Histo of Female Reproductive System Flashcards
The menstrual cycle consists of what 2 cycles?
- Ovarian Cycle
2. Uterine Cycle
What happens during the ovarian cycle?
Several follicles undergo folliculogenesis in preparation for ovulation
What happens during the uterine cycle?
Endometrium prepares for implantation
The ovary is lined by what 2 things?
Ovarian surface epithelium Tunica Albuginea (CT capsule)
What type of epithelium is the ovarian surface epithelium?
Simple cuboidal epithelium
The ovarian surface epithelium is the embyronic source for what cell types that comprise growing follicles?
Granulosa cells
Stromal cells
The ovary is made of a peripheral cortex and inner medulla. What is contained in the peripheral cortex?
Ovarian follicles
The ovary is made of a peripheral cortex and inner medulla. What is contained in the inner medulla?
Interstitial cells, neurovasculature and lymphatics
The ovarian follicles are in the ovarian cortex. What does a single follicle contain?
A single oocyte
When do early stages of oogenesis occur?
Fetal life
Oocytes present at birth remain arrested in?
Meiosis 1
Folliculogenesis
Select follicles undergo growth and maturation
What are the phases of folliculogenesis?
- Follicular phase
- Ovulatory phase
- Luteal phase
What is the order of maturation for follicles in the follicular phase of folliculogenesis?
- Primordial follicles
- Primary follicles
- Late primary follicles
- Secondary follicle
- Mature follicle
Granulosa cells within a follicle surround and support?
Oocyte
Primordial follicles epithelium
Simple squamous cells surrounding oocyte
Primary follicles epithelium
Simple cuboidal layer of granulosa cells surrounding oocyte
Late primary follicles epithelium
Stratified granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte
What separates granulosa cells in a follicle from the ovarian stroma?
Basal lamina
How do stratified granulosa cells in a late primary follicle communicate?
Gap junctions
Describe what occurs in a secondary follicle
Granulosa cells begin to secrete follicular fluid
- Fluid accumulates in spaces = Call-Exner bodies
- Call-Exner bodies merge = Antrum
Stromal cells form separate Thecal layers
At what follicle would you expect to see an antrum of follicular fluid?
Secondary follicle
At what follicle would you expect to see the stromal cells separate into thecal layers?
Secondary follicle
What are the thecal layers of the stromal cells surrounding the secondary follicle?
Theca Interna
Theca Externa
Job of Theca Interna cells?
Produce Androstenedione that is converted to Estradiol
Theca Interna cells are adjacent to?
Basal lamina of the follicle
The thecal layers of the stromal cells are what type of epithelium?
Stratified cuboidal
What changes occur with a mature follicle?
Antrum enlarges - 2cm and thecal layers thicken
Granulosa cell populations arise
In a mature follicle, what are the granulosa cell types?
Mural Granulosa cells
Cumulus Oophorous
Corona Radiata
Where are Mural granulosa cells?
Lining the follicular wall
Where are Cumulos oophorous cells?
Anchoring the primary oocyte to the follicular wall
Where are the Corona radiata cells?
Immediately surrounding the zona pellucida that surrounds the oocyte
Describe the layers you would see from most external to internal in a mature follicle
Theca Externa Theca Interna Basal lamina Mural Granulosa Cells Cumulus Oophorous (one portion) and Antrum (rest) Corona Radiata Zona pellucida Oocyte