Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

ANA2 > Histology Of The Female Reproductive System > Flashcards

Histology Of The Female Reproductive System Flashcards

1
Q

The FRS consists of

A

the internal and external genitalia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Internal genitalia of the FRS consists of:

A
  • 2 ovaries
  • 2 oviducts
  • The uterus
  • The vagina
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Functions of the FRS

A
  • Gamete production - oocyte
  • Environment for fertilization
  • Embryo nurturing
  • Steroidal hormone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The shape of the ovaries

A

Almond

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Size of the ovary

A

Measures ~ 3 cm long, 1.5 cm wide and 1 cm thick

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The ovary is covered by what kind of epithelium?

A

…simple cuboidal epithelium called the germinal epithelium.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

The germinal epithelium is continuous with the ___ and overlays a layer of ___

A

mesothelium, dense connective tissue capsule - the tunica albuginea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

___ is responsible for the whitish color of the ovary

A

Tunica albuginea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The ovary is divided into:

A

2 parts:
• The cortex
• The medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The ovarian cortex is filled with…

A

a highly cellular connective tissue stroma and many ovarian follicles. It is most prominent.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The medulla contains…

A

… loose connective tissue and blood vessels

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

There is no sharp demarcation between the cortex and the medulla. True or false?

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Types of ovarian follicles

A
  • Primordial follicle
  • Unilaminar primary follicle
  • Multilaminar primary follicle
  • Antral follicle
  • Mature/graafian follicle
  • Atretic follicle
  • Corpus luteum
  • Corpus albicans
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

An ovarian follicle consists of

A

an oocyte surrounded by one or more layers of epithelial cells surrounded by basal lamina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The ovarian follicles formed during fetal life are called ___ and they are present in ___

A

primordial follicles (PFs), in the superficial areas of the cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Primordial follicles consist of…

A

…a primary oocyte enveloped by a single layer of flattened follicular cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The oocyte in the primordial follicle is…

A

spherical and measures about 25 µm in diameter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Properties of primordial follicle

A
  • Large nucleus with chromosomes in the first meiotic prophase
  • Organelles are concentrated near the nucleus and includes:
  • Basal lamina surrounding the follicular cells marks a clear boundary between the follicle and the vascularized stroma, acting as a blood-follicle barrier
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Organelles in the primordial follicle are

A

Numerous mitochondria
•Golgi complexes and
•Extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Follicular growth and development, as triggered by FSH, happens as follows…

A
  1. Growth of the oocyte
  2. Proliferation and changes in the follicular cells
  3. Proliferation and differentiation of the stromal fibroblasts around each follicle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Selection of the primordial follicles and the dominant follicle destined to ovulate both involve:

A 
•Complex hormonal balances and
•Subtle differences among follicles in:
- FSH receptor numbers
- Aromatase activity and
- Estrogen synthesis and other variables
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Under the influence of FSH, an oocyte will…

A

…grow most rapidly during the first part of follicular development to reach a diameter of about 120µm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

•Oocyte differentiation involves the following:

A
  • Growth of cell and nuclear enlargement
  • More Mitochondria becomes
  • More extensive RER and enlarged Golgi
  • Formation of specialized secretory granules called cortical granules containing various proteases
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Stages of follicular growth

A 
Unilaminar primary follicle
Granulosa epithelium
Zona pellucida
Theca cells
Oocyte
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

The zona pellucida (ZP) measures ___ and consists of ___

A

5-10 µm thick, 4 glycoproteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What differentiates to become the vascularized follicular theca?

A

The stromal cells immediately surrounding the primary follicle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

The follicular theca will further differentiate into

A

2 distinct structures around the growing follicle:

  • Theca interna
  • Theca externa
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

The Theca interna is

A

A well vascularized endocrine tissue secreting androstenedione

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

The Theca externa is

A

A fibrous tissue consisting of fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

With increasing growth in oocyte size and granulosa cell numbers, the follicle moves…

A

… deeper in the ovarian cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Secondary or antral follicles are formed from…

A

Follicular fluid accumulation in the spaces in the granulosa layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Follicular fluid contains:

A
  • Hyaluronate
  • Growth factors
  • Plasminogen
  • Fibrinogen
  • Anticoagulant heparan sulphate proteoglycan
  • Steroids- estrogens, progesterone and androstenedione
  • Binding proteins
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

A mature follicle has thick thecal layers. True or false?

