within the membrana by secreting “follicular fluid” which coalesce into a single antrum.

Question 20

How does the theca externa of the secondary follicle form?

Answer 20

Same way as the theca interna:

Continued expansion of the follicle results in the formation of a second thecal layer.

Question 21

The morphological changes in the follicle as it matures from primary to secondary are mediated by what?

Answer 21

FSH

Question 22

1. What determines which secondary follicles will containue maturation to the point of ovulation?
2. Once a follicle reaches the Mature or Graafian stage and becomes dominant, how does it inhibit the further maturation of other follicles?

Answer 22

1. Density of FSH receptors
2. Production of inhibin (Inhibin B), which negatively regulates FSH release from the pituitary

[aka the first one to eat up all the FSH gets big and mean and doesn’t let anyone else have any]

Question 23

What physiological mechanism explains why women are born with hundreds of thousands (even millions?) of follicles, but will only ovulate ~400 times during their life?

Answer 23

Follicular Atresia (Degeneration)

• Atresia is a hormone-controlled apoptotic event.
• Around 20 follicles can become mature during any given ovarian cycle. Only one becomes dominant and undergoes ovulation. The others become atretic.
• However, follicles can become atretic and degenerate at any time during follicle development.

Question 24

What stages of follicles leave a scar in the ovary if they become atretic?

Answer 24

Secondary (antral) or Mature follicles that become atretic will leave a scar.

Primordial or primary follicle atresia leaves no visible scar.

Question 25

What is a "glassy membrane"?

Answer 25

A thickening of the follicle BM along with a scar forms during follicle atresia (of a secondary or mature follicle only)

Question 26

In a Mature / Graafian follicle: 1. Where is the oocyte? 2. What is the corona radiata? 3. What is the cumulus oophorus?

Answer 26

1. Displaced to one side of the antrum 2. Granulosa cells **immediately** surrounding the oocyte 3. A cluster of granulosa cells that both surround the oocyte + corona radiata and form a bridge to the rest of the membrana granulosa.

Question 27

In the hours leading up to ovulation, what changes occur in: 1. The oocyte nucleus? 2. The ovarian wall adjacent to the dominant follicle? 3. The BM of the follicle? 4. The oocyte and its corona + cumulus cells? 5. The follicle cells of the membrana granulosa?

Answer 27

1. Nuclear breakdown and progression to Metaphase II 2. Wall thinning due to **collagenases **and **prostaglandins** 3. BM disolved via plasmin * Follicle cells secrete plasminogen activator 4. Detachment from the membrana granulosa 5. Start production of progesterone, decrease estrogen release

Question 28

What is Lutenization?

Answer 28

The process by which the granulosa cells of the post-ovulatory follicle are transformed into steroid secreting cells.

Question 29

What are the three products of the corpus luteum? What is the overal purpose of the corpus luteum?

Answer 29

1. **Progesterone** 2. Estrogen 3. Relaxin Purpose: Maintain the endometrial lining during pregnancy

Question 30

Other than lutenized granulosa cells, what other cells of the corpus luteum contribute to hormone production?

Answer 30

**Theca interna** cells also become lutenized (recall: they were originally stromal cells) and secrete **progesterone** and **androgens.**

Question 31

1. What is the lifespan of a normal corpus luteum (CL) of menstruation, assuming pregnancy does not occur? 2. When the CL regresses, what does it leave behind?

Answer 31

1. 10-12 days 2. A scar called the **corpus albicans**

Question 32

1. What hormone maintains the corpus luteum prior to pregnancy? 2. During pregnancy?

Answer 32

1. LH (**Lutenizing** hormone) 2. hCG

Question 33

1. What hormone stimulates theca cell androgen production? * **Bonus**: Which androgen, specifically? 2. What hormone stimulates follicle cell aromatase activity, generating estrogen from that androgen?

Answer 33

1. LH * Androstenedione 2. FSH

Question 34

1. What hormone maintains the uterine endometrium in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle? 2. What hormone mediates ovarian wall rupture for ovulation?

Answer 34

1. Progesterone 2. Progesterone also * Local levels produced in the follicle prior to ovulation

Question 35

What are the four sections of the oviduct?

Answer 35

From distal (ovary) to proximal (uterus): 1. **Infundibulum** (+ fimbria) 2. **Ampulla** * Longest; over 2/3 of total length 3. **Isthmus** 4. **Intramural** division * Within the wall of the uterus

Question 36

What two types of epithelium are found in the mucosa of the oviduct?

Answer 36

**ciliated** and **non-ciliated** simple columnar

Question 37

Describe the muscularis component of the oviduct wall.

Answer 37

* Inner circular layer * Outer longitudinal layer

Question 38

What hormones regulate peristalsis of the smooth muscle of the oviduct?

