Histology of Female Repro Tract

Question 1

What are the 2 structural areas of the ovary?

Answer 1

1) Cortical region: where ovarian follicles reside

2) Medullary region: contain rich vascular bed and loose cellular connective tissue

Question 2

How does stromal cell morphology differ between primordial and primary follicles?

Answer 2

Primordial: oocyte surrounded by ONE SINLGE layer of SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM
Primary: oocyte surrounded by 2-3 layers of CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

Question 3

When is the 2nd polar body extruded?

Answer 3

Not until after fertilization.

Question 4

What’s the fibrous layer that surrounds the ovary? What does it contain?

Answer 4

Tunica albuginea - same as in the testis. Contains collagen and elastin

Question 5

Is the follicle vascularized?

Answer 5

No. (it has a basement membrane)

Question 6

When does the zona pellucida appear? What is the zona pellucida?

Answer 6

In the primary follicle.

ZP is a thick layer of glycoprotein- is in between the oocyte and the granulosa cells

Question 7

When do the zona granulosum and follicular antrum appear?

Answer 7

In the secondary follicle.

Question 8

What are the two outermost cell layers of the secondary follicle? What does each do?

Answer 8

Theca interna: secretes androstenedione (converted to estradiol by follicular cells)
Theca externa: connective tissue, capsule-like layer.

Question 9

What definitively marks the transition to a Graafian follicle?

Answer 9

Completion of first meiotic division, with extrusion of the first polar body. (it arrests before completing 2nd meiotic division)

Question 10

Histological features of the Graafian follicle?

Answer 10

Large fluid-filled antrum with corona radiata cells surrounding the oocyte.

Question 11

Histological marker of advanced atresia (follicle degeneration)?

Answer 11

Thickened basement membrane between theca interna and rest of follicular cells - “glassy membrane”

Question 12

What are 2 types of endocrine cells in the corpus luteum? What does each make?
(Histological difference?)

Answer 12

1) Follicular lutein - secretes estrogen and progesterone
2) Theca lutein - secretes androgen precursors and progesterone
(Theca lutein cells have a pinker cytoplasm?)

Question 13

What cells become follicular lutein cells?

Answer 13

Follicular / granulosa cells

Question 14

What cells become theca lutein cells?

Answer 14

Theca interna cells.

Question 15

What happens to the corpus luteum if pregnancy doesn’t happen?

Answer 15

Corpus albicans formation (scar of dense connective tissue)–> appears white

Question 16

Review review: Where in the oviduct does fertilization usually take place?

Answer 16

In the ampulla.

Question 17

What’s the inside of the oviduct like?

Answer 17

Folded with mucosa with a branching vascular core.

Question 18

Two types of cells in the oviduct epithelium? What is the job of each?

Answer 18

Ciliated: Move ovum along.

Non-ciliated/secretory: Secrete stuff to nourish ovum and sperm.

Question 19

What are the 3 layers of the uterus?

Answer 19

1) Outer serosa / adventitia
2) Myometrium
3) Endometrium

Question 20

What are the 2 layers of the endometrium? Which is maintained after menstruation?

Answer 20

1) Functionalis

2) Basalis (maintained)

Question 21

3 changes to the myometrium during pregnancy?

Answer 21

1) Hyperplasia
2) Hypertrophy
3) Increased collagen

Question 22

3 phases of the endometrium’s cycle? Characteristics of each? With what hormone is each correlated?

Answer 22

Proliferative - proliferation, glands growing - estrogen
Secretive - glycogen-rich secretion - progesterone
Menstruation - absence of estrogen/progesterone

Question 23

3 layers of the vagina?

Answer 23

Mucosa
Muscular (longitudinal smooth muscle)
Adventitia (dense CT)

Question 24

Does the vagina make its own mucus?

Answer 24

Nope, it doesn’t have such glands. It gets it from the uterine cervix.

Question 25

When do the glands of the breast really start to proliferate?

Answer 25

Pregnancy.

Question 26

How do lipid droplets get out into the milk?

Answer 26

They’re released as membrane-bound droplets.

Question 27

2 notable proteins in milk?

Answer 27

Caseins, alpha-lactalbumin

Question 28

What does breast tissue look like histology when lactating?

Answer 28

Alveoli are distended with milk…. which isn’t too surprising.

Question 29

Other than secretory epithelium, what other type of cells are in the alveoli / ducts of breast tissue?

Answer 29

Myoepithelium.

Question 30

When does the theca folliculi develop? What is it and what does it further differentiate into?

Answer 30

Theca folliculi develops in the primary oocyte. TF is a cellular layer that develops from stroma. Develops into 2 zones- theca interna and theca externs

Question 31

What is the difference between theca interna and theca externa?

Answer 31

Theca interna: richly vascularized–> make adrogenic steroids–> get converted to testosterone and then to estradiol by the granulosa cells
Theca externa: consists mostly of connective tissue- continuous with ovarian stroma