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Male and female reproductive tract histology Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the ovary attached to?

What is anchored by?

A

Posterior face of broad ligament

Anchored by ovarian ligament (to uterus) and suspensory ligament (to pelvic wall)

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2
Q

How is the internal structure of the ovary divided?

A

Inner medulla (loose connective tissue and blood vessels)

Outer cortex (ovarian follicles)

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3
Q

In which part of the ovary are the follicles found?

A

Outer cortex

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4
Q

Describe the cortical stroma of the ovary?

A

Highly cellular connective tissue

Scattered with smooth muscle cells

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5
Q

Which organ is this?

A

Ovary

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6
Q

Describe the surface epithelium of the ovary?

A

Simple squamous or cuboidal

Continuous with mesothelium

Tunica albuginea beneath it

70% ovarian tumours arise here

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7
Q

Describe the tunica albuginea of the ovary?

A

Beneath the surface epithelium

Dense connective tissue

Oocytes deep to it

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8
Q

What are primordial oocytes?

A

Smallest oocytes

Arrested in prophase of meiosis 1

Squamous follicle cells on outside, surrounded by common basal lamina

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9
Q

What are primary oocytes?

A

Oocyte surrounded by zona pellucida (within follicle cell layer)

Enlarged

Follicular cells become cuboidal and multilayered granulosa cells

Stromal cells start to form theca interna and externa

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10
Q

Which cells form the stratum granulosum in the primary oocyte?

A

Follicular cells

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11
Q

Which cells form the theca interna and externa in the primary oocyte?

A

Stromal cells

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12
Q

What is a secondary follicle?

A

Stratum granulosum thickened

Antrum appears

Cumulus oophorus: stalk of granulosa cells that suspend oocyte

Corona radiata formed by granulosa cells around oocyte after release

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13
Q

What is the cumulus oophorus?

A

Stalk of granulosa cells that suspend oocyte in secondary follicle

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14
Q

What is the corona radiata?

A

Granulosa cells around oocyte form corona radiata after release

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15
Q

What is a Graafian follicle?

A

Mature follicle

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16
Q

When does the oocyte complete its first meiotic division?

A

Under LH surge

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17
Q

When does the primary oocyte become a secondary oocyte?

A

When it completes its first meiotic division after the LH surge

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18
Q

What happens after the secondary oocyte is formed?

A

Follicle ruptures > oocyte released into body cavity > uterine tubes > corpus luteum formed

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19
Q

What is the corpus luteum formed from?

A

Follicle that has lost its oocyte

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20
Q

Describe the corpus luteum?

A

Stromal, granulosa and thecal cells invade cavity to differentitate into luteal cells

Contain lipid and become vascularised

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21
Q

What is the function of the corpus luteum?

A

Produces progesterone and oestrogen to prepare endometrium for implantation

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22
Q

How long does the corpus luteum last for?

A

14 days without fertilisation

No fertilisation > regresses to form corpus albicans

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23
Q

Which important processes occur in the uterine tubes?

A

Collects released oocytes

Fertilisation and initial development

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24
Q

Describe the structure of the uterine tubes?

