Male & Female Reproductive Histology Flashcards
Which ligaments anchor the ovary?
ovarian (to uterus) and suspensory (to pelvic wall)
The ovarian medulla consists of
loose connective tissue and blood vessels
The outer cortex of the ovary consists of
highly cellular CT (fibroblasts) called the cortical stroma, contains smooth muscle cells and the primordial oocytes and multiple maturing oocytes
Why does the ovarian surface appear scarred?
Scars from previous release of mature oocytes
The outer surface of the ovarian cortex is what type of epithelium?
simple; squamous or cuboidal depending on region
Why is the epithelium of the ovarian cortex prone to tumours?
70% of ovarian tumours; constantly being broken down and repaired as eggs are released
What is the tunica albuginea?
M & F; dense elastic CT layer
Where is the tunica alubiginea in females?
beneath the ovarian epithelium with the stroma containing the oocytes deep to it; surrounding the cavernous tissue that forms the clitoris
What is the structure of primordial oocytes?
smallest oocytes; surrounded by squamous follicle cells, which are surrounded by a basal lamina (collagen type 4)
Primordial oocytes are arrested in
Prophase of meiosis 1
What is the structure of primary oocytes?
Stratum granulosum around the outside (enlarged cuboidal multilayer follicle cells); surrounded by zona pellucida (within follicle cell layer) and then by stomal cells (theca interna and externa)
What is the structure of secondary follicles?
Thickened stratum granulosum; oocyte suspended on cumulus oophrus in antrum (fluid cavity) and surrounded by granulosa cells forming corona radiata; outer layer of thecal cells
What is a Graafian follicle?
Mature, full-sized follicle ~1cm in diameter
A secondary oocyte has undergone
2nd meiotic division
What is the structure of the corpus luteum?
stromal, granulosa, and thecal cells invade cavity of follicle once the oocyte is lost to form lutel cells containing lipid; becomes vascularized
What is the function of the corpus luteum?
luteal cells produce progesterone and estrogen to prepare endometrium
The corpus luteum lasts
14 days
If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum
becomes the corpus albicans and involutes over time
The ovary sits within the _______ of the uterine tube
infundibulum (expanded opening of the tube with fimbriae)
Fertilization of the oocyte occurs in the
ampulla of the uterine tube
What is the structure of the ampulla of the fallopian tube?
outer serosa (mesothelium + thin CT), smooth muscle muscularis, secretory mucosa (CT + epithelium), lumen; ampulla is dilated
What is the function of the epithelial cilia in the fallopian tube?
Draw fluid in from the peritoneal cavity to aid in capturing the oocyte and drawing it into the FT; secreted fluid provides nutrients for oocyte
Smooth muscle of the fallopian tube functions to
contract in peristaltic waves to pump fluid and the oocyte towards the uterus
__________ exits the isthmus of the FT to implant into the wall of the uterus
Blastocyst
What are the regions of the uterine wall?
inner mucosa (endometrium); outer muscularis (myometrium); outer layer of perimetrium (mesothelium and elastic CT)
T/F All layers of the uterine wall respond to cyclic hormonal changes
False; the myometrium and endometrium do; perimetrium does not
Perimetrium
outer epithelium of uterine wall - mesothelium and elastic CT
Myometrium
3 layers of smooth muscle of the uterine wall; central layer contains blood vessels; middle is circular, inner and outer layers are longitudinal
Endometrium
simple epithelium (mix of ciliated and secretory columnar cells) embedded in lamina propria; inside of uterine wall
How does the uterus change to accommodate pregnancy?
myometrium enlarges individual smooth muscle cells and generates more smooth muscle cells and CT
What is the characteristic appearance of early proliferative endometrium?
Regrowth stage characterized by abundant coiled glands penetrating down from the surface that are relatively small, undeveloped, and have a lot of CT between them
What is the characteristic appearance of mid-late proliferative endometrium?
In mid-late proliferative stage, the glands are more prominent, dilated, with larger lumens – more dominant
What is the characteristic appearance of secretory endometrium?
In secretory phase the glands are very large and now contain secretion – ready for implantation
On which side of the cervical canal is the ectocervix?
vaginal
On which side of the cervical canal is the endocervix?
uterine
Endocervix/uterine cervix is what type of epithelium?
Simple columnar
What is the structure of the endocervix?
simple columnar epithelium, glandular (cervical) like rest of uterus
What is the function of the endocervical secretions?
serous (watery) and copious at ovulation so spermatozoa can penetrate it; other times, thick mucus plug that acts as a barrier to the uterus from the vagina
The ectocervix/vaginal cervix is which type of epithelium?
Stratified squamous epithelium; non-glandular
T/F Cells lost from the cervical epithelium are keratinized and have nuclei
False; they are stratified squamous epithelial cells that have nuclei - these nuclear characteristics are read in a pap smear
Epithelium of the vagina is
stratified squamous epithelium (non-keratinized); forms mucosa with partly erectile lamina propria during intercourse (becomes engorged with blood)
What is the structure of the vagina?
Fibromuscular tube; smooth muscle layers - thin inner and thick outer layer continuous with muscle of uterus
T/F there are glands within the vagina
False; lubricated by cervical glands or glands in vestibule
Mammary glands are embedded in __________ and open on the nipple via _____________
dense CT; each open through a separate opening at the nipple
Breast mass is mostly
adipose tissue
What changes occur in the female breast at puberty?
