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Reproduction > Male & Female Reproductive Histology > Flashcards

Male & Female Reproductive Histology Flashcards

1
Q

Which ligaments anchor the ovary?

A

ovarian (to uterus) and suspensory (to pelvic wall)

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2
Q

The ovarian medulla consists of

A

loose connective tissue and blood vessels

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3
Q

The outer cortex of the ovary consists of

A

highly cellular CT (fibroblasts) called the cortical stroma, contains smooth muscle cells and the primordial oocytes and multiple maturing oocytes

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4
Q

Why does the ovarian surface appear scarred?

A

Scars from previous release of mature oocytes

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5
Q

The outer surface of the ovarian cortex is what type of epithelium?

A

simple; squamous or cuboidal depending on region

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6
Q

Why is the epithelium of the ovarian cortex prone to tumours?

A

70% of ovarian tumours; constantly being broken down and repaired as eggs are released

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7
Q

What is the tunica albuginea?

A

M & F; dense elastic CT layer

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8
Q

Where is the tunica alubiginea in females?

A

beneath the ovarian epithelium with the stroma containing the oocytes deep to it; surrounding the cavernous tissue that forms the clitoris

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9
Q

What is the structure of primordial oocytes?

A

smallest oocytes; surrounded by squamous follicle cells, which are surrounded by a basal lamina (collagen type 4)

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10
Q

Primordial oocytes are arrested in

A

Prophase of meiosis 1

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11
Q

What is the structure of primary oocytes?

A

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)

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12
Q

What is the structure of secondary follicles?

A

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

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13
Q

What is a Graafian follicle?

A

Mature, full-sized follicle ~1cm in diameter

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14
Q

A secondary oocyte has undergone

A

2nd meiotic division

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15
Q

What is the structure of the corpus luteum?

A

stromal, granulosa, and thecal cells invade cavity of follicle once the oocyte is lost to form lutel cells containing lipid; becomes vascularized

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16
Q

What is the function of the corpus luteum?

A

luteal cells produce progesterone and estrogen to prepare endometrium

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17
Q

The corpus luteum lasts

A

14 days

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18
Q

If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum

A

becomes the corpus albicans and involutes over time

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19
Q

The ovary sits within the _______ of the uterine tube

A

infundibulum (expanded opening of the tube with fimbriae)

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20
Q

Fertilization of the oocyte occurs in the

A

ampulla of the uterine tube

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21
Q

What is the structure of the ampulla of the fallopian tube?

A

outer serosa (mesothelium + thin CT), smooth muscle muscularis, secretory mucosa (CT + epithelium), lumen; ampulla is dilated

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22
Q

What is the function of the epithelial cilia in the fallopian tube?

A

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

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23
Q

Smooth muscle of the fallopian tube functions to

A

contract in peristaltic waves to pump fluid and the oocyte towards the uterus

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24
Q

__________ exits the isthmus of the FT to implant into the wall of the uterus

A

Blastocyst

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25
Q

What are the regions of the uterine wall?

A

inner mucosa (endometrium); outer muscularis (myometrium); outer layer of perimetrium (mesothelium and elastic CT)

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26
Q

T/F All layers of the uterine wall respond to cyclic hormonal changes

A

False; the myometrium and endometrium do; perimetrium does not

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27
Q

Perimetrium

A

outer epithelium of uterine wall - mesothelium and elastic CT

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28
Q

Myometrium

A

3 layers of smooth muscle of the uterine wall; central layer contains blood vessels; middle is circular, inner and outer layers are longitudinal

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29
Q

Endometrium

A

simple epithelium (mix of ciliated and secretory columnar cells) embedded in lamina propria; inside of uterine wall

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30
Q

How does the uterus change to accommodate pregnancy?

A

myometrium enlarges individual smooth muscle cells and generates more smooth muscle cells and CT

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31
Q

What is the characteristic appearance of early proliferative endometrium?

A

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

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32
Q

What is the characteristic appearance of mid-late proliferative endometrium?

A

In mid-late proliferative stage, the glands are more prominent, dilated, with larger lumens – more dominant

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33
Q

What is the characteristic appearance of secretory endometrium?

A

In secretory phase the glands are very large and now contain secretion – ready for implantation

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34
Q

On which side of the cervical canal is the ectocervix?

A

vaginal

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35
Q

On which side of the cervical canal is the endocervix?

A

uterine

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36
Q

Endocervix/uterine cervix is what type of epithelium?

A

Simple columnar

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37
Q

What is the structure of the endocervix?

A

simple columnar epithelium, glandular (cervical) like rest of uterus

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38
Q

What is the function of the endocervical secretions?

A

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

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39
Q

The ectocervix/vaginal cervix is which type of epithelium?

A

Stratified squamous epithelium; non-glandular

40
Q

T/F Cells lost from the cervical epithelium are keratinized and have nuclei

A

False; they are stratified squamous epithelial cells that have nuclei - these nuclear characteristics are read in a pap smear

41
Q

Epithelium of the vagina is

A

stratified squamous epithelium (non-keratinized); forms mucosa with partly erectile lamina propria during intercourse (becomes engorged with blood)

42
Q

What is the structure of the vagina?

A

Fibromuscular tube; smooth muscle layers - thin inner and thick outer layer continuous with muscle of uterus

43
Q

T/F there are glands within the vagina

A

False; lubricated by cervical glands or glands in vestibule

44
Q

Mammary glands are embedded in __________ and open on the nipple via _____________

A

dense CT; each open through a separate opening at the nipple

45
Q

Breast mass is mostly

A

adipose tissue

46
Q

What changes occur in the female breast at puberty?

