Microanatomy Lecture 3

Question 1

How do you identify the late menstrual phase endometrium?

Answer 1

thin layer of stroma containing short glands, but no surface epithelium

Question 2

How do you identify the proliferative phase endometrium?

Answer 2

thick layer of stroma covered by a surface epithelium, long straight glands with narrow lumens

Question 3

How do you identify the secretory phase endometrium?

Answer 3

thick layer of stroma covered by a surface epithelium, long, coiled glands with wide lumens

Question 4

How do you identify the cervical mucosa?

Answer 4

thick stroma covered by surface epithelium, long, branched, non-coiled glands with wide lumens

Question 5

What structural feature of the functional layer leads to its shedding during the menstrual phase? Why is the basal layer not also shed?

Answer 5

constriction of spiral arteries and hypoxia of the functional layer

basal layer has straight arteries and not spiral arteries - no hypoxia

Question 6

What features of the secretory phase endometrium make it a favorable environment for receiving and sustaining a developing embryo?

Answer 6

progesterone from the corpus luteum stimulates secretory cell hypertrophy (which causes coiling of secretory glands) and secretory activity (secretion of glycogen is primary nutrition source) and promotes vascular changes (provides initial maternal blood supply to the placenta)

Question 7

What is endometriosis, and how does it occur?

Answer 7

colonization of endometrial stromal and parenchymal cells outside the uterus

endometrium sloughed passes retrograde into peritoneal cavity but remains hormone sensity

Question 8

What are leiomyomas?

Answer 8

benign smooth muscle tumors in the myometrium (assymptomatic, show up in 1 in 4 women)

Question 9

What histological features of the cervical glands would allow you to distinguish them from uterine glands in the endometrium?

Answer 9

glands are long, non-coiled, branching tubular glands with wide lumens (only non coiled in uterine during proliferative stage)

Question 10

What are the sources of Nabothian cysts?

Answer 10

occlusion of cervical gland ducts - secretory product and sloughed secretory cells accumulate
not neoplastic - generally resolve on own

Question 11

What are the sources of chocolate cysts?

Answer 11

endometriosis = endometrial tissue trapped beneath the ovary tunica albuginea

Question 12

Describe the parenchyma and stroma of the inactive breast

Answer 12

parenchyma:

• intralobular ducts are lined by simple cuboidal epithelium
• myoepithelial cells have “arms” that wrap around the duct epithelium, triangular nuclei
• little-no secretory component

stroma:
- abundant intralobular stroma (loose connective)
- interlobular noticeably denser

Question 13

Describe the parenchyma and stroma of the lactating breast

Answer 13

parenchyma:

• alveoli and ducts become dilated with milk
• basophilic cytoplasm = protein synthesis
• lipid droplets in cytoplasm for milk

stroma:
- intralobular stroma nearly obliterated by parenchyma
- plasma cells in intralobular to produce IgA

Question 14

Describe the parenchyma and stroma of the breast during pregnancy

Answer 14

parenchyma:

• end buds in intralobular duct
• mitotic profiles apparent
• end buds hollow-out and differentiate into secretory cells
• secretory cell cytoplasm becomes basophilic (preparation for protein production)
• fat droplets accumulate

stroma:
- amount of intralobular stroma is strongly reduced
- plasma cells, lymphocytes, eosinophils infiltrate the intralobular stroma

Question 15

Name three cell types of the breast that contribute to lactation, and describe their roles

Answer 15

• secretory cells lining alveoli making milk proteins
• myoepithelial cells -contraction driving milk expulsion
• plasma cells producing IgA for passive immunity

Question 16

What is the medical importance of the terminal duct lobular unit?

Answer 16

most frequent place breast cancer arises