Female Repro Histo Flashcards
In general what is the ovarian cycle?
Where ovarian follicles undergo folliculogenesis in prep for ovulation
In general what is the uterine cycle?
Concurrent cycle to the ovarian where the endometrium prepares for implantation
What epithelium covers the ovary?
Simple cuboidal epithelium
What is the dense CT capsule covering the ovary called?
Tunica albuginea
What makes up the cortex of the ovary?
CT and ovarian follicles
What makes up the medulla of the ovary?
`CT, interstitial cells, neurovasculature, and lymphatics in the hilum
What type of cells surrounds and supports the growth of the oocyte?
Follicular & Granulosa cells
Where are ovarian follicles located?
Cortical stroma
What are the three phases of folliculogenesis?
Follicular phase Ovulatory phase Luteal phase
Describe primordial follicles
Found throughout the cortex surrounded by simple squamous layer of follicular/pregranulosa cells
What covers primary follicles, what separates granulosa cells from stroma of ovary, and What separates primary oocyte from granulosa?
Simple squamous granulosa cells and a simple cuboidal layer of granulosa cells. The basal lamina separates granulosa cells from the ovary’s stroma. When the ZP assembles it separates primary oocyte from granulosa cells.
In late primary follicles, how do the stratified granulosa cells communicate? Describe the follicle.
Via gap junctions Avascular with a basement membrane
What is folliculogenesis?
3 stages where select follicles undergo cyclic growth and maturation
Oocytes present at birth are arrested in what stage?
Meiosis I
what is this, what is it receptive to?
- Primordial follicles
- Receptive to FSH which then allows for development of primary follicles
What is this, what are the cells surrounding it?
- Primary follicle
- Surrounded by a simple cuboidal layer of granulosa cells
What is this
Late follicular cell
What is sthis?
secondary follicle
In a secondary follicle what secretes the follicular fluid? Where does the fluid accumulate?
Granulosa cells, and it accumulates in small spaces called Call-Exner bodies
What is the antrum?
Antrum is a large cavity that holds fluid in the secondary follicle
A in the picture
Where are thecal layers first present?
Secondary follicle
What are the layers labeled TH and TE?
Theca interna layer and theca externa layer of cells
What does the theca interna do?
Produces androstenedione—estradiol, it is a vascularized layer of cells adjacent to basal lamina supporting the granulosa
What is the purpose of the theca externa?
Fiborus layer of cells continous with ovarian stroma, support
Describe the Graffian follicle.
- Aka mature follicle
- Thick theca layers
- The antrum fills and follicle reaches max size, the follicle will bulge at the surface of the ovary and can been seen on US
Describe the granulosa cells in the graffian mature follicle.
- Mural granulosa cells: they create wall of follicle synthesizing and secreting estrogen aned producing follicular fluid
- Cumulus oophorous: anchor oocyte to follicle wall
- Corona radiata: granulosa cells anchored to the ZP
What is follicular atresia?
- Follicular atresia occurs once a dominant follicle is established. All other primary and antral follicles undergo atresia via apoptosis. This causes regression of follicile w/o inflammatory response.
- This looks like a glassy membrane, with thick folded basesmemet membrane
What does the LH surge of the ovulatory phase cause?
- Primary oocyte completes Meiosis I and becomes a secondary oocyte which is arrested at metaphase II
- Oocyte will undergo ovulation and enter the oviduct
- Mural granulsoa cells and theca interna repaire OSE damage follwing the follicle rupturing
What cells form the corpus luteum?
The thecal cells
what is the purpose of the corpus luteum in the luteal phase?
promotes endometiral changes that will support implantation
In the luteal phase what happens to mural granulosa and theca interna cells?
- Mural becomes granulosa lutein cells
- Theca inerna becomes theca lutein cells
What do granulosa lutein cells do?
- GLC in picture
- Hypertrophic steroid secreting appearance cells that secrete progesterone and estrogen with FSH and LH stimulation
What do theca lutein cells do?
Produce androstenedione and progesterone wit hLH stimulation
TLC in pic
What happens to the CL if fertilization occurs?
