Female Reproductive Tracts Flashcards
What does the female external genitalia consist of
Mons pubis
Labia major and minor
Clitoris
What covers the mons pubis from puberty
Hairy skin with substantial fatty connective tissue beneath
How is the skin of the mons pubis and labia different
Mons pubis = hairy skin with enlarged sebaceous glands and apocrine sweat glands
Labia = no hairs, sebaceous glands and heavily pigmented epidermis
Lining of vagina
Stratified squamous epithelium
Vulval end - thinly keratinised
Elsewhere - moist non-keratinised
Thickness of vaginal epithelium
Thin before puberty and after menopause
At onset of menarche and throughout reproductive life becomes thickened
What lies beneath epithelium of vagina
Lamina propria containing many small blood vessels
Fluid diffusing from these keeps the epithelium moist
What surrounds the vaginal epithelium
A fibro-muscular tube consisting of a mixture of collagen , elastic and smooth muscle fibres
At its lower end a vaginal sphincter of skeletal muscle is also present
Which glands discharge postero-laterally into the lower end of the vagina at its junction with the vulva
Mucous secreting glands of Bartholin
Cyclic changes in epithelium of vagina and cervix during menstrual cycle
The surface cells accumulate glycogen and many flake off (desquamate) following ovulation.
The desquamated cells rupture and bacteria feed on the glycogen, generating lactic acid.
This creates a low pH within the vagina that deters the entry of pathogenic organisms.
What generates a low pH within the vagina
Production of lactic acid by bacteria feeding on glycogen from desquamated cells
How can you take a sample of exfoliated Squames
With a spatula or brush and smearing it on to a glass slide
What colour are cells from the outermost layer of vagina
Pale green
What colour are cells from the inner layer of vagina
Pink
Location of cervix
Protrudes into the anterior superior wall of the vagina
Surrounded by the anterior, lateral and posterior fornices
What epithelium covers the cervix
Stratified squamous non-keratinising epithelium
What lines the cervical canal between the internal and external Ostia
Tall columnar epithelium that is thrown into deep gland-like folds
Stroma of cervix
Consists of fibrous connective tissue intermingled with smooth muscle fibres
How is the Stroma of the cervix hormonally sensitive
Softens during childbirth and canal widens to become part of birth canal
Mucus secreted by cervix during first half of menstrual cycle
Thin and watery
Mucus secreted by cervix after ovulation and during pregnancy
Viscous
Serves as a plug to prevent the entry of microorganisms into the uterine cavity
Where is the transition zone
Between the sensitive cervical lining and outer stratified squamous epithelium
What is the transition zone vulnerable to
Prone to infection and erosion
Common site for development of cancerous lesions
What lines the inside of the body and Fundus of the uterus
Epithelial endometrium
What composed the myometrium of the body and Fundus of the uterus
3 poorly defined layers of smooth muscle
How does pregnancy affect the myometrium of the uterus
Hormonally sensitive
Increase in number- hyperplasia
Become enlarged - hypertrophy
Where do large arteries and veins run in the uterus myometrium
Inner and middle layers
Large arteries and veins in the myometrium of the uterus
Supply the endometrium of uterus and give rise to spiral arteries that play a role in the process of menstruation
Endometrium of uterus
Simple columnar epithelium with tubular glands surrounded by a sub-epithelial stroma
What happens to the endometrium in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle
Thickness of stroma and length of glands increases during first half of menstrual cycke
What happens to the endometrium in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle
Glands secrete
Stroma differentiates to create an environment conducive to implantation of a fertilised ovum
What is shed at menstruation
Most of the endometrium- decidua (functional layer)
Only the bases of the glands and surrounding stroma are left to establish a new endometrium in the next cycle
How long is the proliferation phase of endometrial development
10 days
What occurs during the proliferation phase of menstruation
Regrowth of new glands, stroma and blood vessels
Tubular glands appear straight and do not yet secrete endometrial mucus
Stroma is compact and contains straight extensions of endometrial arteries and veins
What is successful regrowth of the endometrium dependent on
Presence of oestrogen
Secretory endometrium structure
At time of ovulation - cells of endometrial glands display large vacuole-like accumulations of glycogen below their nuclei used to synthesise mucins that are secreted and line uterine cavity
Glands take on an irregular sacculated appearance and secretions appear in lumina
Stroma become oedematous (swollen with fluid) in places and arteries within it lengthen and take on spiral form
Function of mucins that line surface of uterine cavity
Attract and nourish the conceptus should fertilisation occur
Length of secretory phase
12 days
What happens towards the end of the secretory phase
Spiral arteries briefly close down, open again and leak blood into the stroma
What causes the decidua to detach and menses to begin
Temporary anoxia coupled with hydraulic pressure of the blood disrupts the stroma following spiral arteries closing then reopening
What is required for the successful transition from proliferative endometrium to secretory endometrium
Progesterone and oestrogen
Length of fallopian tube
10cm
Where is the fallopian tube located
Within broad ligament
Regions of uterine tube
Intramural part - embedded in wall of uterus
Short narrow isthmus
Long ampulla
Wide infundibulum closest to ovary
Epithelium of uterine tubes- how does it vary
Thrown into complex folds at wide infundibulum but reduces to a simple star shaped folding at isthmus
Fimbriae
Finger-like processes of the infundibulum that become erect at ovulation and clasp the ovary ensuring safe transfer of ovum to tube