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Reproductive Anatomy > Histology of the Female Reproductive System > Flashcards

Histology of the Female Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

The female reproductive organs consist of?

A
  1. Internal sex organs
    • Located in the pelvis
  2. External genital structures
    • Located in the anterior part of perineum
      called vulva
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2
Q

The internal female reproductive organs include?

A
  1. ovaries,
  2. oviducts or uterine tubes/fallopian tube,
  3. uterus
  4. vagina
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3
Q

Female reproductive organs undergo cyclic changes related to?

A
  1. neural activities

2. hormonal levels

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4
Q

Female reproductive organs undergo structural changes during which periods?

A
  1. Each menstrual cycle (28-30 days)

2. Pregnancy

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5
Q

When does the initiation of the menstrual cycle begin?

A

occurs 9 - 14 years

- average 13.5 years

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6
Q

The menstrual cycle marks what?

A
  1. End of puberty

2. Beginning of reproductive life

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7
Q

What is another word for menstrual cycle?

A

menarche

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8
Q

Describe the functions of the ovaries?

A
  1. Gametogenesis - production and ovulation of oocytes (oogenesis)
  2. Steroidogenesis - production and secretion of steroid hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
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9
Q

Describe the structure of the ovaries?

A

In nulliparas women (women who have not given birth to viable children) ovaries are:

  1. Almond-shaped
  2. Pinkish white
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10
Q

Describe the ovaries before puberty?

A

ovary surface is smooth

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11
Q

Describe the ovaries during productive life?

A

Surface becomes scarred and irregular

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12
Q

Describe the ovaries at menopause?

A

Size is reduced to 1/4

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13
Q

Describe the attachments of the ovary?

A
  1. Posteriorly - attached to the broad ligament by a short fold of peritoneum, called the mesovarium
  2. Superior pole – attached to pelvic wall by suspensory ligament
  3. Inferior pole – attached to uterus by ligament of the ovary (remnant of gabernaculum)
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14
Q

The ovary is divided into what 2 regions?

A
  1. outer cortex

2. inner medulla

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15
Q

Describe the outer cortex of the ovary?

A

cellular connective tissue stroma that contains ovarian follicles

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16
Q

Describe the inner medulla of the ovary?

A

consists of:

  • loose connective tissue,
  • blood vessels
  • Lymphatic vessels and
  • nerves
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17
Q

State the histology of the surface of the ovaries?

A
  1. germinal epithelium

2. the tunica albuginea

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18
Q

Describe the germinal epithelium of the ovaries?

A
  • The surface is covered by a single layer of cuboidal epithelium
  • continuous with the peritoneal mesothelium
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19
Q

Describe the tunica albuginea of the ovaries?

A
  • Fibrous connective tissue forms a thin capsule

- lies between germinal epithelium and cortex

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20
Q

What is found in the ovarian cortex?

A

ovarian follicles of various sizes

- each follicle contains a single oocyte

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21
Q

What are ovarian follicles?

A

Provide microenvironment of the developing oocyte

- Size of follicle indicates developmental state of the oocyte

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22
Q

Describe the early stages of oogenesis?

A
  • Occur during fetal life
  • Mitotic divisions increase the number of
    oogonia
  • Oocyte present at birth remain arrested in
    development at first meiotic division
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23
Q

Describe oogenesis during puberty?

A
  • Follicles undergo cyclic growth and maturation
  • One oocyte reach maturity during each
    menstrual cycle
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24
Q

What is atresia?

