Micro 3 Flashcards
menstrual phase endometrium
progesterone loss causes constriction of spiral arteries and hypoxia in functional layer. menstrual flow occurs, the sloughing of the functional layer due to hypoxia
endometrium general histologic features
surface epithelium: simple columnar
uterine glands lined with columnar secretory cells
stroma: connective tissue of amorphous ground substance
endometrium subdivisions: basal layer, functional layer
spiral arteries supply functional layer, straight arteries supply basal layer
proliferative phase endometrium
estrogen acts as a mitogen, promoting proliferation of stromal and uterine gland secretory cells. surface epithelium regenerates, and stroma thickens. uterine glands lengthen, and spiral glands regrow
secretory phase endometrium
progesterone stimulates secretory cell hypertrophy and secretory activity, and promotes vascular changes. coiling of secretory phase uterine glands. dilation of uterine glands due to secretion of glycogen rich product. vascular lacunae fill with blood, providing initial maternal blood supply to placenta
endometriosis
colonization of endometrial stroma and parenchymal cells outside the uterus. comes from endometrium sloughed during menses passing retrograde through the oviducts. consequences are chocolate cysts (endometrial tissue trapped beneath tunica albuginea), pain, inflammation, etc
myometrium
thickest layer of uterine wall, bundles of smooth muscle. during pregnancy, undergoes hyperplasia, hypertrophy, increased collagen formation, thickening, and strengthening. uterine leiomyomas can form here, and are benign smooth muscle tumors
perimetrium
serosa exposted to peritoneal cavity. loose connective tissue continuous with the broad ligament
cervical mucosa
simple comlumnar epithelium, long noncoiled branching glands with wide lumens.
nabothian cysts
results from occlusion of cervical gland ducts. secretory product and cells accumulate in blocked ducts. generally resolve without intervention
cervical wall
dense connective tissue with smaller amounts of smooth muscle than the myometrium
transformation zone between cervix and vagina
simple columnar of cervix —–> stratified squamous of vagina. most frequent site of cervical cancers, and a pap smear can be done to test for this
vaginal mucosa
stratified squamous. epithelial cells accumulate glycogen. acidic environment due to fermentation to lactic acid. well vascularized lamina propria, no glands. muscle layer has inner circular and outer longitudinal.
breast lobule
basic structural unit of the duct system. parenchyma is made of intralobular ducts and secretory elements. intralobular stroma is loose connective tissue.
breast lobe
highly branched structure compose of lobules and ducts that drain into a lactiferous duct. breast lobules drain into interlobular ducts, which drain into a lactiferous duct. interlobular stroma is dense irregular connective tissue
terminal duct lobular unit
one breast lobule plus its associated interlobular duct. most breast cancers originate from the TDLU.
breast development through puberty
before puberty: lactiferous sinuses near the nipple. small branching ducts.
during puberty: duct system elongates, adipose and connective tissue accumulate
inactive breast
intralobular ducts lined by simple cuboidal epithelium composed of duct epithelial cells. myoepithelial cells wrap around duct epithelium. abundant stroma of loose connective tissue. stroma between lobules is is noticably denser irregular tissue with some adipocytes.
menstrual changes to breast
early in cycle: duct lumens narrow. at ovulation: secretory cells increase in height, some secretions are produced
breast during pregnancy
duct epithelial cells proliferate to form end buds at duct ends. end buds hollow to form alveoli lined by cells that differentiate into secretory cells. secretory cytoplasm becomes basophilic and fat droplets accumulate. changes are hormone dependent
lactating breast
alveoli and ducts become dilated with milk. basophilic cytoplasm consisten with milk protein synth. lipid droplets present. milk production stimulated by prolactin. plasma cells in intralobular stroma make IgAs, transferred to lumen by secretory cells especially during production of collostrum to give passive immunity
menopause breast
alveoli disappear, ducts persist. loss of fibroblasts, collagen, elastic fibers due to reduction of stroma
