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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
Q

When does atresia occur?

A

operates before puberty to remove follicles which begin to mature during this period
- none of which are ovulated

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26
Q

How many oocytes + oogonia are present by the sixth month of gestation?

A

about 7 million oocytes and oogonia are present in the ovaries

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27
Q

How many oocytes + oogonia are present at birth in the ovaries?

A

2 million

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28
Q

How many oocytes + oogonia are present until puberty in the ovaries?

A

400 000
- About 99.9 % of the oocytes that where
present at puberty undergo atresia.
- Only about 400 oocytes ovulate

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29
Q

What is an ovarian follicle?

A

Consist of one oocyte and surrounding follicular cells

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30
Q

What are the stages of the development of the ovarian follicles?

A
  1. primordial follicles
  2. primary follicle
  3. secondary follicle
  4. Graafian follicle
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31
Q

Describe the primordial follicles?

A
  • 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
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32
Q

What does the primary follicle signify?

A

first morphological stage that marks the onset of follicular maturation

33
Q

Describe the primary follicle?

A
  • 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
Q

What occurs with the proliferation of the granulosa cells of the primary follicle?

A

forms a stratified epithelium (with a distinct basement membrane) surrounding the oocyte.
- Maturation of oocytes occurs

35
Q

What happens when maturation of the oocytes occurs?

A
  • The zona pellucida becomes visible.
  • Parenchymal cells of the ovary surrounding the growing follicle become organised in concentric sheaths, the theca folliculi
36
Q

Describe the secondary follicle?

A
  • 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
Q

Describe the theca interna of the secondary follicle?

A
  • Vascularization of the theca interna improves

- the spindle-shaped or polyhedral cells in this layer start to produce oestrogens

38
Q

Describe the theca externa?

A

retains the characteristics of a highly cellular connective tissue with smooth muscle cells

39
Q

Describe the size of the oocyte and secondary follicle?

A
  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
Q

Describe the Graafian follicle?

A
  • 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
Q

Describe the size of the Graafian follicle?

A

increases further in size

- in particular in the last 12h before ovulation

42
Q

Describe the Graafian follicle just prior to ovulation?

A
  • Prior to ovulation the cumulus oophorus separates from the follicular wall.
  • It is still surrounded by granulosa cells which form the corona radiata.
43
Q

Describe ovulation?

A

The secondary follicle finally ruptures at the stigma and the oocyte is released from the ovary
- hormone mediated process

44
Q

What is the corpus luteum?

A

formed by both granulosa cells and thecal cells after ovulation

45
Q

What are the 2 types of corpus luteum?

A
  1. Corpus luteium of menstruation
    – in the absence of fertilization
  2. Corpus luteium of pregnancy
    – if fertilization occurs
46
Q

Describe the corpus luteium of menstruation?

A
  • 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
Q

What are the cells of the corpus luteum of menstruation?

A

called granulosa lutein cells and theca lutein cells

- produce progesterone and oestrogens

48
Q

Describe the coprus luteium of pregnancy?

A
  • 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
Q

What are the 4 subdivisions of the fallopian tubes?

A
  1. infundibulum
  2. ampulla
  3. isthmus
  4. intramural
50
Q

Describe the infundibulum?

A

is the funnel-shaped end of the oviduct

  • up to 10 mm in diameter
  • contain fimbriae,
  • Ciliated cells are frequent
51
Q

Describe the ampulla?

A
  • Mucosal folds or plicae
  • secondary folds
  • site for Fertilization
52
Q

Describe the isthmus?

A
  • the narrowest portion (2-3 mm in diameter)
  • less complex mucosal folds
  • thick muscularis : An inner, longitudinal layer of muscle
53
Q

Describe the intramural of the fallopian tubes?

A
  • penetrates the wall of the uterus
  • smooth mucosa
  • small inner diameter
54
Q

What is the function of the oviduct?

A

a conduit for the oocyte, from the ovaries to the uterus

55
Q

Histologically the oviduct consists of?

A
  • mucosa
  • muscularis
  • serosa and subjacent connective tissue.
56
Q

Describe the mucosa of the oviduct?

A
  • 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
Q

The uterus is divided into?

A
  1. fundus
  2. body (upper two-thirds)
  3. cervix
58
Q

The walls of the uterus are composed of?

A
  1. endometrium - mucosal layer
  2. myometrium - fibromuscular layer
  3. perimetrium - serosa layer
    • peritoneal surface and adventitia anteriorly)
59
Q

Describe the endometrium of the uterus wall?

A
  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
Q

Which part of the uterus takes place in the menstrual cycle?

A

mucosa of the body of the uterus

61
Q

The endometrium can be divided into what 2 functional zones?

A
  1. the basalis
    - not sloughed off during menstruation and
  2. the functionalis
    - sloughed off during every menstruation
62
Q

What are the phases of the cyclic changes of the uterine endometrium?

A
  1. proliferative (or follicular)
  2. secretory (or luteal)
  3. menstrual
63
Q

Describe the myometrium of the uterus?

A
  • 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
Q

Describe the endometrium cells of the cervix?

A
  • large branched mucus secreting glands
  • no spiral arteries
  • little change in mucosa thickness
65
Q

Consequence of blockage of ducts in endometrium of cervix?

A

nabothian cycts

66
Q

The cervix is divided into?

A
  1. endocervix – S. columnar ep.
  2. ectocervix – stratified squamous
  3. Transformation zone – between ectocervix and endocervix
67
Q

What metaplastic changes can happen in the cervix?

A

precancerous lesions

- diagonised by papanicaou (Pap) smear

68
Q

Describe the vagina?

A

Fibromuscular tube

69
Q

What are the 3 layers of the vagina?

A
  1. the mucosa,
  2. muscularis
  3. adventitia
70
Q

Describe the mucosa of the vagina?

A
  • Stratified squamous epithelium
  • deep stratum basalis,
  • intermediate stratum spinosum,
  • superficial layers of flat eosinophilic cells not
    keratinized
  • cellular lamina propria (many leukocytes)
71
Q

Describe the muscularis of the vagina?

A
  • Inner circular and
  • outer longitudinal layers of smooth muscle
  • Inferiorly, the striated, voluntary
    bulbospongiosus muscle forms a sphincter
    around the vagina
72
Q

Describe the adventitia of the vagina?

A
  • dense and contains many elastic fibres
  • Loose connective tissue with a prominent
    venous plexus forms the outer part of the
    adventitia
73
Q

The external female genitalia include?

A
  1. Mons pubis
  2. the labia minora and majora,
  3. vaginal opening
  4. clitoris
  5. vestibule
  6. external urethral orifice
74
Q

Describe the mons pubis?

A

formed by subcutaneous adipose tissue

75
Q

Describe the labia majora?

A
  • homologous to skin of scrotum
  • smooth muscle : resemble dartos muscle of the scrotum
  • outer surface has hairs
  • adipose tissue
  • sebaceous and sweat glands
76
Q

Describe the labia minora?

A
  • homologous to skin of penis
  • no hairs
  • melanin pigment
  • no fat
  • large sebaceous glands
77
Q

Describe the histology of the clitoris?

A
  • erectile structure homologous to penis
  • skin forms a prepuce
  • contains numerous sensory nerve endings
78
Q

The body of the clitoris is composed of what histologically?

A
  1. corpora cavenosa

2. glans clitoris

79
Q

Describe the histology of the vestibule?

A
  • lined with str. Squamous epithelium

Reproductive Anatomy (16 decks)

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