Female Reproductive Sytem Flashcards
What are the two main functions of the ovaries?
- oogenesis (production of gametes)
2. production of steroid hormones estrogen + progesterone
what is the function of estrogen
- promotes growth/maturation of internal and external sex organs
- responsible for female sex characteristics
- acts on mammary glands to promote breast development
What is the function of progesterone
- prepares the uterus for pregnancy by promoting changes in endometrium
- prepares the mammary gland for lactation by promoting the proliferation of lobules
what are the ovaries covered by?
- tunica albudinea (dense collagenous layer)
2. layer of mesothelium (cuboidal/almost squamous)
what is the general organization of the ovaries
outer cortex + inner medulla
Describe the cortex of the ovaries
outer portion that is beneath the tunica albuginea; it consists of ovarian follicles and derivatives that are embedded in the stroma;
what makes up the stroma of the ovaries?
CT with collagen, ground substance, SMC and fibroblast like cells
Describe the medulla of the ovaries
central core
has loose CT with blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves
is there a distinct boundary between the ovarian cortex and medulla?
NO
What is a primordial follicle
the least developed of the ovarian follicles
does the early growth of the primordial follicle depend on hormone stimulation
NO
what does the primordial follicle contain? (define the layers)
a primary oocyte + a single layer of SQUAMOUS cells (follicular cells) that is surounded by basal lamina, which is surrounded by the stroma of the ovarian cortex
what is a primary oocyte
an oocyte that is is arrested in meiosis I at the diplotene stage of the prophase I
What does a primary follicle derive from?
primordial cells
What distinguishes a primary follicle from a primordial follicle
primordial follicle contains a single layer of simple squamous cells (follicular cells); the primary follicle contains 1 layer a of simple cuboidal (granulosa cells) = unilaminar or many layers of cuboidal cells = multilaminar
the Primary oocyte secretes a new layer between it and the granulosa cells called the ______,
zona pellucida
What makes up the zona pellucida? how does it stain?
made up of 4 main glycoproteins: ZP-1, ZP-2, ZP-3, ZP-4; and stains eosinophilically
What can be found in the ooplasm of the primary oocyte in the primary follicle?
cortical granules
what is the function of the cortical granules of the primary follicle? where are they located?
located in the ooplasm of the primary oocyte in the primary follicles; contain proteases that are released if the oocyte is fertilized by sperm (mechanism to block polyspermy)
How do the ganulosa cells and the oocyte communicate?
processes from the granulosa cells closest to the zona pellucida extend through it and make contact with microvilli on the oocyte forming GAP JUNCTIONS
what is the function of the gap junctions between the granulosa cells and the primary oocytes in the primary follicle?
facilitates the transfer of metabolites from the granulosa cells to the oocyte
What are Theca cells?
CT curounding the basal lamina of the primary follicle
what is the theca interna? what function does it take on?
innermost layer of the theca cells; it is well vascularized as will take on an endocrine function
What is the theca extena?
outer layer of the theca cells; it is less vascularized than the theca interna; it blends with the CT of the stroma of ovarian cortex
when does theca development begin?
primary follicle
What does the secondary follicle contain?
- primary oocyte arrested in meiosis I
- Zona pellucida
- Antrium
what factors are required for growth of the primary follicle to the secondary follicle (growth of granulosa cells)
- Follicle Stimulating Homong (FSH)
- Growth factors
- Calcium
what is the antrum? what is it surrounded by? It is characteristic of which follicle?
characteristic of the secondary follicle; it is a fluid-filled space that appears among the granulosa cells
What is the secondary follicle completely surrounded by?
Theca interna/ externa
What happens to the oocyte from primary to secondary follicle?
it becomes eccentrically located in the follicle in a mound of granulosa cells (cumulus mass/oophorus)
what is secreted by the granulosa cells into the antral fluid? what does it cause?
oocyte maturation inhibitor (OMI); it inhibits growth of the oocyte
what is the cumulus mass?
mound of granulosa cells that the oocyte migrates into
what is the coronoa radiata?
cells of the cumulus oopohorus that immediately surround the oocyte and remain with it at ovulation
what is the antrum filled with (be specific)
fluid = “liquour folliculi” composed of mostly HYALURONIC ACID + hormones + growth factors
How does the theca interna act as in an endocrine function?
