Histology Flashcards
What is the superficial fibrous cortex of the ovary covered by?
Epithelium
Where do the group of helicine arteries of the ovary enter the hilum from?
The broad ligament
What is the outer epithelium of the ovary?
Simple cuboidal
What is the dense connective tissue of the ovary below the epithelium?
Tunica albuginea
What do germ cells from the yolk sac form when the invade the ovaries and proliferate by mitosis?
Oogonia
When are oogonia formed?
Around week 6
What do oogonia go onto form via meiosis?
Oocytes, aka ova
What is oogenesis?
Development of oocytes, the female germ cells, from oogonia
What is folliculogenesis?
Growth of the follicle, which consists of the oocyte and any associated support cells
What is the apoptosis-based process which cause loss of oogonia and oocytes?
Atresia
When does meiosis initially halt in follicular development?
Prophase I
What happens if an oocyte fails to associate with pregranulosa cells?
It will die
What type of cell are pregranulosa cells?
Squamous prior to growth phase, upon entry to this cuboidal
What is the zona pellucida?
A layer of special extracellular matrix formed between the oocyte and granulosa cells
What is the theca interna?
A layer formed by the transformation of inner layers of the adjacent stromal cells
What does the theca interna do?
Secrete oestrogen precursors which will be converted to oestrogen by the granulosa cells
What forms the theca externa?
Outer layers of stromal cells, they remain fibroblast like
What space filled with follicular fluid begins to form and enlarge in the granulosa layer, forming a secondary follicle?
The antrum
What are the largest antral follicles called?
Graafian follicles
After ovulation what does the follicle transform into?
Corpus luteum
Assuming no implantation occurs, what does the corpus luteum become?
Corpus albicans
What happens to the corpus luteum if implantation occurs?
Placenta secretes HCG which prevents degeneration of CL for a time and maintains progesterone levels, which maintains pregnancy
What are the parts of the uterine tube from outwards to inner?
Fimbria Infundibulum Ampulla Isthmus Interstitial part
Where does fertilisation usually occur?
Ampulla
Describe the ampulla
Folded mucosa and lined by simple columnar epithelium with ciliated and secretory cells
Surrounded further by smooth muscle
What is the lining of the isthmus?
Secretory epithelium with few ciliated cells