Female Reproductive Histology Flashcards
What is the ovarian cycle?
Several ovarian follicles undergo folliculogenesis in preparation for ovulation
What is the uterine cycle?
Concurrent cycle, where the endometrium, prepares for implantation
What type of tissue is in the ovary?
Ovarian surface epithelium
Simple cuboidal cells which become granulosa cells and stromal cells –> comprise the growing follicles
What are the three main ovarian cell types?
Mullerian epithelium
Germ cells
Sex cord-stromal cells
Name the defining features for each stage of a follicle
Primordial follicle-Simple squamous layer
Primary follicle-Simple cuboidal layer
Primary follicle (late)-Zona pellucida, granulosa cells, theca interna
Secondary follicle-Has theca interna and externa. Small spaces between granulosa layers. Antrum
Mature follicle-Has a cumulus oophorous
How do you tell theca interna and externa apart?
Theca interna- vascularized cell, produces androstenedione –> estradiol. Visible droplets
Theca externa- appears more fibrous
What is follicular atresia?
Failure of a follicle to ovulate
Apoptosis is the mechanism which ensures regression w/o creating an inflammatory response
Glassy membrane
What do thecal cells become after the luteal phase?
Mural granulosa cells –> granulosa lutein cells
Theca interna cells –> theca lutein cells
What do granulosa lutein cells do?
Secrete progesterone and estrongen, w FSH and LH stimulation
Express LH receptors
What do theca lutein cells do?
Produce androstenedione and progesterone w/ LH stimulation
Where are ciliated cells and secretory peg cells located and what do they do?
Wall of the oviduct
sensitive to estrogen signaling, increase in size
What is an ectopic pregnancy?
Egg placement in the uterine tube
Normally there is a smooth muscle layer that causes peristaltic contraction and ciliary activity to propel hte oocyte/zygote toward uterus
What are the layers of the uterine wall?
Endometrium
Myometrium
Perimetrium
Describe the endometrium of the uterine wall
Epithelium
Functional Layer-lost during menstruation
Basal Layer-retained during menstruation
Describe the myometrium layer of the uterine wall?
Central layer-stratum vasculare
Outer and inner layers have obliquely arranged fibers
Describe the endometrium vasculature
Arcuate arteries supply endometrium
straight segment supplies basal layer
coiled segment supplies the functional layer
Before menstruation, contraction of the artery occurs at straight-coiled junction –> reduces blood flow which destroys functional layer
What happens to stimulate ovulation?
Spike in LH and estrogen
What happens in the secretory phase?
Spike in progesterone and thickening of the endometrium
What do decidual cells do?
Help protect embry from attack from the mother’s immune system
Invade the uterus but also know when to stop
What are the purpose of the crypts in the cervix?
Increase surface area of simple columnar cells
These crypts can become occluded and dilated forming nabothian cysts
What is the transformation zone?
Abrupt epithelial transition between teh endocervix and ectocervix
Endocervix: Simple columnar
Ectocervix: Nonkeratinized stratifed squamous
What are the layers of the vagina?
Mucosal layer-nonkeratinized stratified squamous
Muscularis layer-smooth muscle
Adventital layer-dense CT
*Vaginal wall lacks glands*
