Histology of the Female Reproductive tract Flashcards
What is the function of the ovaries?
produce gametes
produce steroids - mainly oestrogen and progesterones
What makes up the ovaries?
medulla
cortex
What are the characteristics of the medulla of the ovaries?
forms the core of the organ
made up of loose connective tissue, contorted arteries, veins and lymphatics
continous with the hilum of the ovary
What are the characteristics of the cortex of the ovary?
scattered with ovarian follicles
outer shell made up of dense connective tissue called tunica albuginea - covered by a single layer of cuboidal cells
What is the blood supply to the ovaries?
helicine arteries that enter the hilum from the broad ligament
What happens at 6 weeks to form oocytes?
germ cells from the yolk sac invaderse the ovaries and proliferate to form oogonia then undergo development and division to form oocytes
What is oogenesis?
development of oocytes from oogonia
What is folliculogenesis?
growth of the follicle
What is atresia?
loss of oogonia and oocytes by an apoptosis based process called atresia
What stage of meosis does follicular development halt at before birth?
prophase 1 (can remain in this halted state for decades)
What is the stepwise progression from a premordial follicle to a mature graafian follicle?
premordial follicle primary follicle late primary follicle secondary follicle mature graafian follicle
How big is a mature graafian follicle?
20mm in diameter
What follicles are pre antral?
premordial follicle
primary follicle
late primary follicle
What follicles are antral?
secondary follicle
mature graafian follicle
What type of cell makes up a primary follicle?
cuboidal granulosa cells
When do cells become cuboidal?
when they enter the growth phase
Why would an oocyte die?
if it fails to associate with a pregranulosa/squamous cell
When does the zona pellucida form?
between the premordial follicle and primary follicle
What is the zona pellucida?
surrounds the primary follicle between the oocyte and granulosa cells
What do the stromal cells around the primary follicle form?
theca interna - secretes oestrogen precursors
theca externa
What turns oestrogen precursors to oestrogen?
granulosa cells
When does the antrum form?
between the primary and secondary follicle
What is the antrum?
in the granulosa layer and filled with follicular fluid
What happens to the mature graafian follicle after ovulation?
transforms into the corpus luteum (with theca and granulosa cells)
What happens to the mature graafian follicle if implantation does not occur?
becomes white connective tissue called corpus albicans
What does the placenta produce when implantation occurs? Why?
HCG - prevents degeneration of the corpeus luteum
How does the ovum move down the Fallopian tube?
gentle peristalsis and currents - created by ciliated epithelium
What are the characteristics of the ampulla?
mucosa is highly folded and lined by simple columnar epithelium with ciliated cells and secretory cells
surrounded by 2 layers of smooth muscle
fertilisation occurs here
What are the characteristics of the isthmus?
mostly secretory lining with few ciliated cells
3 layers of smooth muscle
What are the 3 layers of the uterine wall?
endometrium - tubular secretory glands that are embedded in connective tissue
myometrium - 3 layers of smooth muscle combined with collagen and elastic tissue
perimetrium - outer visceral covering of loose connective tissue
What are the two parts of the endometrium?
stratum functionalis - top
stratum basalis - bottom
What is the role of stratum functionalis?
undergoes monthly growth, degeneration and loss
What is the role of stratum basalis?
reserve tissue that regenerates the stratum functionalis
during the proliferative phase it proliferates to thicken the endometrium
What happens during the secretory phase?
glands become coiled and have a corkscrew appearance and secrete glycogen
What happens during the menstrual phase?
arteroiles in the stratum functionalis undergo constriction depriving the tissue of blood and causing ischaemia with resultant tissue breakdown and leakage
What type of cell is on the vaginal surface of the cervix?
stratified squamous epithelium
What type of cell is on the surface near the cervical canal?
simple columnar epithelium
What glands are in the cervical canal?
endocervical glands
What do the endocervical glands secrete during the proliferative phase?
watery thin substance, allowing the passage of sperm
What do the endocervical glands secrete during the menstrual phase?
thick mucous to block the passage of sperm
What creates a Nabothian cyst?
blocked outlets of the endocervical glands
What are the 4 layes of the vagina?
non keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
lamina propria
fibromuscular layer
adventitia
What happens to the non keratinised stratified squamous epithelium during reproductive years?
thickens due to increased glycogen
What prevents the glycogen allowing the growth of pathogenic bacteria?
commensal bacteria mentabolises glycogen to lactic acid
What is the mons pubis?
skin which contains highly oblique, curly hair - pubic hair
overlies a subcutaneous fat pad, which overlies the pubic symphysis
What is the labia major?
extensions of the mons pubis rich in apocrine and sebaceous sweat glands
What is the labia minor?
thin skin folds that lack subcutaneous fat but are rich in vasculature and sebaceous glands
keratinised epithelium extends in the opening of the vagina to the level of the hymen when it becomes non keratinised
What is the clitoris?
contains two tubes of erectile vascular tissue covered by a fibrocollagenous sheath covered by skin
