Other Reproductive System Structures Flashcards
Uterine/Fallopian tubes or Oviducts
Movement
Moves so that opening is adjacent to site where follicle ruptures
What is this?
Ampulla of the uterine tube. Mucosa folded and lined by simple columnar epithelium with ciliated and secretory cells. Surrounded by smooth muscle.
What is this?
Isthmus of the uterine tube. Lining epithelium is mostly secretory with few ciliated cells. Said to be 2 layers of smooth muscle in ampulla and 3 in isthmus - although they are not obvious here.
Uterus
Smooth muscle
Outer coat of 3 layers of smooth muscle, combined with collagen and elastic tissue (myometrium)
What is this?
Uterus
Endometrium
Stratum Functionalis
Undergoes monthly growth, degeneration and loss
Proliferative phase
Gland lining
Glands, stroma and vasculature grow and increase thickness of endometrium. Glands lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium - stroma proliferating due to oestrogen.
Secretory phase
Secretory epithelium
Glands become coiled with a corkscrew appearance and secrete glycogenBasal vacuoles in cytoplasm, later becoming supranuclear
Menstrual phase
Arterioles in functionalis undergo constriction, depriving the tissue of blood, with resultant tissue breakdown, bleeding and tissue sloughing
Cervix
Short cylinder which lumen projecting into upper vagina. Mostly connective tissue with stratified squamous epithelium on vaginal surface. This epithelium transitions to mucous secreting simple columnar epithelium.
Vagina Layers
Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
During reproductive years this layer is thicker, and cells are enlarged due to glycogen accumulation
Vagina
Glands
No glands in the wall, but is lubricated by mucous from cervical glands and fluid from the thin walled blood vessels of the lamina propria
External Genitalia
Mons pubis
Skin with highly oblique hair follicles and substancial fat pad
External Genitalia
Labia Majora
Extensions of mons pubis, similar structure and rich in apocrine sweat/sebaceous glands
External Genitalia
Labia minora
Skin flaps lacking subcutaneous fat and hair follicles. Rich in vasculature and sebaceous glands secreting directly onto surface of skin. Keratinized epithelium extending into opening of vagina to the level of the hymen, where there is transition to non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
External Genitalia
Clitoris
Contains two tubes of erectile vascular tissue covered by fibrocollagenous sheath covered by skin with rich innervation and a thin epidermis
Non-Lactating Breast
Secretory tissue
Fibrous tissue
Made up of 15-25 lobes, each with a compound tubulo-acinar gland which drains via a series of ducts leading to the nipple
Adjacent to secretory lobules, surrounded by adipose tissue
What is this?
Mammary gland
Breast Duct System
Terminal ductules
Lead into an intralobular collecting duct which leads into the lactiferous duct for that lobe
Structure of mammary gland
Nipple
Covering
Core
Highly pigmented keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
Dense irregular connective tissue mixed with bundles of smooth muscle
Several lactiferous sinuses can be seen in this picture
Changes in the mammary gland
During menstrual cycle
Epithelial cells increase in height, lumina of ducts becomes enlarged and small amounts of secretions appear in the ducts
Changes in the Mammary gland
First trimester
Elongation and branching of smaller ducts, combined with proliferation of the epithelial cells of the glands and the myoepithelial cells
Changes in the Mammary gland
Second trimester
Glandular tissue continues to develop with differentiation of secretory alveoli. Also, plasma cells and lymphocyts infiltrate the nearby connective tissue
Changes in the Mammary gland
Third trimester
Secretry alveoli continue to mature with development of extensive RER
Non-lactating vs lactating breast
Secretion
Apocrine secretion
Lipid droplets can be seen within these secreting cells. L1 just about to bud off, surrounded by membrane and carrying small amount of cytoplasm with it. L2 just been released - surrounding membrane.
Secretion
Merocrine secretion
Proteins in milk made in RER, packaged and released in vesicles. These merge with apical membrane to release only their contents into the duct system. Small dark dots in lumen are stained milk proteins
Accessory Glands (Male reproductive)
Bulbourethral glands
Contribute clear fluid that is released before ejaculation which lubricates the urethra
Seminal Vesicles
What are they?
Duct from seminal vesicle
Sac with complex array of folds lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium, and with smooth muscle surrounding the folds.
Joins the vans deferens to form the ejaculatory duct, which goes through the prostate gland and empties into the urethra
Prostate gland
Capsule
Thin and fibromuscular
Prostate gland
Fibromuscular septa
Form spaces lined by a heterogeneous secretory epithelium
Prostate gland
Urethra/ejaculatory ducts
Lined by transitional epithelium and passes through fibrous stromal tissue at the centre of the gland.
Prostate gland
Products
A watery fluid which makes up about a third of the ejaculate
Prostate gland
Zones
Transition zone (TZ) around the urethra.
Central zone (CZ) posterior to TZ
Peripheral zone (PZ) lateral to the other two
Penis
Skin
Has a richly vacularised subcutaneous layer with a fibrocollagenous capsule containing the three erectile columns - the two corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongosium which has the urethra running through it
Penis
Spongosium
Contains more connective tissue than the cavernosa and so it has less erectile function which probably aids passage of semen through the urethra
Penis
Penile urethra
Like the membranous urethra, the penile urethra is lined by stratified columnar epithelium, changing to non-keratinized stratified squamous near the tip of the penis
Penis
Erectile tissue
Consists of blood sinuses supplied by helicine arteries which are spiral in shape. The veins draining the sinuses are just below the fibrocollagenous capsule. Parasympathetic stimulation leades ot dilation of the helicine arteries which causes the sinuses to become engorged with blood and press of these veins, restricting venous outflow
Uterine/Fallopian tubes or Oviducts
Transport of ovum
Moved down tube by gentle peristalsis and currents created by ciliated epithelium
Uterine/Fallopian tubes or Oviducts
Fertilization
Usually occurs in ampulla and ferlisied ovum transported to uterus for implantation
Uterus
Muscosa
Inner secretory mucosa called the endometrium, much of which is shed during menstruation. Made up of tubular secretory glands embedded in connective tissue stroma.
Endometrium
Stratum Basalis
Reserve tissue that regenerates the functionalis
Vagina Layers
Fibromuscular layer
Inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle
Vagina Layers
Adventitia
Adventitia
Vagina Layers
Lamina propria
Connective tissue rich in elastic fibres and thin-walled blood vessels
Breast Duct System
Lactiferus duct
Leads to the nipple, passing through an expanded duct region near the nupple termed the lactiferous sinus
