Other Reproductive System Structures

Question 1

Uterine/Fallopian tubes or Oviducts

Movement

Answer 1

Moves so that opening is adjacent to site where follicle ruptures

Question 2

What is this?

Answer 2

Ampulla of the uterine tube. Mucosa folded and lined by simple columnar epithelium with ciliated and secretory cells. Surrounded by smooth muscle.

Question 3

What is this?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

Uterus

Smooth muscle

Answer 4

Outer coat of 3 layers of smooth muscle, combined with collagen and elastic tissue (myometrium)

Question 5

What is this?

Answer 5

Uterus

Question 6

Endometrium

Stratum Functionalis

Answer 6

Undergoes monthly growth, degeneration and loss

Question 7

Proliferative phase

Gland lining

Answer 7

Glands, stroma and vasculature grow and increase thickness of endometrium. Glands lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium - stroma proliferating due to oestrogen.

Question 8

Secretory phase

Secretory epithelium

Answer 8

Glands become coiled with a corkscrew appearance and secrete glycogenBasal vacuoles in cytoplasm, later becoming supranuclear

Question 9

Menstrual phase

Answer 9

Arterioles in functionalis undergo constriction, depriving the tissue of blood, with resultant tissue breakdown, bleeding and tissue sloughing

Question 10

Cervix

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Vagina Layers

Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium

Answer 11

During reproductive years this layer is thicker, and cells are enlarged due to glycogen accumulation

Question 12

Vagina

Glands

Answer 12

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

Question 13

External Genitalia

Mons pubis

Answer 13

Skin with highly oblique hair follicles and substancial fat pad

Question 14

External Genitalia

Labia Majora

Answer 14

Extensions of mons pubis, similar structure and rich in apocrine sweat/sebaceous glands

Question 15

External Genitalia

Labia minora

Answer 15

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

Question 16

External Genitalia

Clitoris

Answer 16

Contains two tubes of erectile vascular tissue covered by fibrocollagenous sheath covered by skin with rich innervation and a thin epidermis

Question 17

Non-Lactating Breast

Secretory tissue

Fibrous tissue

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is this?

Answer 18

Mammary gland

Question 19

Breast Duct System

Terminal ductules

Answer 19

Lead into an intralobular collecting duct which leads into the lactiferous duct for that lobe

Question 20

Structure of mammary gland

Answer 20

Question 21

Nipple

Covering

Core

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Changes in the mammary gland

During menstrual cycle

Answer 22

Epithelial cells increase in height, lumina of ducts becomes enlarged and small amounts of secretions appear in the ducts

Question 23

Changes in the Mammary gland

First trimester

Answer 23

Elongation and branching of smaller ducts, combined with proliferation of the epithelial cells of the glands and the myoepithelial cells

Question 24

Changes in the Mammary gland

Second trimester

Answer 24

Glandular tissue continues to develop with differentiation of secretory alveoli. Also, plasma cells and lymphocyts infiltrate the nearby connective tissue

Question 25

**_Changes in the Mammary gland_** Third trimester

Answer 25

Secretry alveoli continue to mature with development of extensive RER

Question 26

Non-lactating vs lactating breast

Answer 26

Question 27

**_Secretion_** Apocrine secretion

Answer 27

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.

Question 28

**_Secretion_** Merocrine secretion

Answer 28

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

Question 29

**_Accessory Glands (Male reproductive)_** Bulbourethral glands

Answer 29

Contribute clear fluid that is released before ejaculation which lubricates the urethra

Question 30

**_Seminal Vesicles_** What are they? Duct from seminal vesicle

Answer 30

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

Question 31

**_Prostate gland_** Capsule

Answer 31

Thin and fibromuscular

Question 32

**_Prostate gland_** Fibromuscular septa

Answer 32

Form spaces lined by a heterogeneous secretory epithelium

Question 33

**_Prostate gland_** Urethra/ejaculatory ducts

Answer 33

Lined by transitional epithelium and passes through fibrous stromal tissue at the centre of the gland.

Question 34

**_Prostate gland_** Products

Answer 34

A watery fluid which makes up about a third of the ejaculate

Question 35

**_Prostate gland_** Zones

Answer 35

Transition zone (TZ) around the urethra. Central zone (CZ) posterior to TZ Peripheral zone (PZ) lateral to the other two

Question 36

**_Penis_** Skin

Answer 36

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

Question 37

**_Penis_** Spongosium

Answer 37

Contains more connective tissue than the cavernosa and so it has less erectile function which probably aids passage of semen through the urethra

Question 38

**_Penis_** Penile urethra

Answer 38

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

Question 39

**_Penis_** Erectile tissue

Answer 39

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

Question 40

**_Uterine/Fallopian tubes or Oviducts_** Transport of ovum

Answer 40

Moved down tube by gentle peristalsis and currents created by ciliated epithelium

Question 41

**_Uterine/Fallopian tubes or Oviducts_** Fertilization

Answer 41

Usually occurs in ampulla and ferlisied ovum transported to uterus for implantation

Question 42

**_Uterus_** Muscosa

Answer 42

Inner secretory mucosa called the endometrium, much of which is shed during menstruation. Made up of tubular secretory glands embedded in connective tissue stroma.

Question 43

**_Endometrium_** Stratum Basalis

Answer 43

Reserve tissue that regenerates the functionalis

Question 44

**_Vagina Layers_** Fibromuscular layer

Answer 44

Inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle

Question 45

**_Vagina Layers_** Adventitia

Answer 45

Adventitia

Question 46

**_Vagina Layers_** Lamina propria

Answer 46

Connective tissue rich in elastic fibres and thin-walled blood vessels

Question 47

**_Breast Duct System_** Lactiferus duct

Answer 47

Leads to the nipple, passing through an expanded duct region near the nupple termed the lactiferous sinus