Female Reproductive System Flashcards
Functions of the ovary
Production of gametes and produce steroids
What steroids are produced by the ovaries
Oestrogen and progesterone
Structure of the ovary
Made up of a cortex and medulla
What does the medulla form
The core of the organ
What does the medulla contain
Loose connective tissue, contorted arteries, veins and lymphatics
What is within the cortex
Scattered ovarian follices within a highly cellular connective tissue stroma
What is the outer shell of the cortex made up of
Dense connective tissue layer
What is the outer layer of the cortex known as
The tunica albuginea
What covers the tunica albuginea
Single layer of cuboidal cells called the germinal layer
What forms oogina
Germ cells from the yolk sac invading the ovaries and proliferating by mitosis
What do developed oogonia form
Mature oocytes
What is oogenesis
The development of oocytes from oogenia
What is folliculogenesis
The growth of the follicle
What does the follicle consist of
The oocyte and associated supporting cells
What is atresia
The loss of oogina and oocytes via an apoptosis-based process
What happens following cell death
The cell is reapsorbed
At what stage of meiosis do the oocytes halt at
Prophase I
If an oocytes fails to associate with pregranulosa cells what occurs
It will die
What shape are the inactive pregranulosa cells
Squamous
What happens to the shape of the pregranulosa cells when the follicles are active
Cuboidal
What defines the primary follicle
Cuboidal granulosa cells
What are the cuboidal gransulosa cells of the primary follicle known as
The zona granulosa
What cells associate outside the primary follicle
Stromal cells
What do the stromal cells go on to form
The theca folliculi
What is the zona pellucida
A layer of specialised extracellular matrix between the oocyte and granulosa cells
What do the inner cells of the theca follicle form and how
The theca interna and by undergoing epitheloid transformation
What does the theca interna secrete
Oestrogen precursors
What converts the oestrogen precursor to oestrogen
Granulosa cells
What does the outer layer of the theca follicle form
The theca externa
What does the granulosa cell layer express
Receptors for follicle-stimulating hormones
What do the theca intera cells express
Receptors for lutenising hormone
What secretes lutenising hormone
The anterior pituitary
What is a major role of the follicle
Production of hormones
What does the theca interna produce
Androgens
What happens to the androgens
They diffuse across the basal lamina and are converted to oestrogen by the granulosa cells
As the follicle enlarges what space is formed
The antrum
What fluid fills the antrum
Follicular fluid
What are the largest antrum follicles called
Graafian follicles
What is the cumulus oophorus
The mound of cells extending from the wall of the follicle and surrounding the oocyte
What happens one day before ovulation
The oocyte in the largest graafian follicle will complete meiosis I
What is the polar body
The secondary nucleus from the end of meiosis I that is taken away to degenerate
When does the secondary oocyte complete meiosis
When it is released and fertilised by a sperm
Prior to release the follicle creates a bulge in the ovary known as
Follicular stigma
What happens to the follicle after ovulation
It transforms into the corpus luteum
Once the follicle becomes the corpus luteum what are the theca and granulosa cells known as
The theca lutein cells and granulosa lutein cells
What do the theca lutein and granulosa lutein cells secrete
Oestrogen and progesterone
What does the secretion of oestrogen and progesterone help with
The preparation of the uterus for implantation
What occurs if no implantation occurs
The corpus luteum becomes a white coloured connective tissue called the corpus albicans
What occurs if implantation occurs
The placenta secretes HCG which prevents degeneration of the corpus luteum and maintains progesterone levels
What are the uterine tubes also known as
Oviducts or fallopian tubes
Where does the infundibulum move to
The site where the follicle will rupture from the ovary
What propells the ovum through the fallopian tubes
Gentle peristalsis and currents created by cilliated epithelium
What do secretory cells in the fallopian tubes secrete
Nutrients
Where does fertilisation usually occur
In the ampulla
Where is the fertilised ovum transported to
The uterus
Structure of the mucous in the ampulla
Folded and lined by simple columnar epithelium with cilliated and secretory cells
What surround the ampulla
Smooth muscle
How many layers of smooth muscle coat the ampulla and isthmus
Ampulla - 2
Isthums - 3
What is the endometrium
An inner secretory mucosa
What makes up the endometrium
Tubular secretory glands embedded in connective tissue stroma
What makes up the myometrium
3 layers of smooth muscle combined with collagen and elastic tissue
What is the perimetrium
An outer visceral covering of loose connective tissue covered my mesothelium
What is the two layers of the endometrium
The stratum functionalis and stratum basalis
What is the functionalis
It undergoes constant growth, loss and degeneration
What is the function of basalis
To regenerate the functionalis
What happens during the proliferative phase
The stratum basalis proliferates and glands, stroma and vasculature grow
What lines the glands
Pseudostratified columnar epthlium
When does the proliferative phase end
One day after ovulation
What happens during the secretory phase
