Female Reproductive Histology

Question 1

How is the ovary an exocrine and endocrine gland?

Answer 1

Endocrine = estrogen, P4
Exocrine = ovulated oocyte

Question 2

What are the 5 stages of the follicle production?

Answer 2

-Primordial follicle
-Primary follicle
-Secondary follicle
-Pre-antral follicle
-Antral follicle

Question 3

What are steps of the ovulatory process? (4) think CL

Answer 3

-Corpus hemorrhagicum
-CL
-Corpus albicans
-Luteinized unovulated follicles/cysts

Question 4

What type of epithelium does the ovary have?

Answer 4

Simple squamous/cuboidal epithelium

Question 5

What is the tunica albuginea?

Answer 5

fibrous CT sheathlying just below surface epithelium

Question 6

What is normally found in the cortex of the ovary?

Answer 6

large # of follicles in various stages of development, luteal structures

Question 7

What is normally found in the medulla of the ovary?

Answer 7

loose CT contains BVs and nerves

Question 8

What are the basic units of female reproductive biology?

Answer 8

Ovarian follicles

Question 9

What does each ovarian follicle contain?

Answer 9

A single oocyte

Question 10

How often are ovarian follicles initiated to grow and develop?

Answer 10

Periodically, culminating in ovulation of usually a single competent oocyte in humans.

Question 11

What types of cells are found in ovarian follicles?

Answer 11

Granulosa cells and theca cells.

Question 12

What features do you see in primordial and intermediate follicles? (3)

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

What features do you see in primary and secondary follicles? (5)

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

What features do you see in pre-antral and antral follicles? (3)

Answer 14

-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)

Question 15

When do you refer to a follicle as the corpus hemorrhagicum

Answer 15

after ovulation when the follicle ruptures

Question 16

how is CL formed

Answer 16

formed due to luteinization of follicular cells

Question 17

what does progesterone promote in the uterine layers

Answer 17

hypertrophy and secretion

Question 18

what does estrogen promote in the uterine layers

Answer 18

hyperplasia/growth

Question 19

What are the two strata of the endometrium

Answer 19

• Stratum cellulosum (functionalis) – superficial layer; highly cellular; epithelium
• Stratum spongiosum (basalis) – deeper and thinner layer; loose CT to allow for edema in diestrus

Question 20

Difference between endometrium in monestrous animals vs polyestrus animals

Answer 20

Endometrium of monoestrous animals undergoes greater
degree of degeneration/regeneration than polyestrous
animals

Question 21

What does estrogen vs progesterone promote in the endometrium

Answer 21

Estrogens promote growth and branching whereas progesterone promotes coiling and secretion of endometrial glands

Question 22

Features of the myometrium (4)

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

Features of the cervix

Answer 23

• Simple columnar epithelium
• Ciliated and secretory cells
• Transitions to SSE near vagina
• Constricted lumen
• Minimal vascularization

Question 24

What is mucus production dependent on?

Answer 24

The hormonal cycle

Question 25

What is mucus production like in estrus

Answer 25

increased production;
thick!; forms a plug during
pregnancy

Question 26

What is mucus production like in diestrus

Answer 26

decreased production

Question 27

Features of the vagina

Answer 27

• Epithelium mostly stratified squamous
• Near cervix, epithelium can be simple columnar (secretory)

Question 28

What is vaginal epithelium dependent on

Answer 28

Vaginal epithelium dependent on
hormonal cycle (keratinization
high in estrus)

Question 29

How can you monitor hormonal changes in epithelium

Answer 29

Hormonal changes in epithelium can be monitored with vaginal
smears (exfoliative cytology)