Histology of Ovary and Female Tract

Question 1

Main structures of the ovary

Answer 1

Surface epithelium (sometimes called germinal epithelium but this is wrong)
Tunica albuginea- connective tissue just below epithelium
Cortex- parenchymatous zone containing the follicles
Medulla- vascular,nerves, lymphatics, fibroblasts
Stroma- emryonal mesenchymal-like cells
Smooth muscle

Question 2

Ovary- oocyte/ovum/egg
Surrounded by…

Answer 2

Germ cell
-surrounded by zona pellucida

Question 3

Name this structure

Answer 3

On anki cards reproduction

Question 4

What is zona pellucida?

Answer 4

product of the inner most layer of granulosa cells
-gelatinous layer surrounding oocyte that’s got a lot of mucus polysaccharides, proteins, receptor (sperm receptors) etc.

Question 5

What is menarche?

Answer 5

Start of menstruation

Question 6

How many oocytes found in the ovaries during:
-birth
-menarche
-menopause

Answer 6

1. 0.6-2 x 10^6
2. 3-4 x 10^5
3. 1-2 x 10^2

Question 7

What is the first stage of folliculogenesis?

Answer 7

Primordial follicles
- oocytes surrounded by 1 layer of quiescent (not doing anything) pre-granulosa cells

Question 8

What’s depicted in this histology image?

Answer 8

On anki

Question 9

When do primordial follicles start appearing and where. Any functions?

Answer 9

Mid gestation in female foetus. No functions just sit and do nothing

Question 10

The number of primordial follicles found in ovary affected by what factors?

Answer 10

Species (0.4-3x10^5; sheep)
Breed
Age
Nutritive status eg of the mum (incl. foetal/neonatal stages)

Question 11

Once primordial follicles start to grow, what are they called?

Answer 11

Primary follicles

Question 12

Primary follicles of ovary
-appearance
-surrounded by
-once follicle turns primary can it turn back to primordial?

Answer 12

More cuboidal appearance- bigger in size (on anki)
Surrounded by interstitial tissue
NO IT CANNOT TURN BACK; EITHER KEEPS GROWING OR DIES OFF

Question 13

Secondary follicles of ovary (also called preantral follicles)
-appearance
-what starts to form

Answer 13

-cuboidal and bigger again
-basement membrane and theca layer; theca intera & thecal external

Question 14

How long does a follicle start growing (to point of ovulation)?

Answer 14

6 months

Question 15

Why is theca layer important?

Answer 15

They’re the ones getting information/signals from outside eg contain receptors,hormones

Question 16

What is a Hypophysectomy

Answer 16

surgery done to remove the pituitary gland

Question 17

Tertiary follicles of the ovary (also called vesicular or antral)
-made up of…
-are dependant on…

Answer 17

-contains antrum, oocyte, theca interna & externa, cumulus ophrus and granulosa cells

-dependant on gonadotrophins for growth (growth driven by FSH)

-steroidogenesis increases markedly (E2 i.e oestrogen increases with increasing size

Question 18

What is antrum

Answer 18

A hole formed between dissociated cells caused by fluid build up between the cells- filled up with fecal blood

Question 19

Final stage follicle- preovulatory follicle of the ovary
-found at which point in process
-size

Answer 19

-found at point of ovulation
-very enlarged, protruding from ovarian surface

Question 20

What is ovulation

Answer 20

the process in which a mature egg is released from the ovary. Egg/oocyte matures in a follicle which grows and develops in thee stages described before

Question 21

What are the stages of follicle growth

Answer 21

1. Primordial
2. Primary
3. Secondary
4. Tertiary
5. Preovulatory

Question 22

Where does ovulation occur?
-any exceptions

Answer 22

Occurs at random from the surface
-except at hilus
-in mare- only in ova fossa

Question 23

What triggers ovulation?

Answer 23

Hormones
-E2 (oestrogen)

Question 24

Atretic follicles
-what are they
-2 types

Answer 24

Follicles which have been destroyed- done by apoptosis
-99.9% of follicles die; lost at antral stage of development (when gonadotrophin-dependant)
-early Atretic—>a few necrotic granulosa cells
-late Atretic—> Degeneration of GC (granulosa cell) layer, oocyte shrinkage, pyknotic nuclei & call-exner bodies

Question 25

What happens next to a follicle that undergoes ovulation

Answer 25

—infiltration of blood and lymph within the space (called corpus haemorrhagicum)
—granulosa and theca cells change what they’re doing; -phenotype switches from follicular to Luteal
-instead of oestrogen start producing progesterone to prepare for any new pregnancies
-large and small Luteal cells formed
—corpus luteum development

Question 26

What is the corpus albicans in the ovary

Answer 26

scar on the surface of the ovary that is a remnant of ovulation
-white fibrous tissue

Question 27

What are the 4 main regions of the oviduct

Answer 27

Fimbriae
Infundibulum
Ampulla
Isthmus

Question 28

-Mucosa found in oviduct and what kind of epithelium cells present
-Submucosa found in oviduct and what kind of tissue present

Answer 28

Mucosa; endosalpinx—> columnar epithelium cells
Submucosa; myosalpinx—>smooth muscle, CT & vessles

Question 29

Epithelium or oviducts in tubular tract is…

Answer 29

-Ciliated-> highly motile, Extend into lumen, Fimbriae > isthmus
-non ciliated-> Secretory cells
Contain granules, which secrete components of lumen fluid
Apical surface covered in microvilli

Question 30

Why are cilia important in oviducts

Answer 30

Move in time with contractions of muscle which helps propel ovulated oocyte along into oviduct and equally help bring sperm up as well
Destroyed cilia due to any reasons can have a -ve impact on fertility of animal

Question 31

What do endometrial glands produce?

Answer 31

Lots of fluid required within lumen of endometrium which is essential to nourish oocyte or young embryo

Question 32

Describe the uterine cyclic changes in tubular tract epithelium cells

Answer 32

Diagram on anki

Question 33

What’s the difference between oestrus & oestrous

Answer 33

‘Ous’ is noun