The glands become coiled and secrete glycogen
What happens during the menstrual phase
Arterioles in the stratum functionalis undergo constriction, depriving the tissue of blood and causing ischemia, with resultant tissue breakdown, leakage of blood and sloughing
What is the cervix
A short cylinder with a small lumen that projects into the upper vagina
What is the cervix made up of
Mostly fibrous connective tissue covered by stratified squamous epithelium on its vaginal surface and transitioning to mucous secreting simple columnar epithlieum
What is the transitioning zone within the cervix known as
The squamocolumnar junction
Characteristic of the mucous secreting epithelium
The canal is deeply furrowed, forming glands known as endocervical glands
What is the secretion of the endocervical glands like in the proliferative phase
Watery and thin
What is the secretion of the endocervical glands like after ovulation
Thick and viscous
How many layers make up the vagina
4
What are the layers of the vagina
Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
Lamina propria
Fibromuscular layer
Adventitia
What happens to the epithelial layer of the vagina during reproductive years
It is thicker and the cells are enlarged due to glycogen accumulation
What is the composition of the lamina propria of the vagina
Connective tissue rich in elastic fibres and thin walled blood vessels
What is the make up of the fibromuscular layer of the vagina
Inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle
What lubricates the wall of the vagina
Mucous from the cervical glands and fluid from the thin walled blood vessels of the lamina propria
What metabolises the glycogen and what does it become
The commensal bacteria and it becomes lactic acid
What is the function of lactic acid within the vagina
The inhibition of the growth of pathogenic bacteria
What is the mons pubis
Skin which contains highly oblique hair follicles, overlying a substantial subcutaneous fat pad which overlies the pubic symphysis
What is the labia majora
An extension of the mons pubis
Structure of the labia majora
Rich in aprocine sweat glands and sebaceous glands with bundles of smooth muscle
Structure of the labia minora
Skin folds that lack subcutaneous fat and hair follicles, but are rich in vasculature and sebaceous glands
What does the clitoris contain
Two tubes of erectile vascular tissue
What covers the erectile tissue
A fibrocollagenous sheath covered by skin with rich innervation and a thin epidermis
What is the breast
A subcutaneous gland
What gland are within the secretory tissue of the breast
Compound tubulo-acinar glands
How do the glands of the breast get drained
Via a series of ducts leading to the nipple
What is adjacent to the secretory tissue of the breast
Dense fibrous tissue, which is surrounded by adipose tissue
What is within the fibrous connective tissue of the breats
Large condensations that extend from the dermis of the skin to the deep fascia of the overlying muscle - suspensory ligaments
What is the basic secretory unit of the breast
The terminal duct lobular unit
What duct leads to the nipple
The lactiferous duct
What is found within the lobule of the breast
Extralobular and intralobular ducts, rudimentary secretory acini and dense fibrocollagenous connective tissue
What of the secretory cells of the acini surrounded by
Myoepithelial cells
What are myoepithelial cells
Contractile epithelial cells
What lines the larger ducts of the breast
Thin stratified squamous to stratified cuboidal
Structure of the nipple
Wrinkled surface covered by a thin, highly pigmented keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
What comprises the core of the nipple
Dense irregular connective tissue mixed with bundles of smooth muscle
Lining of the lactiferous duct
Near surface - stratified squamous
Deeper - stratified cuboidal epithelium
Deeper still - one cell thick lining
When do changes in breast occurs
In the menstrual phase, luteal phase and during pregnancy
Changes that occurs in the breast during luteal phase
The epithelial cells increase in height, the lamina of the ducts become enlarged and small amounts of secretions appear in the ducts
Changes that occur in the first trimester of pregnancy in the breast
Elongation and branching of the smaller ducts, combined with proliferation of the epithelial cells of the glands and the myoepithelial cells
Changes that occur in the breast in the second trimester
Glandular tissue continues to develop with differentiation of secretory alveoli
Changes that occur in the breast in the third trimester
Secretory alveoli continue to mature, with development of extensive rER
What does the presence of oestrogen and progesterone in pregnancy cause
Stimulate proliferation of secretory tissue and fibro-fatty tissue becomes sparse
Composition of maternal milk
Water, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids - main components
Ions, vitamins and IgA antibodies - small quantities
How are lipid droplets in milk secreted
They are surrounded by a membrane and carry a small amount of cytoplasm away - apocrine secretion
How are proteins made and secreted
Made in the rER and packed in the golgi apparatus and secreted via vesicles which merge with the apical membrane to release their contents - merocrine secretion
What happens following the menopause
The secretory cells of the tubular duct lobule units degenerate leaving only ducts
What happens to the connective tissue after menopause
Fewer fibroblasts and reduce collagen and elastic fibres