A

the degenerative process by which oocytes (and follicles) perish without having been expelled by ovulation
- may effect oocytes at all stages of their “life”
both prenatally and postnatally

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25
When does atresia occur?
operates before puberty to remove follicles which begin to mature during this period - none of which are ovulated
26
How many oocytes + oogonia are present by the sixth month of gestation?
about 7 million oocytes and oogonia are present in the ovaries
27
How many oocytes + oogonia are present at birth in the ovaries?
2 million
28
How many oocytes + oogonia are present until puberty in the ovaries?
400 000 - About 99.9 % of the oocytes that where present at puberty undergo atresia. - Only about 400 oocytes ovulate
29
What is an ovarian follicle?
Consist of one oocyte and surrounding follicular cells
30
What are the stages of the development of the ovarian follicles?
1. primordial follicles 2. primary follicle 3. secondary follicle 4. Graafian follicle
31
Describe the primordial follicles?
- Located in the cortex just beneath tunica albuginea. - One layer of flattened follicular cells surround the oocyte (about 30 µm in diameter). - The nucleus of the oocyte is positioned eccentric in the cell
32
What does the primary follicle signify?
first morphological stage that marks the onset of follicular maturation
33
Describe the primary follicle?
- The flattened cell surrounding the oocyte now form a cuboidal or columnar epithelium surrounding the oocyte - Their cytoplasm is granular in appearance, and they are called granulosa cells
34
What occurs with the proliferation of the granulosa cells of the primary follicle?
forms a stratified epithelium (with a distinct basement membrane) surrounding the oocyte. - Maturation of oocytes occurs
35
What happens when maturation of the oocytes occurs?
- The zona pellucida becomes visible. - Parenchymal cells of the ovary surrounding the growing follicle become organised in concentric sheaths, the theca folliculi
36
Describe the secondary follicle?
- Small fluid-filled spaces called follicular antrum, become visible between the granulosa cells - The oocyte is now located eccentric in the follicle in the cumulus oophorus, where it is surrounded by granulosa cells. - The theca folliculi differentiates into a theca interna and a theca externa.
37
Describe the theca interna of the secondary follicle?
- Vascularization of the theca interna improves | - the spindle-shaped or polyhedral cells in this layer start to produce oestrogens
38
Describe the theca externa?
retains the characteristics of a highly cellular connective tissue with smooth muscle cells
39
Describe the size of the oocyte and secondary follicle?
1. The oocyte of the secondary follicle reaches a diameter of about 125 µm. 2. The follicle itself reaches a diameter of about 10-15 mm
40
Describe the Graafian follicle?
- The Graafian follicle forms a small "bump" on the surface of the ovary : the stigma (or macula pellucida) - The stigma is characterised by a thinning of the capsule and a progressive restriction of the blood flow to it
41
Describe the size of the Graafian follicle?
increases further in size | - in particular in the last 12h before ovulation
42
Describe the Graafian follicle just prior to ovulation?
- Prior to ovulation the cumulus oophorus separates from the follicular wall. - It is still surrounded by granulosa cells which form the corona radiata.
43
Describe ovulation?
The secondary follicle finally ruptures at the stigma and the oocyte is released from the ovary - hormone mediated process
44
What is the corpus luteum?
formed by both granulosa cells and thecal cells after ovulation
45
What are the 2 types of corpus luteum?
1. Corpus luteium of menstruation – in the absence of fertilization 2. Corpus luteium of pregnancy – if fertilization occurs
46
Describe the corpus luteium of menstruation?
- The wall of the follicle collapses - Vascularization increases - Theca interna cells and granulosa cells triple in size and start accumulating lutein within a few hours after ovulation. - Remains active for 14 days and then degenerates leaving a scar called corpus albicans
47
What are the cells of the corpus luteum of menstruation?
called granulosa lutein cells and theca lutein cells | - produce progesterone and oestrogens
48
Describe the coprus luteium of pregnancy?
- If fertilization and implantation occurs Corpus luteium increases in size due to hGC produced between the trophoblast of the chorion - After 8 weeks its function decreases
49
