Histology: Female Reproductive Flashcards
1
Q
Ovary
A
Produces oocytes and hormones (endocrine)
Cortex
- Ovarian follicles at various stages of development
Medulla
- Loose CT
- Blood Vessels
Germinal Epithelium
- Simple Cuboidal Epithelium
- Continuous with mesovarium
Tunica Albuginea
- Dense CT layer deep to germinal layer
2
Q
Ovarian Follicles
A
- Oocytes develop as follicles surrounded by follicular (supporting) cells
-
At birth, 600,000-800,000 oocytes present at birth
- Arrested in prophase of meiosis I
-
At birth, 600,000-800,000 oocytes present at birth
Primodial Follicles
- Present at birth
Primary Follicles
- Unilaminar or Multilaminar
Secondary Follicle
- Development of antrum
Graafian Follicle
3
Q
Ovarion Cycle
A
- Regulated by gonadotropins
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
Follicular Phase
- FSH stimulates development of primordial follicles
- LH surge triggers ovulation
Luteal Phase
- Corpus luteum secrete progesterone
4
Q
Primordial Follicle
A
-
Primary oocyte
- Surrounded by single layer of squamous follicular cells
- Large eccentric nucleus; finely dispersed
- Large nucleolus
- Present at birth
- Located just beneath tunica albuginea
5
Q
Early Primary Follicle
A
- Unilaminar
- Follicular cells become cuboidal
- Oocyte enlarges
-
Zona Pellucida
- __Between oocyte and follicular cells
- Made of proteins
- Contains sperm receptors
6
Q
Late Primary Follicle
A
-
Multilaminar primary follicle
- Layer of cells called stratum granulosum
- Stratified epithelium
- Gap Junctions between granulosa cells
- No blood-follicle barrier
- Layer of cells called stratum granulosum
-
Thick Zona Pellucida
- Cortical granules; contain proteases that are exocytosed during fertilization
- Theca folliculi
7
Q
Secondary Follicle
A
- Fluid-filled antrum appears among granulosa cells
- Follicle grows from 0.2 mm to 10 mm
- Oocyte is 125 um in diameter
- Theca cells differentiate into 2 layers:
-
Theca Interna
- Highly vascular
- Cuboidal Cells secreting androgens (estrogen precursors)
- Lipid-appearance
-
Theca Externa
- Outter CT
-
Theca Interna
8
Q
Mature/Graafian Follicle
A
- Follicle and antrum enlarge –> 1-2 cm diameter
- Uniform stratum granulosum, except:
-
Cumulus Oophorus
- Attaches oocyte to wall of follicle
-
Corona Radiata
- Surrounds oocyte
- Goes with oocyte during ovulation
-
Cumulus Oophorus
9
Q
Follicular Stigma
A
- Mature follicle bulging out of surface of ovary
10
Q
Ovulation
A
- Secondary oocyte released from mature follicle
- Occurs on day 14
- LH surge around day 13, stimulate 1st meiotic division just prior to ovulation
- Granulosa cells stop producing estrogen
- Egg degenerates within 24 hours if not fertilized
11
Q
Atresia
A
- Several follicles being to develop during each cycle, only one reaches maturity
- Others undergo atresia:
- Apoptosis and detachment of granulosa cells
- Autolysis of oocyte
- Macrophages phagocytose debris
- Others undergo atresia:
12
Q
Corpus Luteum
A
- Results following ovulation
- Follicular wall collapses forming deep folds
- Secretes progesterone for 10-12 days
-
Luteinization
-
Granulosa and theca cells differentiate into luteal cells:
-
Granulosa Lutein Cells:
- Large/centrally located around cavity
- Secrete progesterone and inhibin (prevents secretion of FSH/LH)
- Convert androgens to estrogen
-
Theca Lutein Cells
- Smaller, located peripherally in folds
- Secrete progesterone and androgens
-
Granulosa Lutein Cells:
- Cells increase in size and accumulate lipid droplets
-
Granulosa and theca cells differentiate into luteal cells:
13
Q
Corpus Luteum of Menstruation
A
- If fertilization does not occur, degenerates into corpus albicans
- Scar of dense CT formed by fibroblasts
- Decreased progesterone stimulates menstruation
14
Q
Corpus Luteum of Pregnancy
A
- If fertilization occurs, corpus luteum increases in size
- Secrete progesterone for 4-5 months
- Human chorionic gondaotropin secreted from embryo, maintains corpus luteum
- Secrete progesterone for 4-5 months
15
Q
Hormonal Regulation
A
- Pituitary gland regulated by hypothalamus
-
Anterior Pituitary secretes FSH and small LH in follicular phase
- Stimulate ovarian follicles
- Estrogens (low levels) feed back onto anterior pituitary and inhibit FSH and LH
- Day 13 –> threshold level of estrogen is stimulatory on anterior pituitary –> LH surge and ovulation
- LH stimulate corpus luteum formation, which secrete progesterone
- Inhibits FSH/LH
- LH stimulate corpus luteum formation, which secrete progesterone
-
Anterior Pituitary secretes FSH and small LH in follicular phase