Histology Flashcards
what are the two roles of the ovary?
produce gametes
produce steroids
what is the production of female gametes called?
oogenesis
what steroids do the ovaries produce?
oestrogen
progesterone
what is the overall structure of the ovary?
has a medulla (core) and a cortex
what does the medulla of the ovary contain>
loose connective tissue
arteries
veins
lymphatics
what does the cortex of the ovary contain?
scattered ovarian follicles in a connective tissue stroma
what forms the outer shell of the cortex of the ovary?
tunica albuginea
what is the tunica albuginea?
a dense connective tissue layer
what covers the tunica albuginea?
the germinal epithelium
what is the germinal epithelium?
a single layer of cuboidal cells
what is an atretic follicle?
a follicle that never fully develops
what supplies blood to the ovaries?
a group of helicine arteries
where do the helicine arteries to the ovary come from?
enter the hilum of the ovary from the broad ligament
when in development do germ cells from the yolk sac enter the ovaries?
around week 6
what do the germ cells from the yolk sac form when in the ovaries and how?
oogonia
proliferate by mitosis
how do oogonia become mature oocytes?
via meiosis
this occurs years later
what is oogenesis?
development of oocytes from oogonia
what is folliculogenesis?
the growth of the follicle
what makes up the follicle?
the oocyte
associated support cells
what is atresia?
loss of oogonia and oocytes by apoptosis
describe meiosis in oocytes
begins before birth
halts at prophase I
stays here until it may undergo further development - can be decades later
what is the alternate name for the arrested follicles from embryonal development?
primordial follicle
what indicates that a primordial follicle is developing into a primary follicle?
thickening of the pre-granulosa cell layer
still only one cell layer
what are the five stages of follicular development?
primordial follicle primary follicle late primary follicle secondary follicle mature Graafian follicle
what is the difference between a primary follicle and a late primary follicle?
many layers of pre-granulosa cells
oocyte has a well developed zona pellucida
what indicates the formation of the secondary follicle?
development of the fluid filled antrum
what is the last stage of follicular development?
development of the mature Graafian follicle
much larger antrum
what are the antra follicles?
secondary follicle
mature Graafian follicle
what is another name for the follicle cells?
pregranulosa cells
what happens if an oocyte fails to associate with pregranulosa cells?
it will die
what happens to the pregranulosa cells when the follicle enters the growth phase?
they change from being squamous and become cuboidal
what happens to the pregranulosa cells when the follicle enters the growth phase?
they change from being squamous and become cuboidal
what defines a primary follicle?
cuboidal granulosa cells
what do stromal cells associating with the outside of the follicle go on to form?
the theca folliculi
what is the zona pellucida?
a layer of extracellular matrix
found between the oocyte and the granulosa cells
in the late primary follicle, what are the two layers of stromal cells that form called?
theca interna
theca externa
what does the theca interna secrete?
oestrogen precursors
what converts oestrogen precursors to oestrogen?
the granulose cells
what is the antrum filled with?
follicular fluid
what are the very largest antral follicles called?
Graafian follicles
what happens to the oocyte one day before ovulation?
completes meiosis 1 and produces a secondary oocyte and a polar body
what happens to the polar body of the follicle produced by meiosis 1?
it degenerates
what happens to the secondary oocyte produced by meiosis?
it begins the second phase of meiosis and stops at metaphase II
when does a fully mature oocyte finally develop?
once it has been released and fertilised by a sperm
what does the presence of a follicular stigma represent?
imminent rupture of the follicle
what does rupture of the follicle lead to?
the release of the oocyte and the granulose cells that surround it
what happens to the follicle after ovulation?
transforms into a corpus luteum
what does the corpus luteum produce?
oestrogen
progesterone
what happens to the corpus luteum if no implantation occurs?
becomes the corpus albicans
what does the corpus luteum if implantation does occur?
maintains progesterone levels
these maintaim the pregnancy
in pregnancy, what prevents degeneration of the corpus luteum?
placenta secreting HCG
what are other possible names for the uterine tubes?
oviducts
fallopian tubes
what happens to the uterine tubes when the follicle ruptures?
the infundibulum moves so its opening is adjacent to the site of follicle rupture
how does the ovum move down the uterine tubes?
propelled by gentle peristalsis and cilia in the epithelium
what does the epithelium of the uterine tubes secrete?
nutrients
where does fertilisation usually occur?
the ampulla of the uterine tube
describe the mucosa present in the ampulla of the uterine tube
highly folded
lined by simple columnar cells
contains cilia and secretory cells
surrounded by smooth muscle
describe the smooth muscle present in the uterine tube
2 layers in ampulla
3 layers in isthmus
what are the three layers of the uterine wall from inner to outer?
endometrium
myometrium
perimetric
what is the endometrium?
secretory mucosa
what is the endometrium made from?
tubular secretory glands embedded in a connective tissue storm
what makes up the myometrium?
three layers of smooth muscle
collagen
elastic tissue
what makes up the perimetrium?
loose connective tissue covered by mesothelium
what are the two parts of the endometrium?
stratum functionalis
stream basalis
what does the stratum functionalis of the endometrium do?
undergoes monthly growth, regeneration and loss
what does the stratum basalis of the endometrium do?
reserve tissue that regenerates the functionalis
what happens to the stratum basalis in the proliferative phase?
grow and increase the thickness of the endometrium. reconstituting the stratum functionalis
what happens to the endometrium during the secretory phase?
glands become coiled with a corkscrew appearance and secrete glycogen
when does the proliferative phase occur?
end of menstruation until a day before ovulation
when does the secretory phase occur?
ovulation to menstruation
what happens to the endometrium during the menstrual phase?
arterioles in the stratum functionalis undergo constriction causing ischaemia
causes the tissue to breakdown
describe the epithelium lining the cervix
stratified squamous near the vagina
simple columnar deeper in the cervical canal
what glands are present in the epithelium of the cervical canal?
endocervical glands
describe the secretion from the endocervical glands
thin and watery in the proliferative phase
thick and viscous following ovulation
what happens if the endocervical glands get blocked?
formation of a nabothian cyst
what are the four layers of the vagina from internal to external?
epithelium
lamina propria
fibromuscular layer
adventitia
what epithelium is present in the vagina?
non keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
what happens to the epithelium of the vagina during reproductive years and why?
thicker with enlarged cells
due to glycogen accumulation
what is found in the lamina propria of the vagina?
connective tissue
elastic fibres
blood vessels
what is found in the fibromuscular layer of the vagina?
inner circular smooth muscle
outer longitudinal smooth muscle
how is the vagina lubricated?
by mucous from the cervical glands and fluid from the blood vessels of the lamina propria
what inhibits growth of pathogenic bacteria in the vagina?
commensal bacteria metabolise glycogen to lactic acid, this inhibits growth