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

A mature follicle normally takes about __ to develop from a primordial follicle

A

90 days

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

When do follicles become atretic?

A

at any stage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

During atresia, follicular cells and oocytes undergo…

A

apoptosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Features of atretic follicles include:

A
  • Detachment of the apoptotic granulosa cells
  • Autolysis of the oocyte
  • Collapse of zona pellucida
38
Q

How are atretic follicles formed?

A

A large number of ovarian follicles undergo degeneration and become atretic

39
Q

The oviducts are muscular tubes with considerable mobility. True or false?

40
Q

Length of the oviduct

41
Q

The oviduct opens into the…

A

peritoneal cavity near the ovary with a fringe of fingerlike extensions called fimbriae

42
Q

Parts of the uterine tubes

A

The tube is divided into 4 parts:

  1. The infundibulum
  2. Ampulla
  3. Isthmus
  4. Uterine/intramural part
43
Q

What part of the oviduct does fertilization take place?

A

The ampulla

44
Q

Which part of the oviduct contains fimbriae?

A
  • Infundibulum
  • The ampulla
  • The isthmus
  • Uterine or intramural part
45
Q

The longest and expanded region of the oviduct is the ___

A

The ampulla

46
Q

The wall of the oviduct consists of:

A
  • A folded mucosa
  • A thick muscularis
  • A thin serosa covered by visceral peritoneum with mesothelium
47
Q

Serosa of the oviduct

A

It is thin and covered by visceral peritoneum with mesothelium

48
Q

Describe the muscularis of the oviduct

A

It is thick with somewhat interwoven circular or spiral and longitudinal layers of smooth muscle

49
Q

Epithelium of the mucosa of the oviduct

A

It is lined by a simple columnar epithelium on a lamina propria of loose connective tissue

50
Q

Properties of the mucosa of the oviduct

A

It has numerous branching longitudinal folds most prominent in the ampulla

51
Q

Where are the mucosal folds smaller or absent?

A

They are smaller in the region closer to the uterus and are absent in the intramural portion

52
Q

The epithelium of the oviduct contains

A

Two interspersed functionally important cell types:

  • Ciliated cells
  • Secretory peg cells- nonciliated, apical ends bulge into the lumen
53
Q

Cilia of epithelial cells of the oviduct during follicular and luteal phases

A

Triggered by estrogens, the cilia elongates and both cell types undergo hypertrophy during follicular phase and atrophy with loss of cilia during late luteal phase

54
Q

What happens to the infundibulum during ovulation?

A

At the time of ovulation, the uterine tube shows active movement. The fringed infundibulum moves very close to the ovary and partially covers its surface

55
Q

What propels the oocyte towards the ampulla where fertilization occurs during ovulation?

A

The sweeping muscular contractions of the fimbriae and the ciliary activity of the epithelium

56
Q

Oocyte is viable for about ___ if not fertilized

57
Q

Parts of the uterus :

  • The lumen, the cervical canal has constrictions at 2 ends
  • Internal os which opens into the uterine lumen
  • External os which opens into the vagina
A
  1. Body - largest part entered in by the tubes
  2. Fundus - curved superior part between the tubes
  3. Isthmus - narrow part
  4. Cervix - lower cylindrical end
58
Q

The lumen, the cervical canal has constrictions at 2 ends, which are?

A
  • Internal os which opens into the uterine lumen

* External os which opens into the vagina

59
Q

The uterine wall has 3 major layers:

A

Perimetrium
Myometrium
Endometrium

60
Q

Which layer of the uterine wall has an outer connective tissue layer and is adventitial in some areas but largely a serosa covered by mesothelium

A

Perimetrium

61
Q

The endometrium is lined by…

A

…simple columnar epithelium

62
Q

Myometrium during pregnancy

A
  • It undergoes extensive growth involving both hyperplasia and hypertrophy
  • Smooth muscle cells actively synthesize collagen strengthening the uterine wall
  • After pregnancy, muscles shrink and many undergo apoptosis, excess collagen is removed
63
Q

The lamina propria of the endometrium contains

A

primarily type III collagen fibers with abundant fibroblasts and ground substance

64
Q

The endometrium is subdivided into

A

2 zones:

  1. Basal layer
  2. Functional layer
65
Q

Which layer of the endometrium is affected by the menstrual cycle?