What are the 4 subdivisions of the fallopian tubes?
1. infundibulum 2. ampulla 3. isthmus 4. intramural
50
Describe the infundibulum?
is the funnel-shaped end of the oviduct - up to 10 mm in diameter - contain fimbriae, - Ciliated cells are frequent
51
Describe the ampulla?
- Mucosal folds or plicae - secondary folds - site for Fertilization
52
Describe the isthmus?
- the narrowest portion (2-3 mm in diameter) - less complex mucosal folds - thick muscularis : An inner, longitudinal layer of muscle
53
Describe the intramural of the fallopian tubes?
- penetrates the wall of the uterus - smooth mucosa - small inner diameter
54
What is the function of the oviduct?
a conduit for the oocyte, from the ovaries to the uterus
55
Histologically the oviduct consists of?
- mucosa - muscularis - serosa and subjacent connective tissue.
56
Describe the mucosa of the oviduct?
- epithelium is formed by a ciliated and non - ciliated secretory (peg cells) resting on a very cellular lamina propria. - the number of ciliated cells and secretory cells varies along the oviduct. - Secretory activity varies during the menstrual cycle - Some of the secreted substances nourish the oocyte and the very early embryo
57
The uterus is divided into?
1. fundus 2. body (upper two-thirds) 3. cervix
58
The walls of the uterus are composed of?
1. endometrium - mucosal layer 2. myometrium - fibromuscular layer 3. perimetrium - serosa layer - peritoneal surface and adventitia anteriorly)
59
Describe the endometrium of the uterus wall?
1. simple columnar epithelium - ciliated cells and secretory cells 2. thick connective tissue stroma - The mucosa is invaginated to form many simple tubular uterine glands - The glands extend through the entire thickness of the stroma
60
Which part of the uterus takes place in the menstrual cycle?
mucosa of the body of the uterus
61
The endometrium can be divided into what 2 functional zones?
1. the basalis - not sloughed off during menstruation and 2. the functionalis - sloughed off during every menstruation
62
What are the phases of the cyclic changes of the uterine endometrium?
1. proliferative (or follicular) 2. secretory (or luteal) 3. menstrual
63
Describe the myometrium of the uterus?
- The muscle fibres of the uterus form 4 layers with preferred orientations of fibres. - The muscular tissue hypertrophies during pregnancy, - Gap-junctions between cells become more frequent
64
Describe the endometrium cells of the cervix?
- large branched mucus secreting glands - no spiral arteries - little change in mucosa thickness
65
Consequence of blockage of ducts in endometrium of cervix?
nabothian cycts
66
The cervix is divided into?
1. endocervix – S. columnar ep. 2. ectocervix – stratified squamous 3. Transformation zone – between ectocervix and endocervix
67
What metaplastic changes can happen in the cervix?
precancerous lesions | - diagonised by papanicaou (Pap) smear
68
Describe the vagina?
Fibromuscular tube
69
What are the 3 layers of the vagina?
1. the mucosa, 2. muscularis 3. adventitia
70
Describe the mucosa of the vagina?
- Stratified squamous epithelium - deep stratum basalis, - intermediate stratum spinosum, - superficial layers of flat eosinophilic cells not keratinized - cellular lamina propria (many leukocytes)
71
Describe the muscularis of the vagina?
- Inner circular and - outer longitudinal layers of smooth muscle - Inferiorly, the striated, voluntary bulbospongiosus muscle forms a sphincter around the vagina
72
Describe the adventitia of the vagina?
- dense and contains many elastic fibres - Loose connective tissue with a prominent venous plexus forms the outer part of the adventitia
73
The external female genitalia include?
1. Mons pubis 2. the labia minora and majora, 3. vaginal opening 4. clitoris 5. vestibule 6. external urethral orifice
74
Describe the mons pubis?
formed by subcutaneous adipose tissue
75
Describe the labia majora?
- homologous to skin of scrotum - smooth muscle : resemble dartos muscle of the scrotum - outer surface has hairs - adipose tissue - sebaceous and sweat glands
76
Describe the labia minora?
- homologous to skin of penis - no hairs - melanin pigment - no fat - large sebaceous glands
77
Describe the histology of the clitoris?
- erectile structure homologous to penis - skin forms a prepuce - contains numerous sensory nerve endings
78
The body of the clitoris is composed of what histologically?
1. corpora cavenosa | 2. glans clitoris
79
Describe the histology of the vestibule?
- lined with str. Squamous epithelium

Reproductive Anatomy (16 decks)

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