Histology Flashcards
What is the 2 layers of the ovaries
Cortex & medulla
What are the 2 tissue types in the cortex
Germinal epithelium (simple squamous to cuboidal)
Tunica albuginae (thin connective tissue)
What is the 5 things in the cortex
Primordial follicle
Maturing follicles
Atretic follicles
Surrounding fibrous stroma
Corpus luteum & - albicans
What are the 4 tissue types in medulla
Connective tissue
Interstitial cels
Nerves
Blood vessels
When does oogenesis start & what occur
Starts during embryonic development
Mitosis to produce oogonia
When does meiosis I start & stops
At 5 months of embryonic development
Arrest at prophase 1 as primordial follicle
What is a primordial follicle
Oocyte surrounded by single layer of simple squamous epithelium
What happens when primordial follicle gets activated
Becomes a primary follicle as the flattened granuloma cells becomes cuboidal
What happens with the late primary follicle
Granulosa cells secrete glycoprotein to form the zona pellucida & granulosa cells proliferate to form multi laminar zona granulosa (stratified cuboidal cells)
What is the function of the zona pellucida
Sperm bind during fertilization
What is the cell cell communication
Cytoplasmic processes for granulosa cells to coordinate the growth of primary oocyte
What occur every month since puberty start with ovarian cycle
One of maturing follicle will be selected under influence of FSH & LH
What happens with a secondary follicle
Zona granulosa thickens by proliferation
Deeper follicle cells secrete fluid to form antrum
Surrounding ovarian stroma forms theca internal & externa
What is the theca interna
Vascularized cell layer adjacent to basal lamina w/ cholesterol droplets
What is the theca externa
Fibrous cellular layer continuous with ovarian stroma (capsule like layer)
What is the process that occur between granulosa cells & theca interna cells
LH binds to theca interna cells & stimulate production of androstenedione they gets released into extracellular environment and into the granulosa cell & gets converted to aromatase then estradiol
FSH also stimulate this conversion at the granulosa cell by binding to activin
Inhibin inhibits FSH and decrease amount of estradiol being formed
What happens with a tertiary/antral follicle
One secondary follicle develop by antrum growing in size (liquor folliculi)
Estrogen levels continue to rise & FSH & LH support growth of oocyte
What happens with a mature Graafian/pre-ovulatory follcile
Surge in LH leads to completion of meiosis I
Primary oocyte divide into secondary oocyte & first polar body
Meiosis II starts & pause at metaphase
What are the 3 regions of granulosa cells in a mature Graafian follicle
Corona radiata: layer of granulosa cells firmly anchored to zona pellucida (by zona penetrating cellular processes)
Cumulus oophorous: cluster of granulosa cells anchoring secondary oocyte to wall of follicle for nutrient delivery
Mural granulosa cells lining the wall of the follicle
What occur during ovulation
Follicle wall distended pressing against the wall of ovary & secrete proteolytic enzymes that digest ovary wall
Follicle wall rupture & release secondary oocyte surrounded by corona radiate onto surface of ovary & stick due to follicular fluid
How is the oocyte transported
Fimbraie captures the oocyte & corpus luteum remains behind
What stimulate corpus luteum growth
LH & FSH
What happens with the corpus luteum
Empty follicle collapse
Basement membrane between zona granulosa & theca lutein breaks down
Ruptured blood vessels bleed into antrum & antrum fills with connective tissue & new blood vessels form
What happens with the granulosa cells & theca interna cells of the corpus luteum
Granulosa cells become granulosa lutein that produce inhibin & estradiol
Theca interna cells become theca lutein cells that produce progesterone form cholesterol droplets
What happens to the corpus luteum when fertilization does not occur & how
Degrades to corpus albicans
Luteolysis: reduction in blood flow & macrophages invade & start apoptosis process
What occur due to formation of corpus albicans
Loss of progesterone
What is an atretic follcile
Remaining follicle that does not mature that degrade
How does a atretic follicle degrade
Delamination of granulosa cells into antrum
Cells she pyknotic nuclei (small condense nuclei) & break down into apoptosis bodies (fragmented nuclei)
Follicle collapse & resorted
What is the 2 zones of the endometrium
Functional zone
Basilar zone
What does the functional zone contain
Uterine glands & endometrial thickening
What does the basilar zone contain
Attaches the endometrium & myometrium with terminal branches of glands
Where is the vasculature of the uterus
In the myometrium
What is the flow of blood in the uterus
Branches of uterine artery flow into arcuate artery encircling the endometrium
Arcuate artery flows into the radial artery that spilts into the straight artery flowing to the basilar zone & spiral artery that flows into the functional zone
