Female Reproductive Histology Flashcards
How is the ovary an exocrine and endocrine gland?
Endocrine = estrogen, P4
Exocrine = ovulated oocyte
What are the 5 stages of the follicle production?
-Primordial follicle
-Primary follicle
-Secondary follicle
-Pre-antral follicle
-Antral follicle
What are steps of the ovulatory process? (4) think CL
-Corpus hemorrhagicum
-CL
-Corpus albicans
-Luteinized unovulated follicles/cysts
What type of epithelium does the ovary have?
Simple squamous/cuboidal epithelium
What is the tunica albuginea?
fibrous CT sheathlying just below surface epithelium
What is normally found in the cortex of the ovary?
large # of follicles in various stages of development, luteal structures
What is normally found in the medulla of the ovary?
loose CT contains BVs and nerves
What are the basic units of female reproductive biology?
Ovarian follicles
What does each ovarian follicle contain?
A single oocyte
How often are ovarian follicles initiated to grow and develop?
Periodically, culminating in ovulation of usually a single competent oocyte in humans.
What types of cells are found in ovarian follicles?
Granulosa cells and theca cells.
What features do you see in primordial and intermediate follicles? (3)
- An oocyte surrounded
by a partial or complete
layer of squamous follicular cells (FC) - Oocyte (O) nucleus (N) is
large and eccentrically
located - Follicles containing both
squamous and cuboidal
follicular cells
What features do you see in primary and secondary follicles? (5)
- Follicles with a single layer (complete or partial) of cuboidal granulosa cells
- ZP is recognizable
- Theca layer beginning to
form external to basal lamina - Follicles with multiple layers of cuboidal granulosa cells
- Marked development of
ZP - Multilaminar theca
What features do you see in pre-antral and antral follicles? (3)
-Follicles with one or more small areas filled with follicular fluid
-Stratified epithelium of granulosa cells surrounds secondary oocyte (COC cumulus oophorus complex = corona radiata
(CR) + oocyte)
~Compact stratum granulosum (SG)
~Antrum (A) very large
~Thecal layers appear more prominent, theca interna visible (TI)
When do you refer to a follicle as the corpus hemorrhagicum
after ovulation when the follicle ruptures
how is CL formed
formed due to luteinization of follicular cells
what does progesterone promote in the uterine layers
hypertrophy and secretion
what does estrogen promote in the uterine layers
hyperplasia/growth
What are the two strata of the endometrium
- Stratum cellulosum (functionalis) – superficial layer; highly cellular; epithelium
- Stratum spongiosum (basalis) – deeper and thinner layer; loose CT to allow for edema in diestrus
Difference between endometrium in monestrous animals vs polyestrus animals
Endometrium of monoestrous animals undergoes greater
degree of degeneration/regeneration than polyestrous
animals
What does estrogen vs progesterone promote in the endometrium
Estrogens promote growth and branching whereas progesterone promotes coiling and secretion of endometrial glands
Features of the myometrium (4)
- Layers of smooth muscle
cells - Inner circular layer thicker than outer longitudinal layer
- Layers separated by the
stratum vasculare (SV) - SV not well developed in the sow or primates
Features of the cervix
- Simple columnar epithelium
- Ciliated and secretory cells
- Transitions to SSE near vagina
- Constricted lumen
- Minimal vascularization
What is mucus production dependent on?
The hormonal cycle
What is mucus production like in estrus
increased production;
thick!; forms a plug during
pregnancy
What is mucus production like in diestrus
decreased production
Features of the vagina
- Epithelium mostly stratified squamous
- Near cervix, epithelium can be simple columnar (secretory)
What is vaginal epithelium dependent on
Vaginal epithelium dependent on
hormonal cycle (keratinization
high in estrus)
How can you monitor hormonal changes in epithelium
Hormonal changes in epithelium can be monitored with vaginal
smears (exfoliative cytology)
