Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What does the female reproductive system produce?
- oocytes
- reproductive hormones
Where does fertilization occur?
uterine tube
where does the mammalian conceptus develop?
uterus
What is the primary hormone produced in the femla reproductive system?
estrogen
State the histological composition of the ovary.
- cortex: simple cuboidal epithelium
- tunica albuginea: dense connective tissue
- germinal epithelium
What is the major difference between the hostological composition of the testis and ovaries?
- tunica albuginea is always lined by germinal epithelium: simple cuboidal epithelium
State the structure of the ovary.
1) cortex:
- follicles
2) medulla:
- no follicles
exception: horses
What does the cortex contain? What is it surrounded by?
- follicles
- loose connective tissue
What is teh structure of the ovarian medulla?
- loose connective tissue
- extensive vascular supply
What is the structure of an ovarian follicle?
Oocyte surrounded by
specialized epithelial cells.
What is the structure of the primordial ovarian follicle?
- **primary oocyte **
- surrounded by: simple squamous epithelium (of
follicular cells)
What is the structure of the primary ovarian follicle?
- primary oocyte
- surrounded by: simple cuboidal epithelium (of
follicular cell)
What is the structure of the secondary ovarian follicle?
- **primary oocyte **
- surrounded by stratfied epithelium of follicular cells, named granulosa cells.
What are secondary follicles marked by?
- the development of glycoprotein layer,
- the zona pellucida, (around the plasma membrane of the oocyte)
What is the zona pellucida secreted by?
- granulosa cells
- oocyte
What is the structure of the tertiary ovarian follicle? Other name?
Graafian follicle
- primary oocyte
- surrounded by stratified epithelium of granulosa cells
- surrounded by a multilaminar layer of specialized stromal
cells, termed the theca, and a fluid-filled cavity, the antrum.
What is the theca?
the multilaminar layer of specialized stromal cells surrounding granulosa cells in the tertiary fllicle.
What is the antrum? How is it formed? What does it contain?
- fluid filled cavity
- formed when the small, fluid-filled clefts among the granulosa cells of secondary follicles coalesce to form a single large cavity
- contains liquor
folliculi.
What occurs in large tertiary follicles (to the granulosa cells)? What is this layer named?
- granulosa cells immediately surrounding the oocyte
become columnar and radially disposed. - name: corona radiata.
What is the function of the corona radiata?
provides nutrients and support for the oocyte
What are late tertiary follicles called right before ovulation?
mature follicles
What is ovulation?
Process in which the fully developed follicle protrudes from the surface of the ovary.
What happens to the oocyte during ovulation?
The oocyte, usually surrounded by the corona radiata, escapes into the peritoneal
cavity–> infundibulum (uterine tube)
What happens to most follicles during their development?
- regress
- only a small percentage of all potential oocytes is ovulated from the ovary.
What is the ‘process of regression’ of oocytes called?
atresia
What happens to atretic follicles?
- resorbed
- small fibrous tissue scars may remain after atresia of large follicles.
What happens to the follicle at ovulation? What about the liquor pressure?
- ruptures,
- collapses,
- shrinks
- the liquor pressure is reduced.
What is the ruptured follicle referred to as? Why?
corpus hemorrhagicum: blood may fill the antrum
What happens to the stratum granulosum after ovulation?
- becomes vascularized by an extensive capillary network originating from blood vessels.
-
granulosa cells enlarge, luteinize, and contribute to the endocrinous cell
populations of the corpus luteum.
What are the two different types of endocrinous cells? What is their function?
Granulated luteocytes: (develops from granulosa cells)
* Thecaluteocytes:(develops from theca cells)
- Both produce progesterone hormone.
How many types of endocrinous cells are there? Where are they located?
- 2 types
- in the corpus luteum
Explain the regression of the corpus luteum.
- regression of vascular connective tissues
- cellular hypertrophy and sclerosis of muscle cells in luteal artery walls
- connective tissue scar = corpus
albicans.
