Female Reproductive Histolgy Flashcards
What are the 2 cycles of the menstrual cycle
- Ovarian Cycle : several ovarian follicles undergo folliculogenesis
- Uterine Cycle : concurrent cycle, endometrium prepares fro implantation
Ovary histology
Lined by simple cuboidal—> granulesa + stromal cells
(OVARIAN SURFACE EPITHELIUM)
CT : tunica Albuginea
What does the cortex of the ovary have
CT and ovarian follicles
What does the ovarian Medulla have
CT, interstitial cells, neurovasculature, lymph from Hilum
Ovarian Follicles, location, during what time of life
In the cortical stroma
Has a single oocyte inside
Follicular and granulosa cells surround oocyte during growth
Oocytes at birth are
Arrested in meiosis 1 metaphase 1
During folliculogenesis some follicles undergo cyclic growth what are the 3 stages
- Follicular phase
- Ovulation phase
- Luteal Phase
Primordial Follicles
Many in the cortex
Simple squamous layer (follicular/pregranulosa cells) around them
Primary Follicles
They have simple cuboidal (granulosa cells) around them
Zona pellucida begin as to form in between granulosa and primary oocyte
Late Primary Follicle
Surrounded by stratifies granulosa (cuboidal) cells
Cells communicate through gap junctions
Has BM + NO vasculature still
Secondary Follicle
Granulosa cells secrete follicular fluid = become Call-Exner bodies that enlarge and combine —> antrum
Granulosa cells reorganize to for antrum (large cavity inside)
Stromal cells for thecal layer around
Theca layer is made from what and histology
2 types
From stromal cells, stratified cuboidal
- Theca interna: vascularized cell layer next to BL, support granulosa cells
- Theca externa: fibrous cellular layer continuous with stroma
Theca interna secretes
Makes and secretes androstenedione ——> estradiol
Mature (graffian) follicle
- Antrum accumulates fluid (max size os 2cm)
- Thickening of thecal layers
- Bulges at the surface of ovary
- Granulosa cells thin out
How does the granulosa cells thin out into
- Mural granulosa cells : line the follicular wall (outside part of antrum (secrete estrogen) = follicular fluid
- Cumulus oophorous : attaches primary oocyte to the follicle wall (deliver nutrients)
- Corona Radiata : granulosa cells right around ZP (inside part of antrum)
What stage can you see different parts of granulosa cells
Mature Graffian Follicle
What stage do you see different features of the thecal cels
Secondary follicle
Follicular Atresia
All follicles that are developing in the ovary that don’t become the dominant follicle
* only dominant one ovulates
= Apoptosis (no inflammation)*looks like a glassy membrane
What causes ovulation to happen to dominant follicle
The LH surge
After the primary oocyte (finish meiosis)——> secondary oocyte (meiosis 2, metaphase 2)
What repairs the ovary after the oocyte ruptures out
The mural granulosa cells and the thecal interna cells
What is the luteal phase
What happens to the follicle ones the mature oocyte has ruptures out from the follicle into oviduct
Corpus luteum—> regression—> corpus albicans
Luteal phase Luteinization
What happens
The mural granulosa cells—> granulosa lutein cells
The Theca Interna cells—> theca lutein cells
= together they make the CORPUS LUTEUM *in case of fertilization
Granulosa Lutein cells
Secrete steroids (progesterone, estrogen) From FSH and LH stimulation
Theca Lutein Cells
Secrete androstenedione and progesterone
From LH stimulation
Luteal Phase Luteolysis
IF FERTILIZATION
CL makes more progesterone + estrogen
From HCG stimulus
*until placenta is made and takes over
Luteal Phase Luteolysis
IF NO FERTILIZATION
CL involution stage (14 days after ovulation)
=Luteolysis happens——> corpus Albicans (type 1 collagen)*gets small and white scar, no apoptosis
What hormone helps pick dominant follicle in ovary
FSH
Uterine Tube Histology
Simple columnar ( mucosal)
Cilia + secretory peg cells(increase in size with estrogen signal)
SM : peristaltic contractions + cilia action
Serosa with BVs
Which area has the most folds in the mucosa
The Ampulla
More then the Isthmus
3 layers of the uterus
- Perimetrium : top
- Myometrium : SM circular middle -> Stratum Vasculare + SM longitudinal inner/outer (no vasculature)
- Endometrium: simple columnar
Functional layer and Basal Layer of endometrium
Basal Layer: closest to myometrium, STAYS
Functional Layer : supplied by spiral As. SHED DURING MENSTRUATION, also a component of the placenta
What is the blood supply to the endometrium
ARCUATE ARTERIES
- STRAIGHT SEGMENT : supplies the basal layer
- COILED (SPIRAL A) SEGMENT : supplies the functional layer and stretches with endometrial growth
What does the arcuate artery do right before menstruation
It contracts at the straight-coiled junction
= reduces blood flow ———> destruction of the functional layer
Which artery rebuilds the endometrium functional layer
The straight arteries or segments still supplying blood
The Menstrual Phase
(Day 1-4)
- Regression of the corpus luteum
- Reduced blood supply -necrosis of functional layer
- Shed functional layer
Proliferation Phase
( Days 5-14)
- Glands proliferate on surface
- Spiral Arteries elongate and become convoluted into functional layer
- *Estrogen dependent
Secretory Phase
(Days 15-28) post ovulation
- Thickest endometrium grows
- Spiral arteries grow into functional layer more
- Glands appear like “saw tooth”
- *Estrogen + Progesterone dependent (from corpus luteum)
What happens if implantation and fertilization does occur
The Decidual reaction
Decidual reaction
- Functional endometrium helps in placental development
- Fibroblasts—> decidual cells
- store lipids and glycogen
- * decidual reaction (lower immune response to sperm and implantation, moderate syncytiotrophoblasts invasion so it doesn’t go too far)
Cervix Histology
Endocervix :
Simple columnar mucosa + cervical crypts
Communications between uterus and vagina through the endocarvix canal
Ectocervix : outside part of cervix, Strat. Squamous (closest to vagina)
Zone where endocervix —> ectocervix
Transition zone
Large dilated cervical crypts
Can become occluded and = Nabothian cysts
Vagina Histology
Stratified Squamous non-keratinized
NO GLANDS
Mucus and secretions are from cervical glands or the Bartholin Gland next to the vagina
Estrogen and vagina
Increase glycogen storage (when cells shed off the top like in skin, the bacteria use glycogen to make lactic acid to lower pH)= protect against pathogens
Increases growth of the endothelium
External Genitalia
Mons Pubis :skin, keritinized, strat squamous
Labia Majora : extension of mons pubis, apocrine + sebaceous glands
Labia Minora : high BVs, elastic fibers, sebaceous glands
The Clitoris Histology
Erectile tissue (2 erectile bodies), trabeculea, spaces and high BVs
- CORPORA CAVERNOSA : thin CT like tunica Albuginea
- More layers of CT, vulvar tissue + perineal tissue
* large amount of Nerve endings, signaled similarly in ANS
* no corpus spongeosum