A

Estrogen and progesterone stimulate growth of mammary gland tissue; extra adipose and CT are added as well

47
Q

Mammary glands are held inactive until pregnancy by

A

stromal cells

48
Q

What is the structure of mammary glands?

A

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

49
Q

What is the function of terminal duct lobular units?

A

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

50
Q

TDLUs are made of

A

interlobular collecting ducts and terminal ductules or acini which produce milk

51
Q

Milk is produced in

A

acini of TDLUs

52
Q

What is the state of the breast tissue glands during the follicular stage?

A

glands are the least active during this stage; stroma less dense, lumen of each gland is invisible and surrounded by cuboidal epithelial cells

53
Q

What is the state of the breast tissue glands during the luteal phase?

A

epithelial cells have started to grow - they are more columnar, lumens appear and have some secretions present, fluid accumulates in stroma CT (breast enlargement)

54
Q

If there is no fertilization, what happens to the breast glands?

A

Just before menstruation the gland involutes and some cells apoptose

55
Q

What features characterize an inactive mammary gland?

A

few glands with lots of CT between them; small dense secretory cells (cuboidal/columnar) wrapped in thin myoepithelial cells in CT

56
Q

What features characterize active mammary glands?

A

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

57
Q

Breastmilk is initially ________ which is rich in ________ but relatively low in ______

A

colostrum (premilk); high in protein; low in lipid and carbs

58
Q

Breastmilk is a mixture of

A

lipid, carbs, and protein

59
Q

What is the mechanism of passive immunity in infants?

A

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

60
Q

________ stimulates milk production

A

Prolactin

61
Q

Lactation is stimulated by

A

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

62
Q

Milk is stored for immediate release in

A

lactiferous sinuses (enlarged ducts), sitting close to the nipple

63
Q

What changes occur in the breast following menopause?

A

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)

64
Q

The tunica albuginea in males surrounds

A

testis - divide it into ~250 compartments filled with 1-4 seminiferous tubules; corpora cavernosa in penis

65
Q

Seminiferous tubules connect _________ and _______ to the _________

A

rete testis and efferent ductules to the epididymis

66
Q

Epithelium of the seminiferous tubules is

A

stratified epithelium (site of spermatogenesis)

67
Q

The tunica propria

A

forms the walls of the STs and CT between them (lamina propria)

68
Q

The tunica propria lacks _______ but contains ________

A

fibroblasts; myoid (smooth muscle-like) cells

69
Q

Leydig cells are located

A

In the tunica propria between coils of STs

70
Q

Stratified epithelium of the seminferous tubules contains

A

spermatogonia (stem cells that produce spermatocytes); sertoli cells that support and promote cell division, provide nutrients

71
Q

Sperm are pushed through STs towards the epididymis by

A

contractions of the tunica propria myeloid cells providing peristaltic movement of fluid cntaining sperm

72
Q

Leydig cells produce

A

testosterone

73
Q

Leydig cells are active

A

for the first 5 months of fetal life then inactive until puberty

74
Q

What is the structure of the tubuli recti?

A

final part of STs - straight and lined by only Sertoli cells, then simple cuboidal epithelium

75
Q

Tubuli recti connect the ________ to the _______

A

seminiferous tubules to the rete testis

76
Q

The rete testis contains

A

a network of interconnected channels that allow the mixing of spermatozoa from the STs

77
Q

Rete testis is lined with

A

ciliated cuboidal cells to drive the fluid containing the spermatazoa

78
Q

Epididymis and vas deferens are embryologically derived from

A

mesonephric (Wolffian) duct

79
Q

Efferent ductules are embryologically derived from

A

mesonephric tubules

80
Q

Efferent ductules connect

A

the rete testis to the single coiled ducts of the epididymis (head of epididymis)

81
Q

Efferent ductules are lined with

A

ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium surrounded by smooth muscle (like RT)

82
Q

What is decapacitation?

A

Inhibition of the ability for sperm to fertilize an egg (reversed in vagina) that occurs in the epididymis

83
Q

The epididymal cells are responsible for

A

maturation of sperm, decapacitation (secretion of inhibitory factors) of sperm, absorption of testicular fluid, and removal of debris

84
Q

The vas deferens is lined with

A

ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium surrounded by a thick smooth muscle coat (except in the ejaculatory duct)

85
Q

Seminal vesicles are lined by

A

thick mucosa surrounded by thin smooth muscle

86
Q

Seminal vesicles secrete

A

fructose, prostaglandins - alkaline secretion to support sperm

87
Q

Seminal vesicles provide ____ of volume of semen

A

50%

88
Q

Central zone of the prostate surrounds

A

ejaculatory ducts

89
Q

Peripheral zone of the prostate surrounds

A

central zone (around the ejaculatory ducts)

90
Q

Periurethral zone of the prostate surrounds

A

urethra

91
Q

Transitional zone of the prostate surrounds

A

Periurethral zone

92
Q

Epithelium of the prostate

A

is very variable; cuboidal or columnar, pseudostratified

93
Q

Prostate contains abundant

A

smooth muscle, glands, and ducts

94
Q

What are prostatic concretions?

A

Age-related change in lumens of prostate glands

95
Q

Prostate secretions contain

A

acid phosphatase, fibrolysin, coagulating factors

96
Q

Coagulating factors from the prostate function to

A

clot ejaculate in vagina to immobilize it; then fibrolysin dissolves it to free spermatozoa

97
Q

Cavernous tissue in the penis contains

A

vascular potential spaces surrounded by smooth muscle and CT

Reproduction (11 decks)

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