Histology of female reproductive system (basic) Flashcards
What are the ovaries?
paired organs lying on the lateral walls of the pelvic cavity
what are the ovaries covered in?
squamous epithelium (or germative epithelium)
what is the squamous (germative) epithelium which covers the ovaries?
a layer of peritoneum
where are the germ cells of the ovaries derived from?
yolk sac endoderm
what do the ovaries consist of?
cortex, medulla, hilum
what is the hilum of the ovaries?
where the neurovascular structures can enter or leave the organ
what does the medulla of the ovary contain?
nerves, blood vessels, CT, stromal cells
what does the cortex of ovary contain?
numerous germ cells in various stages of development
what is seen in an immature ovary?
only primordial follicles
where is the site of about 90% of ovarian cancers? why?
germative (squamous) epithelium (covering ovaries)
because germative epithelium is constantly being damaged from ovulation and then being repaired
what is the function of the fallopian tube?
collects the released ova, provides a site for fertilisation, and then transports the zygote for implantation at the uterus
what are the different sections of the fallopian tube?
4 parts: fimbria infundibulum ampulla intramural part
what is the function of the fimbria of the fallopian tube?
capture the ovum
what is the infundibulum of the fallopian tube?
the bell shaped portion of the fallopian tube that attaches to the fimbriae
what is the ampulla of the fallopian tube?
the widened segment where fertilisation normally occurs
what is the intramural part of the fallopian tube? also known as?
part of the uterine wall
also known as isthmus
what is the lining of the fallopian tube like?
has an inner mucosa and a thick SM layer (varies in thickness, can sometimes be 3 layers thick)
surrounded by serosa; folding of the mucosa can occur, especially in the ampullary region
what is the main epithelial lining of the fallopian tube?
mainly ciliated columnar cells, yet contains some cells that secrete mucus (called peg cells)
how can the uterus be divided?
into 2 layers:
endometrium (innermost) & myometrium (outer)
what is the endometrium of the uterus lined by?
simple columnar epithelia
which rests on a lamina propria
what does the lamina propria of the uterus contain?
glands and connective / stromal elements
what is the myometrium? what does it consist of?
outer thicker layer of uterus
consists of 4 layers of SM
what is the endometrium divided into?
into functional (stratum functionalis) and basal (stratum basalis) layers
how can the functional (stratum functionalis) layer of endometrium (innermost) be divided into?
outer compact and deeper spongy layer
which layer sheds away during menstruation?
functional layer (stratum functionalis) of endometrium sheds completely during menstruation
what happens during the proliferative phase to the endometrium?
the stratum functionalis regenerates completely from the stratum basalis (basal layer of endometrium) layer
what is the blood supply to the endometrium?
derived from paired uterine arteries, which branch to form the arcuate arteries found in the myometrium
what happens to the arcuate arteries that supply the myometrium? (branch from uterine arteries - endometrium)
arcuate arteries of myometrium give off STRAIGHT arteries which supply the stratum basalis (BASAL of endometrium) and SPIRAL arteries which supply the stratum functionalis (FUNCTIONAL layer of endometrium)
what happens to the endometrium as the cycle is in the proliferative phase?
the increase in depth of the stratum functionalis layer leads to an increasing length of the endometrial glands
describe endometrial glands (within stratum functionalis)
straight, unbranched tubular glands
what are the cells surrounding the developing endometrial glands?
the stromal cells proliferate and by the end of the proliferative phase
what happens to the endometrial glands by the end of the proliferative phase?
by the end of this stage the spaces between the endometrial glands are packed with these stromal cells
as the cycle progresses to the secretory phase, what is there an increase in? leading to?
the level of progesterone
there is further developing of the endometrium
what happens to the glands surrounding the lamina propria as the level of progesterone increase in the secretory phase?
the glands grow more than the surrounding lamina propria and so become coiled and the stroma becomes oesdematous
what happens to the stromal cells surrounding the lamina propria as the level of progesterone increase in the secretory phase?
the stromal cells start to develop into decidual cells
why do stromal cell surrounding the lamina propria develop into decidual cells in the secretory phase under progesterone?
such that if fertilisation does occur, then the decidual cells contribute to the formation of the placenta and decidualisation reaction (whilst also secreting prolactin)
what happens to progesterone in the absence of a fertilised ovum?
progesterone levels start to decline and at about day 28, the endometrium breaks down and is shed
what is the shedding of the endometrium caused by?
spasming of the spiral arteries from the reduced progesterone levels, meaning that stratum functionalis is therefore deprived of nutrients and becomes necrotic
which layer of the endometrium remains into the next cycle? why? forming?
as the straight arteries do not go into spasm the stratum basalis remains and in the next cycle proliferates to form a new stratum functionalis
