Female Tract, Oogenesis + Endocrine control Flashcards
Why is the anatomical position of the female fallopian tubes important?
There is no physical connection between the ovaries and the fallopian tubes
Ovarian follicle = ____ + ____
Oocytes + support cells
Ovarian follicles are located in the ____ of the ovary
Cortex
Oogonia develop in the _____ and then migrate to the _____
Yolk Sac
Genital ridges
Gonads are undifferentiated until around ____ weeks
6
Mitotic division of oogonia occurs until about _____ months of gestational age
6
Oogonia arrest meiotic divisions in ____
Metaphase I
What are the characteristic feature(s) of a primordial follicle?
Flattened granulosa cells
Cuboidal granulosa cells are a characteristic feature of which ovarian follicle?
Primary follicle
What are the characteristic feature(s) of a secondary follicle?
Multi-layered granulosa cells and thecal cells
An antrum is a characteristic feature of which stage in follicular development?
Small tertiary follicle
What are the characteristic feature(s) of a large tertiary follicle?
Cumulus oophorous
Granulosa cells express ___ receptors and produce ___, ____ and ____
FSH
Oestrogen, inhibin, AMH
Thecal cells express ___ receptors and produce ____
LH
Androgens
What is the function of the Zona Pellucida?
- Filtering normal sperm
- Preventing polyspermy
What is the difference in function between zona pellucida proteins 1, 2 and 3?
ZP1: laid down in primordial follicle
ZP2 and ZP3: sperm inactivation, added to activated follicles
What is the role of AMH in follicular development?
Prevents progression of primary -> primordial follicles
Which hormone can be used as a measure of follicular reserve?
AMH
Cells of the corpus lutem are predominantly involved in the production of ____
Progesterone
The first day of the ovarian cycle is the first day of _____
Menstruation
Which hormone induces ovulation?
LH
What are the two feedback mechanisms of oestrogen in the ovarian cycle?
- Suppress GnRH/FSH/LH as follicles develop (negative feedback)
- Stimulate production of LH at ~day 10 (positive feedback)
Inhibin is produced by ____ cells and inhibits ____
Granulosa
FSH
Increase in _____ causes increase in basal body temperature following ovulation.
Progesterone
Activated follicles can be recognised by changes in ____ and number of _____ cells surrounding the oocyte
Morphology
Granulosa cells
It takes approx ____ months from time of follicular activation to formation of an antrum (containing follicular fluid) and to be capable of ovulation
3
The ovarian cycle is split up into the ____ phase and the ____ phase
Follicular
Luteal
What is a follicular wave?
Development of a group of follicles with each menstrual cycle
Menstrual cycle length ____ with age and is more variable at the ____ and ____
Decreases
Beginning and end
The _____ phase of the menstrual cycle is longer and more variable in length than the ____ phase
Follicular
Luteal
What are some examples of how the reproductive life cycles of our early ancestors differ from those currently?
- Puberty later
- Earlier pregnancy
- More children
- Shorter life span
Why is the fallopian tube tortuous in nature?
To allow close contact of the embryo to the maternal surface
What kind of cells comprise the epithelial lining of the fallopian tubes?
Ciliated and secretory
What effect does oestrogen have on the fallopian tubes?
- Cilia
- Secretory activity
- Muscular activity
- Increase cilia
- Increase secretory activity
- Increase muscular activity
What effect does progesterone have on the fallopian tubes?
- Cilia
- Secretory activity
- Muscular activity
- Decreased muscular activity
- Decrease in cilia
- Increase in beat frequency (after oestrogen priming)
- Decrease volume of secretion
What is the difference in volume between a non-pregnant and pregnant uterus?
Non-pregnant has a luminal volume of ~10mL
Pregnant ~5L
What is the normal orientation of the uterus?
Anteverted
What proportion of women have a retroverted uterus?
20-25%
What are the three layers of the uterus?
Serosa
Myometrium
Endometrium
The myometrium is approx ___% of the non-pregnant uterus
90%
What are the two layers of the endometrium?
Basal layer and functional layer
During pregnancy, the endometrium becomes the ____
Decidua
What histological feature distinguishes the endometrial proliferative phase from the secretory phase?
Tortured glands in the secretory phase
What is the purpose of the decidual reaction?
Prepare the uterine wall for implantation of the embryo
What two changes occur in the decidual reaction?
Fibroblast-like cells expand and fill with glycogen
Stroma of endometrium become oedematous
Which arteries are located at the myometrial/endometrial boundary?
Spiral arteries
Why are spiral arteries spiral in shape?
Vessels and gland grow faster than stromal tissue
How is exsanguination prevented in menstruation?
- Vessels clamp
- Necrosis of functional endometrial layer
- Tissue dies and is sloughed off
Why do neutrophils invade into the tissue during menstruation?
Menustruation causes an open wound, neutrophils protect against potential infection
What are five effects of oestrogen on the uterus?
- Epithelial and stromal cell proliferation
- Stromal oedema
- Glandular secretions (serous)
- Synthesis of intracellular progesterone receptors
- Myometrial activity
What are the effects of progesterone on the uterus?
- Glandular secretions (thick) in luteal phase (against oestrogen background)
- Stromal cell proliferation
- Decidual reaction
- Block myometrial activity
What proves that the decidua is not necessary for implantation?
Ectopic implanation
What are potential causes of endometriosis?
- Retrograde menstruation
- Transport of endometrial cells via blood/lymphatics
- Growth of endometrial-like tissue from stem cells
What are three histological features of the endocervix?
- Columnar epithelium
- Glands
- Crypts
The ____cervix has stratified squamous epithelium?
Ectocervix
The HPV vaccine exists for serotypes __ and __
16 and 18
Regular cervical smears can reduce risk of developing cervical cancer by ___%
90
Regular cervical smear tests every ___ years are recommended for women, if they have ever been sexually active from age ___
3
20-70
What is the predominant histological feature of the endometrium in menses?
Leucocytic infiltration
What is the earliest morphological evidence of ovulation used for endometrial dating?
Basal vacuolation
In which two parts of the cycle are stromal mitoses evident?
- Proliferation
- Just prior to pseudodecidual reaction
What histological features are characteristic of the late secretory phase in endometrial dating?
- Pseudodecidual reaction
- Leucocytic infiltration
Which three histological features are characteristic of the proliferative phase in endometrial dating?
- Inc. gland mitoses and tortuosity
- Inc. pseudostratification of nuclei
- Inc. stromal mitoses