A

Serosa: mesothelium plus thin connective tissue

Muscularis: smooth muscle

Mucosa: connective tissue plus epithelium

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25
How does the structure of the uterine tubes facilitate the movement of oocytes?
Cilia move oocyte towards isthmus Smooth muscle peristalsis
26
Where does fertilisation usually occur?
Ampulla of uterine tubes
27
What are the layers of the uterine wall?
Endometrium (mucosa) Myometrium (muscularis)
28
Describe the external surface of the uterine wall?
Covered by perimetrium, which consists of mesothelium and underlying elastic connective tissue
29
Describe the myometrium?
Three layers of smooth muscle Inner and outer layers are longitudinal, middle layer is circular Middle layer is very vascular
30
How does the uterus accommodate pregnancy?
Enlarges individual smooth muscle cells Generates more smooth muscle cell Increases connective tissue
31
Describe the structure of the endometrium?
EPITHELIUM Mix of ciliated and secretory columnar cells Simple epithelium SECRETORY GLANDS Penetrate into lamina propria HELICAL ARTERIES BASAL LAYER Regenerates functional layer after sloughing off Stem cell resevoir
32
How does the endometrium chnage throughout the menstrual cycle? What controls this?
Changes thickness Growth driven by oestrogen Breakdown due to decrease of oestrogen and progesterone
33
Describe the structure of the proliferative endometrium?
Abundant coiled glands, which are relatively small and undeveloped
34
Describe the structure of the secretory epithelium?
Large, well developed glands that contain secretion
35
Describe the difference between the endocervix and the ectocervix structure?
Endocervix: simple columnar epithelium, glandular, secretory Ectocervix: simple stratified epithelium, non-glandular
36
Where are cells shed from in the cervix?
Ectocervix Stratified epithelium sheds cells
37
Describe the epithelium of the vagina?
Stratified squamous epithelium Non-keratinised
38
Describe the muscular structure of the vagina?
Smooth muscle Thin inner and thick outer Continuous with muscle of uterus
39
Describe the glands of the vagina?
No glands Lubricated by cervical glands or glands in vestibule
40
Which factors may cause the structure of the breast to vary?
Age Stage of menstrual cycle Reproductive status
41
At which stages of life are the male and female mammary glands similar?
Until puberty
42
Describe how puberty affects the male and female mammary glands? What are the stimuli?
Male: regression due to testosterone Female: growth due to oestrogen and progesterone
43
What accounts for most of the growth in female breasts afetr puberty?
Extra adipose tissue
44
When do mammary glands become active?
Pregnancy
45
How are female mammary glands kept inactive until pregnancy?
Negative influence of stromal cells
46
Describe the structure of mammary glands?
Modified sweat glands 15-20 lobes Lactiferous ducts form branching network and in in terminal duct lobular units Surrounding intralobular stromal tissue
47
What are terminal ductal lobular units?
Functional metabolic unit that sits at the head of the mammary gland Made up of interlobular collecting ducts and acini
48
What happens to the mammary glands just before and during menstruation?
Gland involutes, some cells apoptose
49
Describe the appearrance of inactive mammary glands?
Sparse Cuboidal/columnar epithelial cells Surrounding myoepithelial cells Extensive dense connective tissue
50
Describe the appearrance of active mammary glands?
Terminal ductules elongate and branch Epithelial and myoepithelial cells proliferate Large cuboidal epithelial cells that contain lipid and secretory product in lumen
51
Describe the contents of breast milk?
Protein, lipid and carbohydrate mixture High in IgA
52
What stimulates milk production?
Prolactin
53
Describe the first breast milk that is released?
Colostrum High protein, low lipid and carbohydrate
54
Describe the lactation process?
Suckling \> inhibits prolactin release-inhibiting hormone \> increased prolactin and oxytocin released Prolactin stimulates milk production Oxytocin acts on myoepithelial cells \> milk ejection
55
Describe the changes that occur in the mammary glands after menopause?
Mammary glands involute Secretory cells disappear Connective tissue loses elastic and collagen fibres and fibroblasts
56
Describe the structure of the testis?
Surrounded by tunica albuginea Divided into 250 compartments by septa from tunica albuginea Seminiferous tubules located in compartments
57
Describe how the seminiferous tubules connect to the vas deferens?
Seminiferous tubules \> rete testis \> efferent ductules \> epididymis \> vas deferens
58
Describe the structure of the seminiferous tubules?
Stratified epithelium Surrounded by tunica propria, which contains myoid cells and Leydig cells
59
Describe the function of the seminiferous tubules?
Spermatogenesis site Tunica propria contracts to move sperm down tubules Leydig cells produce testosterone
60
What is the function of Sertoli cells?
Support cells for spermatogenesis Promote cell division and privide correct environment
61
When are Leydig cells active?
First 5 months of foetal life Puberty onwards
62
Describe the tubuli recti?
Last, straight part of seminiferous tubule Lined with Sertoli cells only and finally simple cuboidal epithelium Connect to rete testis
63
Describe the structure and function of the rete testis?
Channels lined with ciliated cuboidal cells Allox mixing of spermatozoa from different tubules
64
How is the rete testis connected to the epididymis?
Efferent ductules
65
Describe the structure of the epididymis?
Ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium Epithelium surrounded by smooth muscle Highly coiled (4-6m) Head, body and tail Spermatozoa in lumen
66
Describe the function of the epididymis?
Site of sperm maturation Decapacitation (inability of sperm to fertilise egg) Absorbs most testicular fluid around sperm, clean up debris
67
Describe the pathway of the vas deferens?
Epididymis \> vas deferens \> abdomen via inguinal canal \> over lip of pelvis \> descends to prostate \> through prostate as ejaculatory duct
68
Describe the structure of the vas deferens?
Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium Thick smooth muscle coat (not in ejaculatory duct)
69
Describe the structure of the seminal vesicles?
Thick mucosa Thin smooth muscle
70
Describe the function of the seminal vesicles?
Secrete fructose and prostaglandin rich secretion Modify acid of vagina (alkaline) Provide 50% volume of semen
71
Describe the structure of the prostate?
Lobular Urethra located centrally Inferior paired ejaculatory ducts Branching prostatic (urethral) sinuses Main prostatic glands (located peripherally), drain into urethra via long ducts Submucosal glands (located medially), drain via prostatic sinuses
72
Describe the zones of the prostate?
Central zone: surrounds ejaculatory ducts Peripheral zone: surrounds central zone Transitional zone: surrounds urethra Periurethral zone: immediatley adjacent to urethra
73
Describe the histology of the prostate?
Heterogenous epithelium: columnar or cuboidal, stratified Separated by connective tissue Abundant smooth muscle
74
What may be found within the lumen of prostate glands?
Prostatic concretions Contain protein, calcium phosphate, cholesterol and cellular debris More common with age
75
Describe the function of the prostate gland?
Produces a complex secretion that intially clots the ejaculate Fibrolysin (in secretion) then dissolves clot
76
Describe the structure of the penis?
Three separate masses of erectile tissue: 2 corpora cavernosa and 1 corpus spongiosum Surrounded by tunica albuginea Urethra within corpus spongiosum
77
Describe how penile erection occurs?
Hydraulic means Depends on blood and blood pressure
78
Describe the histology of the penile tissue?
Cavernous tissue contains many potential vascular spaces These spaces are surrounded by smooth muscle and connective tissue
79
Describe how the nervous system controls penile function?
Parasympathetic stimulation: relaxes cavernosal smooth muscle and dilates arteries supplying blood \> swelling of the cavernous bodies compresses veins in supercial penis, restricting outflow \> erection Sympathetic stimulation: restricts inflow of blood and contracts cavernosal smooth muscle \> detumescence
80
Describe the histology of the clitoris?
Body: bilateral cavernous tissue surrounded by tunica albuginea

Reproductive (21 decks)

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