Lab 1 - Female Reproductive Tract Flashcards
What are the three layers of the follicular wall of the ovarian follicles? Which layer contains many blood vessels?
Granulosa, theca interna and theca externa
Theca interna
Which follicular layer contains collagen fibres?
Theca externa
What is the role of cells in the theca interna and why is the vast number of blood vessels in this layer important?
Synthesises androgens; serves as an endocrine function to transport hormones
What is the role of the granulosa cells?
Convert androgens to oestrogens
What type of epithelium is present in the vaginal lining? Why?
Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium - resists wear and tear
What gives the vagina it’s acidic environment?
The vagina has glycogen stores which are converted into organic acids on decomposition
Where does vaginal mucus come from?
Bartholin’s glands (very few mucus producing glands in vagina)
The endometrium consists of two layers, the stratum basalts and stratum functionalis. Which layer is shed during menstruation and what are the subdivisions of the stratum functionalis?
Stratum functionalis; stratum compact (closest to lumen, where necks of glands are found) and stratum spongiosum (where bodies of glands are found)
Why is the myometrium the thickest layer of the uterus?
Has many layers to support labour/pregnancy and help push out the baby
What are the 3 stages of the menstrual cycle?
Proliferative phase
Secretory phase - glands most active - most organised and glands filled with glycogen
Menstrual phase
What happens to the stratum functionalis of the endometrium during menstruation?
Lack of progesterone causes cell death
Stratum functionalis shrinks and spiral arteries become more coiled —> vascular stasis resulting in tissue death
Active vasoconstriction followed by final relaxation of arteries which carries away dying tissue
Happens in patches around endometrium
What happens to the stratum basalis of the endometrium during menstruation?
Remains intact as it is supplied by the straight arteries (not spiral)
Is firmly attached to myometrium and continues to proliferate to regain layers for the next cycle
What type of epithelium lines the uterine tubes?
Both ciliated columnar (moves egg) and secretory (Peg) cells (provide nutrition)
Where does fertilisation take place? (The area with the most complex folds and is the largest part of the uterine tube)
Ampulla
What does peristalsis of the uterine tubes do?
Help sperm move towards ampulla