Answer 38

Estrogen & Progesterone

Question 39

What are the three layers of the uterus?

Answer 39

From superficial to deep: 1. Serosa 2. Myometrium 3. Endometrium

Question 40

Describe the muscle layers of the **myometrium**.

Answer 40

* Inner circular * Middle oblique * Outer longitudinal

Question 41

What hormones stimulate contraction of the myometrium? What hormones inhibit ("quiet") contraction of the myomterium?

Answer 41

Stimulate: **Oxytocin** Inhibit: Progesterone & Relaxin

Question 42

What type of epithelium is present in the endometrium? What about the epithelium of the cervical canal?

Answer 42

Both: Simple columnar

Question 43

Name and describe the zones of the endometrium.

Answer 43

* Outer (closest to lumen) 2/3: **Functional zone** * Undergoes cyclic changes; sloughed at end of cycle * Further subdivided: * Outer compact layer * Inner spongy layer * Inner 1/3: **Basal zone** * Does not undergo cyclic changes

Question 44

Describe the dual blood supply of the endometrium.

Answer 44

* **Straight** arteries * Supply only the basal zone * Insensitive to hormonal fluctuations * **Spiral** arteries * Supply the functional zone * Sensitive to progesterone & estrogen; spasm and constrict in the absence of these hormones * Ischemia contributes to sloughing of tissue during menses

Question 45

How do the endometrial glands appear during the: 1. Proliferative phase? 2. Secretory phase?

Answer 45

1. Relatively straight but wavy in appearance 2. Glands become coiled and sacculated (as they secrete glycogen and other carbohydrates)

Question 46

Is the **cervical** endometrium also sloughed off during menstruation?

Answer 46

No.

Question 47

What epithelium covers the exocervix?

Answer 47

Stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium

Question 48

What is the name for the area at the interface between the simple columnar and stratified squamous epithelia in the cervix? How is this area clinically important?

Answer 48

Transformation Zone Exfoliated cells from this area are what are gathered during a **PAP smear** to check for changes that may suggest cervical cancer.

Question 49

What are the three layers of the vaginal wall?

Answer 49

1. Mucosa * stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium 2. Muscularis * inner circular * outer longitudinal 3. Adventitia * elastic fibers & pressure receptors

Question 50

1. How many days is the "model" menstrual cycle? 2. Of these, which days are the **menstrual phase?** 3. Which days are the **proliferative (folliclar) phase?** 4. Which days are the **secretory (luteal) phase?**

Answer 50

1. 28 days 2. Days 1-5 3. Days 5-15 4. Days 15-28

Question 51

Describe the condition of **anovulatory cycling**. What hormones are dominant in this condition?

Answer 51

* **No ovulation occurs** during the menstrual cycle * Thus, **no progesterone** is produced * **Estrogen remains dominant** * Endometrium remains in a **proliferative** state * Eventually, shedding of a proliferative endometrium occurs along with some irregular bleeding * (Wiki) Menstrual periods are often irregular and of varying lengths

Question 52

Describe **primary** vs. **secondary amenorrhea**.

Answer 52

* Primary: Woman has **never** menstruated * (e.g. testicular feminization) * Secondary: Woman who was menstruating has **stopped** * (e.g. instense athletic training)

Question 53

What is **dysmenorrhea**? What is thought to mediate the primary symptom of this condition?

Answer 53

Severe **pain** during menstruation Pain is thought to be mediated by **prostaglandin** production

Question 54

What is **endometriosis**?

Answer 54

Condition in which endometrial tissue is found in abnormal locations (e.g. ovary, myometrium).

Question 55

What are the three primary sites of carcinoma in the female reproductive system?

Answer 55

* Endometrial * Cervical * Ovarian

Question 56

What is **leiomyoma uteri**?

Answer 56

* Condition in which there are benign uterine smooth muscle growths / tumors called **leiomyomas** or **fibroids** * Stimulated by **estrogen**

Question 57

Histologically, why do some oocytes appear to lack nuclei?

Answer 57

Oocytes are **big**. Oftentimes in histological sections, the nucleus is **out of the plane of the section**

Question 58

What surrounds the muscularis of the oviduct wall?

Answer 58

Mesosalpinx

Question 59

How thick is the endometrium following menses? How thick can the endometrium become during the secretory phase?

Answer 59

~1mm 5-6mm

Question 60

Why does the basal zone of the endometrium appear denser than the functional zone?

Answer 60

The functional zone contains more fluid in the insterstitial areas between the endometrial glands

Question 61

What type of intercellular specializations would you expect to see between the smooth muscle cells of the uterine myometrium?

Answer 61

Gap junctions Facilitate contraction of all muscle cells as a unit during partuition

Question 62

The lamina propria of the vaginal wall contains a large plexus of vessels. Does this plexus consist of arteries or veins?

Answer 62

Veins