it has LH RECEPTORS that when stimulated, the theca interna synthesizes and secretes ANDOSTENEDIONE (andgrogen) and PROGESTERONE;
the androgens pass through the basal lamina to the granulosa cells
What is the function of the granulosa cells?
under the influence of FSH, they convert andostenedione (from theca interna) into ESTRADIOL (main form of estrogen)
How does estrogen effect the follicle?
it simulates the granulosa cell proliferation which increases the size of the follicle
During the secondary follicular stage, granulosa cells gradually acquire ___ receptors in addition to ____ receptors
LH and FSH
What are the defining characteristics of a Graafian Follicle?
large antrium, zona pellucida, DETACHMENT OF OOCYE + CORONA RADIATA FROM CUMULUS MASS
what causes the resumption of meiosis I of primary oocytes in mature (Graafian) follicles? what is the result ?
LH surge from anterior pituitary causes resumption of meisosi I of primary oocytes of mature follicles; this results in formation of ONE secondary oocyte and the FIRST polar body
describe the secondary oocyte (chromosomes etc)
has 23 chromosomes, each of 2 sister chromatids; halted at the metaphase II stage of Meioisis II
What is the DNA content in the first polar body? what happens to it?
has 23 chromosomes, but very little cytoplasm therefore it eventually degenerates
Ovulation causes the release of:
- secondary oovyte
- granulosa cells from corona radiata
- granulosa cells of cumulus mass from ovary
ALL OTHER ELEMENTS OF MATURE FOLLICLE REMAIN IN THE OVARY
what happens to the oocyte during fertilization?
membranes of the secondary oocyte and the sperm fuse and THEN the secondary oocyte completes meiosis II into a TRUE HAPLOID CELL; the fertilized ovum (w/ male + female pronucleus) = embryo
What marks the completion of meiosis II?
formatinon of an ovum + second polar body
what happens to the 2nd polar body
nonfunctional
How does the corpus luteum form?
after ovulation, the theca + granulosa cells remaining in the ovary collapse to become corpus luteum
what happens to the antrum of the follicle?
it becomes the lumen of corpus luteum, which is later replaced by a blood clot and then by CT
what happens to the granulosa / theca cells in the corpus luteum?
become granulosa lutein cells (large + eosinophilic) and theca lutein cells (smaller, less cytoplasm, more basophilic); the theca lutein cells forms stands among the granulosa lutein cells
** note: the granulosa cells at this stage have LH receptors, so they undergo luteinization (become filled with lipid) and produce mainly progesterone and some estrogen
what is the result of the increased progresterone secretion from the granulosa cells in the corpus luteum?
stimulates growth and secretory activity of endometrium to prepare it for implantation in the event of fertilization
What happens to the corpus luteum if fertilization DOES take place?
it continues to grow and produce progesterone/estrogen under the stimulation of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) from the placenta
what happens to the corpus luteum if fertilization DOES NOT take place?
it regresses to the corpus albicans and CT eventually replaces the degenerating luteal cells, producing an irregular, highly folded, glossy (hyalinized) eosinophilic form with the only of the few cells present being macrophages
what is atresia with respect to follicle growth?
degeneration of follicles because many primary follicles begin to develop but only one follicle completes the development per uterine cycle
What are atretic follicles?
degenerating follicles
what changes are associated with atretic follicles?
- granulosa cell apoptosis
- invasion of granulosa cell layer by neutrophils + macrophages
- granulosa cells slough into antrum
- theca interna cells hypertrophy
- follicle collapses as degeneration continues
- CT invades follicle cavity
How can you ID the corpus albicans (corpus luteum CT remainder) from the Atretic Follicle?
The atretic follicle is smaller, thinner, and HAS A ZONA PELLUCIDA PRESENT
what is the function of the uterine tube?
to receive the ovum following ovulation and transport it to the uterus, and provide the proper environment for fertilization,
What is the infundibulum of the uterine tube?
its the funnel shaped segment adjacent to the ovary
where are fimbrae found?
they extend from the infundibulum of the uterine tube towards to ovary
what is the function of fimbrae?
at ovulation, they move close to the ovary surface and direct the oocyte into the uterine tube
where does fertilization typically take place?
in the ampulla of the uterine tube
what is the longest segment of the uterine tube?
the ampulla