Histology (Exam 2)

Question 1

When do oocytes (germ cells) enter the 1st meiotic division? Primary oocyte is arrested in what phase? What is its appearance?

Answer 1

Oocytes enter 1st meiotic division late in fetal period; remains arrested in Prophase I until ovulation.
This is why it has finely dispersed chromatin and little cytoplasm.

Question 2

When does completion of first meiotic division of oocyte occur?

Answer 2

just before ovulation

Question 3

secondary oocyte arrested in what phase?

Answer 3

metaphase of meiosis II

Question 4

function of estrogen v. progesterone

Answer 4

Estrogen: growth/maturation of sex organs; mainly responsible for female characteristics like breast development
Progesterone: prepares uterus for pregnancy and mammary gland for lactation

Question 5

What type of epithelium covers surface of the ovaries? What layer is underneath?

Answer 5

simple cuboidal epithelium = the germinal epithelium. Beneath the germ epithelium = tunica albuginea

Question 6

What are teratomas?

Answer 6

embryonic germ cells that lost their way during migration to the yolk sac and deposited themselves in other sites - usually mediastinum, sacroccygeal, and oral regions. If they survive, they develop into bizarre growths containing things like hair, teeth, and cartilage

Question 7

6 stages of oogenesis

Answer 7

1) mitotis in human embryos from 2-5 mo of pregnancy
2) meiosis begins late in fetal period
3) primary oocytes arrested in Prophase I
4) Meiosis I completed at ovulation to form secondary oocyte
5) secondary oocyte arrested in Metaphase II
6) Meiosis II completed at fertilization

Question 8

(4) types of follicles

Answer 8

• Primordial (resting) = most abundant
• Growing follicles = both primary and secondary. Primary can be unilaminar or multilaminar
• Graafian = mature follicles
• Atretic follicle

Question 9

Distinguishing feature between primordial follicles and unilaminar/multilaminar primary follicles. Name of cells in multilaminar?

Answer 9

-Primordial = primary oocyte surrounded by single layer of flattened follicular cells
-Primary = primary oocyte surrounded by cuboidal cells. Unilaminar has single layer and multilaminar has more than 1 layer of cuboidal.
Multilaminar follicular cells are called Granulosa cells and form the granulosa layer.

Question 10

Where is the basal lamina found in primary oocytes?

Answer 10

between the outermost layer of granulosa cells and the surrounding CT. This basal lamina separates granulosa from theca cells

Question 11

Granulosa v. Theca cells

Answer 11

• Granulosa have FSH receptors and convert androgens to estrogen
• Theca have LH receptors and are steroid-secreting cells; they secrete estrogen precursors

Question 12

Distinguishing features of Graafian from a secondary (antral) follicle

Answer 12

Graafian has bigger expansion of the antrum and more prominent thecal layers

Question 13

What facilitates growth of only one dominant follicle each month?

Answer 13

the dominant follicle secretes Follicular Regulatory Protein, which retards the growth of the other follicles

Question 14

(5) factors responsible for ovulation

Answer 14

1) detachment of the oocyte/cumulus from the granulosa layer due to deposition of glycosaminoglycans between them
2) increased volume and pressure of follicular fluid
3) proteolysis of follicular wall
4) decreased blood flow in ovarian surface overlying the4 follicle
5) SM contraction in theca externa

Question 15

function and location of myoid cells

Answer 15

surrounding the seminiferous epithelium. contraction of myoid cells propels the immotile sperm to the rete testis

Question 16

location, function, and characteristics of rete testis

Answer 16

Rete testis is an anastomosing system of ducts found in the mediastinum, which is the thickened portion of tunica albuginea. Rete testis comes after straight tubules. It’s ducts are lined by simple cuboidal epithium with a single cilium.

Question 17

(6) components of the spermatic cord

Answer 17

The ductus deferens +
A: testicular artery
V: pampiniform plexus
M: cremaster muscle
N: sympathetic nerve fibers
L: lymphatic vessels