Histology 1 - Histology of the Female Reproductive Tract Flashcards
Name for production of gametes in females?
Oogenesis
What are the 2 main roles of the ovaries?
To produce gametes
To produce steroids, mainly oestrogen and progestogens
What is the medulla of the ovary continuous with?
The hilum of the ovary
What is the cortex of the ovary formed from?
Scattered ovarian follicles in a highly cellular connective tissue stroma
What is the name for the outer shell of the ovarian cortex?
Tunica albuginea
Dense connective tissue
What is the name for the single layer of cuboidal cells that covers the tunica albuginea?
Germinal epithelium
What is the name for the portion of the broad ligament of the uterus that suspends the ovaries?
Mesovarium
What does a ruptured ovarian follicle develop into?
Corpus hemorrhagicum
What does a corpus hemorrhagicum of the ovary develop into?
Corpus luteum
What does a corpus luteum of the ovary develop into?
Corpus albicans
How are oocytes formed during development?
Early in embryonic development (around week 6) germ cells from the yolk sac invade the ovaries and proliferate by mitosis to form oogonia
These cells will undergo development and division via meiosis to form mature oocytes (aka ova)
What is the name for the growth of the follicle, which consists of the oocyte and any associated support cells?
Folliculogenesis
When does an oogonia undergo mitosis?
What does it form?
In utero
Primary oocyte
When does a secondary oocyte undergo its secondary meiotic division?
What does it form?
At fertilisation
Ovum
How are oogonia and oocytes lost?
Atresia - apoptosis-based process
Stages of follicle development from primordial follicle to mature graafian follicle?
Primordial follicle -> primary follicle -> late primary follicle -> secondary follicle -> mature graafian follicle
What is another name for a follicle cell?
Pregranulosa cells
What cells are found between the primordial follicles in the fetal ovary?
Stromal cells
What shape are pregranulosa cells?
Squamous (but if the follicle enters the growth phase, they will become cuboidal)
What cells define primary follicles?
Cuboidal granulosa cells (zone granulosa)
In the primary follicle, what begins to form between the oocyte and granulosa cells?
Zona pellucida
In a late primary follicle, what do the adjacent stromal cells (theca folliculi) transform to form?
Theca interna and theca externa
What does the theca internal go on to do?
What happens to these?
Secrete oestrogen precursors
Converted to oestrogen by the granulosa cells
What forms in secondary follicles?
What does this fill with?
Antrum
Follicular fluid
What are the very largest astral follicles called?
Graafian follicles
When the primary oocyte undergoes its first meiotic division, what does it produce?
Secondary oocyte
Polar body
When the secondary oocyte undergoes its second meiotic division, what does it produce?
Ovum
Polar body
What happens, in terms of follicles, one day prior to ovulation?
The oocyte in the largest graafian follicle will complete meiosis 1
What are the granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte referred to after a follicle ruptures?
Corona radiata
What does the follicle transform into after ovulation?
Corpus luteum
If no implantation occurs, what does the corpus luteum become?
Corpus albicans
what happens to the corpus luteum if implantation occurs?
How?
Why?
It is maintained
Placenta secretes HCG which prevents its degeneration
Maintains progesterone levels, which in turn maintains the pregnancy
What are 2 other names for the uterine tubes?
oviducts
Fallopain tubes
What does the infundibulum do in terms of follicular rupture?
Moves so that its opening is adjacent to where the follicle ruptures
Where does fertilisation of the ovum usually occur?
In the ampulla
Describe the epithelium in the ampulla?
Simple columnar epithelium with ciliated cells and secretory cells surrounded by smooth muscle
Describe the epithelium of the isthmus?
Secretory with few ciliated cells
How many layers of smooth muscle are in the ampulla?
2
How many layers of smooth muscle are in the isthmus?
3
What are the 3 layers of the uterus?
Endometrium
Myometrium
Perimetrium
What is the endometrium made up of?
Tubular secretory glands embedded in a connective tissue stroma
How many layers of smooth muscle make up the myometrium?
3
What is the perimetrium made up of?
Outer visceral covering of loose connective tissue covered by mesothelium
What are the 2 layers of the endometrium?
Stratum functionalis
Stratum basalis
What layer of the endometrium undergoes monthly growth, degeneration and loss?
Stratum functionalis
Which layer of the endometrium acts as the reserve tissue which regenerates the other layer?
Stratum basalis
What type of epithelium lines glands in the stratum functionalis of the endometrium?
Pseudo stratified columnar epithelium
What hormone causes glands in the stratum functionalis of the endometrium to proliferate?
Oestrogen
When does the proliferative phase of the endometrium continue until?
About 1 day after ovulation
What happens to glands in the endometrium during the secretory phase?
Become coiled and secrete glycogen
What happens during the menstrual phase to physically cause a period?
Arterioles in the stratum functionalis undergo construction, depriving the tissue of blood and causing ischaemia, with resultant tissue breakdown, leakage of blood and tissue sloughing
Describe the epithelium of the cervix?
Stratified squamous epithelium on vaginal surface, but transitioning to mucous secreting simple columnar epithelium
Where in the cervix is dyplasia and cervical cancer most likely to occur?
Transition zone
Describe the secretions from endocervical glands during the proliferative phase?
Thin and watery (allowing the passage of sperm)
Describe the secretions from endocervical glands after ovulation?
Thick and viscous (preventing the passage of sperm, or microorganisms)
What can form if the outlet from endocervical glands become blocked?
Nabothian cysts
4 layers of the vagina?
Non-keratinsed stratified squamous eptihelium Lamina propria Fibromuscular layer Adventitia
Describe the layers of smooth muscle within the fibromuscular layer of the vagina?
Inner circular
Outer longitudinal
How is the vagina lubricated?
Mucous from the cervical glands and fluid from the thin walled blood vessels of the lamina propria (no glands in the wall of the vagina)
What are the labia majora extension of?
The mons pubis
What are the labia minora rich in?
Vasculature
Sebaceous glands
What type of epithelium extends from the labia minora to the opening of the vagina?
Keratinised epithelium
Where is there transition from the keratinised epithelium of the labia minora to the non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium of the vagina?
At the level of the hymen
What is contained within the clitoris?
2 tubes of erectile vascular tissue (corpora cavernosa)
