Female Reproductive System II Flashcards
What do the uterine tubes lack histologically?
A distinctive submucosa
What type of epithelium is found in the uterine tubes? What other features are present?
Ciliated simple columnar. It is highly folded and peg cells are interspersed.
What are peg cells?
Cells found interspersed in the uterine tube epithelium that secrete thin mucus to nourish sperm. Most often called “secretory cells.”
Name the three layers of the uterus.
- Endometrium
- Myometrium
- Perimetrium (serosa)
What type of epithelium is found in the endometrium of the uterus?
Simple columnar.
What cells can be found in the epithelium of the endometrium?
Ciliated columnar, secretory cells, and basal reserve cells.
Do glands exist in the endometrium?
Yes, simple tubular ones.
What are the two layers of the endometrium?
- Stratum functionale
2. Stratum basale
What is the stratum functionale? What supplies it with blood?
It is the temporary luminal layer of the endometrium. Receives blood from coiled arteries. Sheds off each menstrual cycle.
What is the stratum basale? What supplies it with blood?
Thinner permanent layer of the endometrium deep to the stratum functionale. Gets blood from straight arteries.
What makes up the myometrium?
Several poorly-defined layers of smooth muscle.
Where are the arcuate arteries (the arteries that give rise to the straight and colied arteries of the endometrium) found?
In the middle smooth muscle layer of the myometrium
What hormone acts upon the myometrial smooth muscle cells during parturition?
Oxytocin.
What are the three menstrual cycle phases?
Menstrual phase (days 1-5), proliferative aka follicular aka estrogenic phase (days 5-14), secretory phase aka progestational phase aka luteal phase (days 15-28).
The lack of which hormone results in the sloughing off of the endometrial lining?
Progesterone.
What hormone drives basale cell division during the proliferative phase?
Estrogen. It is also called the estrogenic phase.
What hormone is responsible for maintenance/proliferation of the secretory phase.
Progesterone from the corpus luteum.
What is the portio vaginalis? What type of epithelium is found here?
The part of the cervix that extends into the vaginal canal. Glycogenated stratified squamous epithelium.
What is the transformation zone? What type of epithelium is found here and what is an important clinical aspect of this?
The portio vaginalis, or external os, or the part of the cervix that protrudes into the vaginal canal. Stratified squamous epithelium is a common site of cancer.
What type of epithelium is found in the cervical canal?
Simple columnar.
Where is the squamocolumnar junction found in the female reproductive tract?
At the external os (junction between cervix and vaginal canal).
Is cervical canal mucosa shed during menstruation?
Nope. Chuck Testa.
In what way does the cervical canal mucus change during the menstrual cycle?
At ovulation it is thin and watery for sperm to get through. At the luteal phase (secretory, progestational) it is thicker to prevent bacterial entry.
What type of epithelium is found in the vagina?
Stratified squamous
