Female Reproductive System Flashcards
What are the functions of the ovaries?
- produce the female gametes
- produce the sex hormones
Describe the Ovary Cortex
- broad peripheral zone containing follicles in various stages of development
- low cuboidal epithelium lines the surface
- connective tissue layer below the surface (Tunica albuginea)
Describe the Ovary Medulla
center zone containing connective tissue, nerves, blood, and lymph vessels
What are the hormones important for folliculogenesis?
- Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) important for follicular growth and maturation
- Luteinizing hormone (LH) important for estrogen synthesis and ovulation
Describe a Primordial Follicle
- primary oocyte enclosed by flattened simple squamous follicular cells resting on basal lamina
- retained in resting stage
Describe a Primary Follicle
- primary oocyte enclosed by a simple cuboidal layer of follicular cells
Describe a Secondary Follicle
- primary oocyte enclosed by several layers of follicular cells
- follicular cells now called granulosa cells
- zona pelucida forms
- liquid filled areas begin to form between granulosa cells
Describe a Tertiary Follicle
- granulosa cell layer getting thicker
- atrum enlarges
- forms corona radiata and cumulus oophorus
Describe a Mature (Graafian) Follicle
- oocyte detaches from cumulus oophorus and floats free in follicular liquid
What is the Corona Radiata?
granulosa cells sticking to the zona pellucida
What is the Culumus Oophorus?
cluster of granulosa cells anchoring oocyte in follicle
What is the Corpus Luteum?
- after ovulation, blood enters the empty follicle to form the corpus hemorrhagicum
- theca and granulosa cells luteinize and enter this area, enlarge and increase in number
- produces progesterone and estrogens
- yellow pigment in carnivores, mares, and cows
What is the Corpus albicans?
- fibrous scar that forms as the corpus luteum disappears
Describe the Oviduct
- muscular tube derived from the Mullerian ducts
- one end opens into uterine cavity, the other opens into the peritoneal cavity
- lined with cilia
What are the functions of the Oviduct?
- receives the ovum
- ova picked up by fimbriae and directed into oviduct
- cilia help transport the ovum
- fertilization happens in the ampulla
What are the layers of the Uterus?
- inner layer is the endometrium
- two muscular layers (myometrium) with stratum vasculare between them
- outer layer is lined by mesothelium (perimetirum)
Describe the Endometrium of the Uterus
- functional zone: superficial layer that degenerates after pregnancy or estrus
- basal zone: layer that remains
- quantity of glands depends on status of pregnancy
- epithelium varies from simple to pseudostratified columnar
- morphology of uterine glands is dependent on hormones
Describe the Myometrium of the Uterus
- two layers of smooth muscle
- stratum vasculare contain blood vessels between the two layers
What are the functions of the Cervix?
- provides a seal at the cranial vagina
- functions as “gatekeeper” by holding products of conception in uterus until parturition
Describe the Endocervix
- simple columnar epithelium with some mucus secreting cells
- no musclaris mucosa
- propria-submucosa conatining CT and blood vessels
- muscularis externa containing inner and outer smooth muscle layers
- serosa made up of loose CT lined by mesothelium
Describe the Ectocervix
- closer to the outside, more protective layer
- lined by stratified squamous epithelium
- epithelium changes during estrus cycle
Describe the Vagina
- stratified squamous epithelium
- mucosa, muscularis, serosa
- no muscularis mucosa
- two layers of smooth muscle
- propria-submucosa has CT and lymphoid follicles
Describe the Vaginal cell morphology during Proestrus
- all types of epithelial cells present
- erythrocytes and neutrophils present
- lower numbers of inflammatory cells during late proestrus
Describe the Vaginal cell morphology during Estrus
- superficial/keratinized cells, anucleate
- less neutrophils
Describe the Vaginal cell morphology during Diestrus
- number of superficial cells abruptly decrease
- intermediate and parabasal cells increase
- neutrophils increase in number
Describe the Vaginal cell morphology during Anestrus
- parabasal and intermediate cells predominate
- neutrophils and erythrocytes present in small numbers
- everything is quiet
