Histology Flashcards
What is oogenesis?
Development of oocytes
What is folliculogenesis?
Growth of follicle (consisting of oocytes and support cells)
What is atresia?
Loss of oogonia and oocytes by apoptosis-based process
Cell is resorbed following death
What do ovaries produce?
Steroid hormones and gametes
What does the medulla of the ovary contain?
Loose connective tissue
Contorted arteries
Veins
Lymphatics
What does the cortex of the ovary contain?
Scattered ovarian follicles Tunica albuginea (highly cellular connective tissue) Germinal epithelium (cuboidal cells)
What is the primordial follicle surrounded by?
Single layer of pre-granulosis cells
What changes developing from primordial follicle to early primary follicle?
Outer granulosis cells thicken
What changes developing from the early to late primary follicle?
Granulosis cells proliferate and lay down the zona pellucida
Layers split up and fill with fluid (becomes the antrum)
What is the layer on the outside of the late primary/secondary follicle called and what does it produce?
Theca layer
Produces pre-cursors of steroid which are converted to steroids by granulosa cells
Where does the oocyte attach to the mature Graafian follicle?
Cumulus oophorus
What does the antrum of the mature Graafian follicle contain?
Proteins
If the oocyte is released from the follicle what do the granulosa cells become?
Corona radiata
Before it develops into the corpus luteum what is the “burst” follicle known as?
Corpus haemorrhagicum
At age 20, approx. how many oocytes re-start meiosis per day compared to age 40?
15 compared to 1
At which phase do the oocytes stop dividing before birth and stay in this phase for up to decades?
Prophase 1
What occurs in the oocyte 1 day before ovulation?
Oocyte in the largest Graafian follicle with complete meiosis 1
Polar body produced will take the second, spare nucleus away
What do theca and granulosa cells secrete to prepare uterus for implantation?
Oestrogen and progesterone
What does the corpus luteum become if there is no implantation of oocyte?
Corpus albicans
What is the corpus albicans?
White coloured connective tissues which do not produce hormones
How is the corpus luteum preserved in the event of implantation?
Placenta secretes hCG to encourage corpus luteum production of gonadotrophin
Where is the ampulla?
The end of the uterine tubes
Where does fertilisation normally occur?
Ampulla
Which part of the uterine tube follows on from the ampulla?
Infundibulum
Which part of the uterine tube follows on from the infundibulum?
Isthmus
Describe the lining of the isthmus of the uterine tube
Few cells thick
Secretory cells
What does the endometrium consist of?
Epithelium lined glands embedded in connective tissue stroma
What can the endometrium be split into?
Stratum functionalis and stratum basalis
Describe the role of the stratum basalis?
Reserve tissue which gives rise to the stratum functionalis
What is the myometrium made up of?
Collagen and elastic tissue
What is the perimetrium made up of?
Loose connective tissue covered by mesothelium
Which hormone causes the stroma to proliferate in the endometrium?
Oestrogen
What occurs in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle?
Glands become coiled with corkscrew appearance and secrete glycogen
What occurs during the menstrual phase of the menstrual cycle?
Stratum functionalis arterioles contract
Results in tissue breakdown
SF sloughs off
Describe the composition of the cervix
Mostly fibrous connective tissue covered by stratified squamous epithelium
Transitions to mucous secreting simple columnar epithelium
What is a Nabothian cyst?
Mucous filled cyst on the cervix
Occur when stratified squamous epithelium of the ectocervix (toward the vagina) grows over the simple columnar epithelium of the endocervix (toward the uterus)
What are the four layers of the vagina?
Non-keratinised squamous epithelium
Lamina propria
Fibromuscular
Adventitia
Describe the composition of the lamina propria of the vagina
Connective tissue
Many elastic fibres
Thin walled blood vessels
What is the role of glycogen during menstrual cycle?
Feeds commensal bacteria to inhibit growth of pathological bacteria
What is the mon pubis?
Area of skin containing highly oblique hair follicles
Over a fat pad over the pubic symphysis
What is the labia majora
Extensions of mons pubis that run laterally to the vagina
Why types of glands are found in the labia majora?
Apocrine sweat glands
Sebaceous glands
What is the labia minora?
Thick skin folds which lack subcut fat and hair follicles
What type of epithelium is found at the labia minora?
Keratinised epithelium
What is the clitoris?
Two tubes of highly erectile vascular tissue
Very sensitive
What covers the clitoris?
Fibrocollagenous sheath covered by skin
What do the lobes in the breast consist of? (non-lactating)
Compound tubulo-acinar glands which drain via ducts to the nipple
How many lobes can be found in secretory breast tissue? (non-lactating)
15-25
What type of tissue is found adjacent to the secretory lobules of the breast? (non-lactating)
Dense fibrous tissue
septae produces lobules
Which muscle do the breasts sit immediately anterior to?
Pec major
What are the suspensory ligaments?
Thicker condensations of connective tissue which extend from the dermis of the skin to the fascia on the anterior chest wall
Why do some tumours cause puckering of the skin?
Put tension on the suspensory ligaments
What is the TDLU?
Terminal duct lobular unit
Basic functional secretory unit of the breast
What is found in the terminal duct lobular unit? (non-lactating)
Terminal ductules (acini) leading to intralobular collecting duct
(this then leads to lactiferous duct)
What is the sinus produced by the lactiferous ducts termed?
Lactiferous sinus
Which cells line the acini?
Secretory epithelial cells (both cuboidal and columnar)
Which cells surround the secretory cells of the acini?
Myoepithelial cells
What surrounds the myoepithelial cells of the acini?
Basal lamina
Describe the epithelium of the nipple
Thin, highly pigmented keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
Describe the core of the nipple
Dense irregular connective tissue mixed with bundles of smooth muscle
What type of gland can be found in the nipple?
Sebaceous
What changes occur in the mammary gland during the luteal phase of menstruation?
Epithelial cells increase in height
Lumina of the ducts enlarges
Small amount of secretions appear in the ducts
What changes occur in the mammary gland during the first trimester?
Elongation and branching of the smaller ducts
Proliferation of epithelial cells of glands
Proliferation of myoepithelial cells
What changes occur in the mammary gland during second trimester?
Glandular tissue continues to develop with differentiation of secretory alveoli
What changes occur in the mammary gland during the third trimester?
Secretory alveoli grow
Development of rough endoplasmic reticulum
Which antibody is secreted in breast milk?
IgA
Which hormones cause the proliferation of secretory tissue in the breast?
Oestrogen and progesterone
Which cells are said to have a “clock face nucleus” ?
Plasma cells
Describe the composition of human milk?
88% water 1.5% protein 7% carb 3.5% lipid Small quantities of ions, vitamins and IgA
Which proteins are found in breast milk?
Lactalbumin and casein
Which carbohydrate is mainly found in breast milk?
Lactose
Which two mechanisms are used in secretion of milk?
Apocrine and merocrine secretion
Describe apocrine secretion of breast milk lipids
Lipid droplets secreted surrounded by a small membrane which has a small amount of cytoplasm
Describe merocrine secretion (exocytosis) of breast milk proteins
Proteins made in rER
Packaged in Golgi apparatus
Secreted via vesicle to merge with apical membrane and release contents into ducts
What happens to the mammary glands following menopause?
TDLUs secretory cells degenerate
Fewer fibroblasts in connective tissue
Reduced collagen and elastic fibres
