Female reproductive system Flashcards
What 3 things make up the external genitalia?
clitoris
labium minora
labium majora
What gland is present at the vaginal vestibule? What does it secrete?
Bartholin gland and secretes mucin - for intercourse and lubrication
How is the orientation of the uterus usually described?
inner end - forms a cuff around protruding cervix
outer end - opens into vestibule
What are the 4 layers of the vaginal tube?
epithelial mucosa - non-ket stratified squamous
lamina propria
sub-mucosa - vascularised and elastic fibres
adventitia - elastic and irregular smooth muscle
What does the 1st layer contain in particular?
glycogen rich
Where does mitotic activity happen?
When is this layer thin? (At what points in life)
basal layer
-under influence of oestrogen, before puberty and after menopause this layer is thin
How is the acidic pH of the vagina achieved? What is its effect?
glycogen broken down by bacteria which produces lactic acid
- restricts vaginal flora to acid loving bacteria and deters some pathogens (cause of thrush)
What are the 2 parts to the cervix?
endocertix (passage way between OS and uterine cavity) and ectocervix (projects into vagina called OS)
Where are the boundaries of the 2 parts?
endocervial canal
What cysts can be seen in the cervix?
Nabothian cysts
What is the epithelia type of the endocervix?
tall columnar mucus secreting epithelial
What does the stroma contain?
fibro-muscular tissue, elastin, collagen fibres, glysocaminoglycans
What properties allows the cervix to distend during childbirth?
softening the stroma - hydration of matrix, alteration in collagen and elastin fibres
What are the endocervical mucus glands? Are they true glands?
invaginations of the columnar epithelium into the cervical stroma at endocervix.
NO
What do they secrete?
mucin
The mucin can take on 3 different ‘forms’ or stages. What are they?
proliferative (follicular) phase = thin watery abundant more alkaline
prior to ovulation = more volume, more viscous
secretory phase (after ovulation : more viscid, acidic, deters penetration by more spermatozoa
What’s the epithelia like at the ectocervix?
non ket
stratified squamous epithelium
What’s the name of the process when epithelia types change?
squamous metaplasia
Explain what’s the squamous metaplastic epithelium of the cervix?
A normally physiological replacement of the everted columnar epithelium by a newly formed squamous epithelium.
How are Nabothian cysts formed?
Some invaginations or “cervical glands” of the columnar epithelium become covered and lose their connection to the surface.
Continuing mucin secretion of these blocked invaginations results in the formation of small Nabothian cysts.