What is the name of the connective tissue scar remaining after the luteal regression of the corpus luteum?
corpus albicans
State the composition of the ovarian medulla.
- inner area of the ovary
contains: - nerves
- large coiled blood vessels
- lymph vessels
- loose connective tissue
- strands of smooth muscle
What are the different names used for the uterine tube?
uterine tube = fallopian tube = oviduct
What are the three segments of the uterine tube?
infundibulum: large, funnel shaped portion
ampulla: thin walled section, extends caudally from the infundibulum
isthmus: narrow muscular segment, joining the uterus
State the structure of the uterine tube.
epithelium:
- simple /pseudostratified columnar
- Peg & Cilliated cells
- mucosa:
- continuous with the submucosa (bc absent thin lamina muscularis)
tunica muscularis:
- mostly circular smooth muscle bundles,
- isolated longitudinal budles
- isolated oblique budles
**tunica serosa **
State the anatomical structure of the uterus.
- bilateral horns (connected to the uterine tubes)
- unpaired body
- neck=cervix (which joins the vagina).
What are the uterine wall layers?
endometrium: mucosa-submucosa
myometrium: muscularis
perimetrium: serosa
State the histological composition of the endometrium.
The surface epithelium of the
uterus is simple columnar (in
the mare, the bitch) or
pseudostra1fied columnar
and/or simple columnar (in
sows and ruminants).
* The deep part endometrium
consists of loose connec1ve
1ssue that is less cellular than
that of the superficial part.
* Simple coiled, branched
tubular glands are present
throughout the endometrium
in most species
State the position and composition of the functional zone of the endometrium.
- layer closest to the cavity
- contains majority of glands
- undergoes changes with the monthly cycle
State the position and composition of the basal zone of the endometrium.
- layer just under the myometrium
- attaches functional layer to the myometrial tissue
- has terminal ends of glands
- remains constant
State the composition of the myometrium.
- thick inner circular layer of smooth muscle cells
- thick outer longitudinal layer of smooth muscle cells
- between the two layers/within the inner layer: vascular layer: stratum vasculare
What happens to the myometrium during pregnancy?
- muscle cells increase in number and size
State the composition of the perimetrium.
- loose connective tissue
- covered by peritoneal mesothelium
- smooth muscle cells occur
State the histological composition of the uterine cervix.
epithelium:
- simple columnar epithelium
- many mucigenous cells (including goblet cells)
propria-submucosa:
- dense irregular connective tissue
- becomes edematous —> loose areolar structure during estrus.
tunica muscularis:
- inner circular smooth muscle (+ elastic fibers)
- outer longitudinal smooth muscle layer
What is important in reestablishing cervical structure after parturition?
- muscle fibers
- elastic fibers (in the circular layer)
State the histological composition of the vagina.
mucosa:
- stratified squamous epithelium ( increases in thickness during proestrus and estrus)
propria-submucosa:
- loose/dense irregular connective tissue
- contains lymphatic nodules (caudal part of the vagina)
tunica muscularis:
- two or three layers.
- cranially: tunica serosa (loose connective tissue covered by mesothelium),
- caudally: tunica adventitia,(loose connective tissue)
What is the vestibule of the vagina similar to?
- caudal portion of the vagina
What is the difference in structure of the caudal part of the vagina and the vestibule?
- the vestibule has more subepithelial lymphatic nodules
What glands are present in the vestule of the vagina?
major vestibular glands:
- bilateral
- compound tubuloacinar mucous glands
- deep part of the propria-submucosa.
minor vestibular glands:
- bilateral
- small, branched, tubular mucous glands
- scattered in the vestibular mucosa
How does the structure of the clitoris compare to that of the male penis?
- same structure, except the lack of the urethra
What is the vulva formed by? What does it contain (histologically)? What is it supplied by?
- formed by the labia vulvae,
- covered by skin
- richly supplied with apocrine and sebaceous glands.
- well supplied with small blood and lymph vessels
What happens to the small blood and lymph vessels during estrus?
- become congested during estrus, especially in sows and bitches.