When & why does menses occur
Day 1-7
Absence of progesterone to maintain endometrial lining
What occur during menses
Spiral arteries contract that reduce blood flow causing ischemia, hypoxia & decreased nutrient supply
Resulting in glands & tissue of functional zone deterioration
Artery wall rupture & blood leaks into stroma
Blood cells & degenerating tissue break away into cavity & pass through vagina
What zone of endometrium changes in menses
Functional zone
Basilar zone remain unchanged
What occur during proliferation phase
Functional zone start to regenerate
Epithelial cell of uterine gland in basilar zone multiple & spread restoring uterine epithelium & uterine glands extend to broader with the basilar zone & produce glycogen rich mucous
Spiral arteries invade to re vascularize & restore functional zone
Endometrium increase in thickness
What occur with the glands & epithelium during early proliferation phase
Glands regenerate & are almost straight
Epithelium glandular epithelium & stroma contains mitotic figure w/ nuclei at the base
What occur with the glands & epithelium in the late proliferative phase
Glands regenerating gland being to look like cork-screw/coiled
Epithelium stroma is mesenchymal & oedamtous
What happens in the early secretory phase (glands, secretion & vacuoles)
Continued thickening as glands become more coiled
Increased glycogen & glycoprotein production accumulating in basal vacuoles w/ nucleus displaced
What happens in the late secretory phase (glands, secretion, stroma & arteries & vacuoles)
Glands are saw-toothed & contain secretions
Vacuoles are apically positioned
Stroma is highly oedamtous w/ lymphocytes
Spiral arteries lengthen w/ blood filled sinuses
What is the uterine cervix
Links the uterine cavity with the vagina
What is the 3 main parts of the uterine cervix
Endocervical canal
Junction/transitional zone
Ectocervix
What is the epithelial cell type & appearance of the endocervical canal
Single tall columnar mucus secreting epithelial cells
Folded into deep furrows looking like glands
What is the epithelial cell types of the ectocervix
Stratified squamous epithelium (similar to vagina & vulva)
What is the mucous secretions of endocervical canal dependent on
Menstrual cycle
What is the different type of mucous secretions by the endocervical canal
Proliferation phase: rising estrogen promote thin mucous secretion & that permits passage of sperm into uterus
After ovulation: mucous become viscous forming a plug to stop sperm & microorganism from entering
What is the transitional zone during pre-puberty
Squamous columnar junction within endocervical canal away from acid pH of vagina
What does the stroma of the uterine cervix contain
Collagenous tissues with some smooth muscle
Leucocytes for defense mechanisms
What is the transitional zone during early puberty
Under influence of estradiol the stroma volume changes & columnar epithelium everted out into the vagina ectropion
What is the transitional zone during reproductive age
New stratified squamous epithelium forms to protect against acidic environment
Squamous metaplasia
Where does malignant changes occur
Transitional zone
What is a Pap smear
Scraping cells from the transformative zone, smearing on a glass slide and staining
What is the vagina
Muscular tube extending between cervix & exterior
What is the histology of the vagina (epithelium, lamina propria & muscle)
Stratified squamous epithelium
Thick laminate propria containing elastic fibers, blood vessels & lymph nodes
Smooth muscle layer with inner circular & outer longitudinal
What is the function of the blood vessels & glands in the laminate propria of vagina
Secretes fluid transudate (blood vessels) & mucus (glands) that moistens labia minora
What is the effect of rising estrogen on the vaginal epithelium
Increase glycogen production that is metabolized by vaginal bacteria to lactic acid that inhibits pathogenic microorganisms
What is the effect of contraceptive pill on the HPG axis
Inhibits synthesis & secretion of FSH
Inhibits LH surge & prevent ovulation (progesterone only pill has no effect)
What does contraceptive pil contain
Progesterone
Progesterone & estrogen
What is the effect of contraceptive pill on the cervix
Cervical mucous thickens & prevent sperm entry
What is the effect of contraceptive pill on the endometrium
Endometrial lining thins that prevent implantation
When does menopause occur
45-55
What is menopause
Termination of uterine cycle
What is peri-menopause
Ovarian & uterine cycles irregular due to shortage of primordial follicles
Why does ovulation not occur during menopause
Cyclical production of oestrogen & progesterone ceases
What hormones levels increase during menopause
GnRH, LH & FSH
What genital tract organs undergo atrophy during menopause
Endometrium (functional zone) thins
Glands become sparse
Myometrium atrophy
What genital tract organs reduce in size
Breast & uterus