A

The functional layer undergoes profound changes but the basal layer remains relatively unchanged

66
Q

Blood supply of endometrium

A
  • Arcuate arteries in the middle layers of the myometrium send two sets of smaller arteries to the endometrium:
    1. Straight arteries which supply only the basal layer
    2. Spiral arteries- which are longer and sensitive to progesterone supplies functional layer
67
Q

Which hormone(s) controls growth and differentiation of epithelial cells and associated connective tissue?

A

Estrogens and progesterone

68
Q

What influences cyclic changes in levels of the ovarian hormones, causing the endometrium to undergo cyclic structural modifications?

A

Gonadotropins

69
Q

Phases of the menstrual cycle

A

Menstrual
Proliferative
Secretory

70
Q

The beginning of the proliferative phase is also called

A

the follicular or estrogenic phase

71
Q

After ovulation, the secretory or luteal phase starts as a result of

A

the progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum

72
Q

The endometrium reaches its maximum thickness of __ as a result of ___

A

5mm, accumulation of secretions and edema in the stroma

73
Q

What inhibits strong contractions of the myometrium that might interfere with embryo implantation?

A

Progesterone

74
Q

The mucosal lining of the endocervix is…

A

…a mucus secreting simple columnar epithelium on a thick lamina propria

75
Q

The region of the cervix where the endocervical canal opens into the vagina is called

A

the external , which is covered by the endocervical mucosa which has stratified squamous epithelium

76
Q

The endocervical mucosa contains…

A

many branched cervical glands which produce mucus and are often dilated

77
Q

The endocervical mucosa is more affected than the endometrium during menstruation. True or false?

A

False. It is less affected.

78
Q

Changes in cervical secretions

A
  • During ovulation - mucosa secretions are maximal and watery
  • In the luteal phase - high progesterone levels cause the mucosa secretions to become viscous
  • During pregnancy - the cervical glands proliferate and secrete abundant, highly viscous mucus which forms a plug in the endocervical canal
79
Q

The wall of the vagina lacks glands. True or false?

80
Q

Layers of the vaginal wall

A
  • A mucosa
  • Muscular layer
  • Adventitia
81
Q

Mucus covering the lumen of the vagina is produced by

A

the glands of the uterine cervix

82
Q

During intercourse, additional lubricating mucus is provided by…

A

…a pair of large and many small vestibular glands opening into the vestibule

83
Q

The vestibule is covered by…

A

stratified squamous epithelium which merges with the epidermis of the surrounding skin

84
Q

The vestibular mucosa is abundantly supplied with sensory nerves and the range of tactile receptors normally present in skin. True or false?

85
Q

The epithelium of the vagina mucosa is…

A

…stratified squamous with a thickness of 150-200 µm in adults

86
Q

During the premenstrual and menstrual phases of the cycle, leukocytes are particularly numerous throughout the mucosa and in the lumen. True or false?

87
Q

The vaginal mucosa has a lot of sensory nerve endings. True or false?

A

False, they’re few

88
Q

The muscular layer of the vagina is composed mainly of

A

two indistinct layers of smooth muscle comprising of

  • circular bundles next to the mucosa
  • longitudinal bundles near the adventitia layer
89
Q

The epithelial cells of the vagina don or contain keratohyaline and undergo keratinization to form keratin plates as in the epidermis. True or false?

A

False. They contain a small amount of keratohyaline and don’t undergo keratinization

90
Q

Stimulated by estrogens, the epithelial cells synthesize and accumulate glycogen. True or false?

91
Q

Importance of glycogen in the vagina

A

When the cells desquamate, bacteria metabolize glycogen to lactic acid, causing a relatively low pH within the vagina which helps provide protection against pathogens

ANA2 (33 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions