Histology of the Uterus

Question 1

what is the myometrium?

Answer 1

mainly smooth muscle
but will also be some supporting stroll cells and vascular contractions

Question 2

what is on the outside edge of the uterus?

Answer 2

perimetrium (serosa)

Question 3

what is the inner layer of the uterine wall?

Answer 3

endometrium

Question 4

what is the endometrium and how does it appear histologically?

Answer 4

mucous membrane of the uterine wall
paler stained
facing inward toward uterine cavity

Question 5

what is proliferating during the proliferation phase?

Answer 5

endometrial or uterine glands

Question 6

what is the stratum basalis and how does it appear histologically?

Answer 6

between the endometrium and myometrium
the area where the gland is found
stains more dark purple because it has more cells

Question 7

what is the vasculature of the stratum basalis?

Answer 7

straight arteries

Question 8

what is the stratum functionalis?

Answer 8

the superficial, thick layer where the top portions of the glands can be found
which is temporary
the area that gets lost every menstrual cycle and regrows

Question 9

what happens after ovulation?

Answer 9

the follicle collapses and becomes the corpus luteum

Question 10

what is the function of the corpus luteum?

Answer 10

gives us increased levels of progesterone which drives the development of the uterus in the second half of the menstrual cycle

Question 11

what is the secretory stage?

Answer 11

after the egg is released

Question 12

what are the hormones doing in the second half of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 12

making the glandular tissue in the endometrium more secretory

Question 13

what happens to the endometrium during the secretory stage and how does this appear histologically?

Answer 13

more darkly stained areas as there is more cells filling the endometrium more
glands start on the stratum basalis but can be seen working their way up and secreting out onto the surface of the epithelium
glads are highly active and stained pink
glands are becoming more coiled and twisting around

Question 14

what is the pink stain present In the glandular space in the secretory stage?

Answer 14

carbohydrate like a glycogen rich secretion that’s needed to support an embryo if it decides to implant

Question 15

what kind of blood supply is in amongst all these glands

Answer 15

lots of arteries moving around the glandular tissue
-support the development
-allow hormones to get in and out
-important for menstruation

Question 16

how is the blood supply different in the stratum functionalism and stratum basalis?

Answer 16

stratum functionalism - spiral arteries
stratum basalis - straight arteries

Question 17

what is one of the main roles of progesterone after ovulation?

Answer 17

keeping endometrium nice and healthy
maintains the cells as big and spongy and the spiral arteries have lots of room to move around
the glands and blood can freely flow around
keep embryo alive until placenta kicks in

Question 18

what happens in the ovary if pregnancy does not occur?

Answer 18

corpus luteum degenerates and stops producing progesterone

Question 19

what happens if we lose progesterone?

Answer 19

cells start to decompress and shrink, spiral arteries start to die off as the dead cells put on allot of pressure and more difficult for blood to move around the coils. blood gets trapped in arteries and we don’t get good tissue perfusion
eventually this blood gets ejected at force
gets carried away through the endometrial cavity, through the cervix and out the vagina

Question 20

what happens during the menstrual phase?

Answer 20

endometrial layer is very small
al of the stratum functionalis is gone

Question 21

what kind of tissue is the endometrial stroma?

Answer 21

the framework of connective tissue found beneath the epithelial lining of your endometrium

Question 22

what tissue layer of the uterine wall is the thickest and why?

Answer 22

myometrium, smooth muscle layer that expands

Question 23

what happens to the surface layer of the endometrium at menstruation?

Question 24

what shape are the cells of the endometrium epithelium?

Answer 24

columnar