Estrogen and progesterone stimulate growth of mammary gland tissue; extra adipose and CT are added as well
Mammary glands are held inactive until pregnancy by
stromal cells
What is the structure of mammary glands?
modified sweat glands; 15-20 lobes (seperate glands)/breast; lactiferous duct system associated with each gland forming a branching network that end in terminal duct lobular units
What is the function of terminal duct lobular units?
Functional metabolic unit that sits at the head of a mammary gland producing milk and interacting with the surrounding CT which is responsive to hormones
TDLUs are made of
interlobular collecting ducts and terminal ductules or acini which produce milk
Milk is produced in
acini of TDLUs
What is the state of the breast tissue glands during the follicular stage?
glands are the least active during this stage; stroma less dense, lumen of each gland is invisible and surrounded by cuboidal epithelial cells
What is the state of the breast tissue glands during the luteal phase?
epithelial cells have started to grow - they are more columnar, lumens appear and have some secretions present, fluid accumulates in stroma CT (breast enlargement)
If there is no fertilization, what happens to the breast glands?
Just before menstruation the gland involutes and some cells apoptose
What features characterize an inactive mammary gland?
few glands with lots of CT between them; small dense secretory cells (cuboidal/columnar) wrapped in thin myoepithelial cells in CT
What features characterize active mammary glands?
elongation and branching of terminal ductules, massive gland growth (epith and myoeptih cells), large chunky cuboidal epithelial cells containing lipid and secratory product in visible large lumens
Breastmilk is initially ________ which is rich in ________ but relatively low in ______
colostrum (premilk); high in protein; low in lipid and carbs
Breastmilk is a mixture of
lipid, carbs, and protein
What is the mechanism of passive immunity in infants?
IgA; immune cells infiltrate breast intralobular CT as plasma cells, produce IgA that is taken up into the milk producing cells into the milk to confer passive immunity to the newborn
________ stimulates milk production
Prolactin
Lactation is stimulated by
suckling reflex (inhibits prolactin release-inhibiting hormone in the hypothalamus to increase pituitary prolactin release; smell or cry of baby - oxytocin release to act on myoepithelial cells to cause contraction and squeezing of the TDLU and lactiferous sinuses to release milk
Milk is stored for immediate release in
lactiferous sinuses (enlarged ducts), sitting close to the nipple
What changes occur in the breast following menopause?
Mammary glands return to an inactive state - involute; secretory cells disappear leaving the duct system, CT changes (loss of elastic and collagen fibres and fibroblasts)
The tunica albuginea in males surrounds
testis - divide it into ~250 compartments filled with 1-4 seminiferous tubules; corpora cavernosa in penis
Seminiferous tubules connect _________ and _______ to the _________
rete testis and efferent ductules to the epididymis
Epithelium of the seminiferous tubules is
stratified epithelium (site of spermatogenesis)
The tunica propria
forms the walls of the STs and CT between them (lamina propria)
The tunica propria lacks _______ but contains ________
fibroblasts; myoid (smooth muscle-like) cells
Leydig cells are located
In the tunica propria between coils of STs
Stratified epithelium of the seminferous tubules contains
spermatogonia (stem cells that produce spermatocytes); sertoli cells that support and promote cell division, provide nutrients
Sperm are pushed through STs towards the epididymis by
contractions of the tunica propria myeloid cells providing peristaltic movement of fluid cntaining sperm
Leydig cells produce
testosterone
Leydig cells are active
for the first 5 months of fetal life then inactive until puberty
What is the structure of the tubuli recti?
final part of STs - straight and lined by only Sertoli cells, then simple cuboidal epithelium
Tubuli recti connect the ________ to the _______
seminiferous tubules to the rete testis
The rete testis contains
a network of interconnected channels that allow the mixing of spermatozoa from the STs
Rete testis is lined with
ciliated cuboidal cells to drive the fluid containing the spermatazoa
Epididymis and vas deferens are embryologically derived from
mesonephric (Wolffian) duct
Efferent ductules are embryologically derived from
mesonephric tubules
Efferent ductules connect
the rete testis to the single coiled ducts of the epididymis (head of epididymis)
Efferent ductules are lined with
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium surrounded by smooth muscle (like RT)
What is decapacitation?
Inhibition of the ability for sperm to fertilize an egg (reversed in vagina) that occurs in the epididymis
The epididymal cells are responsible for
maturation of sperm, decapacitation (secretion of inhibitory factors) of sperm, absorption of testicular fluid, and removal of debris
The vas deferens is lined with
ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium surrounded by a thick smooth muscle coat (except in the ejaculatory duct)
Seminal vesicles are lined by
thick mucosa surrounded by thin smooth muscle
Seminal vesicles secrete
fructose, prostaglandins - alkaline secretion to support sperm
Seminal vesicles provide ____ of volume of semen
50%
Central zone of the prostate surrounds
ejaculatory ducts
Peripheral zone of the prostate surrounds
central zone (around the ejaculatory ducts)
Periurethral zone of the prostate surrounds
urethra
Transitional zone of the prostate surrounds
Periurethral zone
Epithelium of the prostate
is very variable; cuboidal or columnar, pseudostratified
Prostate contains abundant
smooth muscle, glands, and ducts
What are prostatic concretions?
Age-related change in lumens of prostate glands
Prostate secretions contain
acid phosphatase, fibrolysin, coagulating factors
Coagulating factors from the prostate function to
clot ejaculate in vagina to immobilize it; then fibrolysin dissolves it to free spermatozoa
Cavernous tissue in the penis contains
vascular potential spaces surrounded by smooth muscle and CT