CL continues to proeduce progesterone and estrogen under the stimulatory hCG from the trhophoblastic layer of cells
What happens to the CL if fertilization doesn’t occur?
- CL begins involution around 14 days after ovulation
- Luteolysis (regression of CL) leads to Corpus albicans formation
- Type one collagen with few fibroblasts
What is this
uterine tube
Describe the uterine tube.
- Mucosal layer with simple column. epi with a loose CT lamina propria, it has ciliated cells and secretory peg cells
- estrogen causes an increase in size
- Smooth mm layer:
- inner circular spiral layer and outer longitudinal
- peristaltic contraction and ciliary activities propel oocyte to uterus
- Serosa
What are the three layers to the uterus? Describe them.
L to R:
- Perimetrium:
- serosa covering posterior surface and part of anterior surface
- Myometrium:
- poor defined smooth muscles, has stratum vasculare
- Endometrium:
- epithelium of simple colum with simple tubular glands
- Functional layer: lose during menstruation supplied by spiral arteries
- Basal layer: retained during menstruation
ID the basal layer and functional layer of uterus.
Basal layer is along the myometrium endometrium line and functional layer is to the right
what arteries supply the endometrium what are the branches?
Arcuate arteries
- Straight segment supplies basal layer
- Spiral/Coiled segment: supplies functional layer stretches with the endometrial growth
What causes destruction of the functional layer of the endometrium?
Contraction of the artery occurs at the straight coiled junction before menstruation reducing blood flow destroying the layer
What happens in days 1-4 of the menstrual cycle?
- The menstrual phase:
- CL regresses
- Blood supply is reduced causing ischemia/necrosis of fxnl layer
- Fxnl layer sloughs away
What happens during Proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle (5-14), what does it depend on?
- Glands proliferate and cover the surface
- Spiral arteries elongated and become convoluted and extend from basal into fxnl layer
- Depends on estrogen!
What hapepns during the secretory phase days 15-28?
- Endometrium reaches max thickkness and spiral arteries extend and grow more into the fxnl layer
- Glands look sawtooth
- Depends on estrogen & progesterone
what is this
Menstrual phase
- Stroma looks sponge like
- Breaksown of stromal matrix
- hypoxia and swelling/ breakdown of glands
what is this how do you know
Proliferative pahse
Fxnl layer is htin stroma is more cellular glands are straight and empty
what is this how do you know
- Secretory phase
- fxnl layer has elss cells
- much thicker than basal layer
- Tubular glands have secretory product and are zig zag saw tooth shaped
What is the decidual reaction?
Occurs if pregnancy takes place, the endometrial stroma changes following implantation.
- Includes all layers except the deepest of endometrium and separates into functionawl layers for placental development
- Fiberoblast become enlaeged and more active in protein synthesis and are called decidual cells
- They store more lipids and glycogen
- Provides immune protective environement for embryo and moderates syncytiotrophoblast invasion
What are the hallmarks for the cervix?
- Simple columnar mucosa with cervical crypts
- Can become occluded and dialated forming Nabothian cysts
What is the ectocervix and transformation zone?
- Ectocervix is external segment of the cervix lined by stratifed squamous eoithelium
- Transformation zone is abrupt epithelial transition btw endocervix and ectocervix
Describe the layers of the vagina.
- Mucosal layer: nonkeratinized stratified squamous , mucus layer from the uterine/endocervical glands
- Does not have its own glands
- Muscularis layer: circular and longitudinal
- Adventita: dense CT
Describe how the mucosa changes with cycling estrogen?
- Stratification increases and cells synthesize and accumulate glycogen
- The cells will desquamate and bacteria will metabolize glycogen to lactic acid causing a low pH in vagina
What is this?
Mons pubis and the extension of that called labia majora.
Contains sebaceous ducts and glands
What is this?
Clitoris erectile tissue found within the clitoral body crura and vestibular bulbs
What are the two erectile bodies associated with the clitoral body?
Corpora cavernosa surrounded by thin ct
Two layers of CT anchor the clitoris to ___ and ___.
Subcutanous vulvar tissue and superficial perineal fascia
