Uterus, Cervix, Vagina

Question 1

Functions of uterus​

Answer 1

• Proper environment for implantation
• Proper environment for fetal development
• Expels fetus

Question 2

Define endometrium, myometrium, and perimetrium.

What kind of cell lines the endometrium?

Answer 2

• Endometrium = mucosa
  
  • lined by simple columnar epithelium
• Myometrium = muscularis
• Perimetrium = Serosa/adventitia

Question 3

Label

Answer 3

Question 4

Myometrium

Answer 4

Huge bundles of smooth muscle interlaced with collagen fibers

3 layers, but middle circular layer is the thickest and contains arcuate arteries

Question 5

Estrogen, progesterone, relaxin, and oxytocin on the myometrium

Answer 5

• Estrogen:
  
  • ​proliferates
  • maintains/increases contractility
  • formation of gap jxns
• Progesterone: decrease contractility
• Relaxin: increase uterine contractions
• Oxytocin: stimulates uterine contractions

Question 6

Layers of endometrium

Answer 6

Stratum functionale: this is what gets lost in mesnes

Stratum basale

Question 7

Menstrual phase

Answer 7

• Shedding of the funcitonal layer
• Glands: short, collapsed
• Stroma: leukocytes and red blood cells
  
  • Due to breakdown of vasculature
• Columnar epithelium

Question 8

What phase is this endometrium in?

Answer 8

Menstrual phase (days 1-5)

Disrupted stratum functionale; red blood cells

Question 9

Proliferative phase (days 5-14)

Answer 9

• Thickness goes from 1 –> 4mm
• Narrow & straight glands, but no secretions
• Proliferating stroma, w/ no leukocytes
• Columnar epithelium
• Lots of mitoses

Question 10

What phase is this endometrium in?

Answer 10

Proliferative (days 5-14)

• straight & narrow glands w simple columnar epithelium
• columnar epithelium at top
• stroma in between

Question 11

Secretory phase (days 15-26)

Answer 11

• Thickness: 4-6mm
• Glands: wide, sacculated, secretory
  
  • Glycogen rich secretions essentials for survival and development of the embryo
• Stroma: edematous, no leukocytes
• Tall columnar epithelium
• Mitoses only in coiled / helical arteries

Question 12

What phase is this endometrium in?

Answer 12

Secretory phase (days 15-26)

wide, sacculated, curvy glands

Question 13

What phase is this endometrium in?

Answer 13

Secretory phase ( days 15- 26 )

wide, sacculated glands

Question 14

Premenstrual phase (days 27-28)

Answer 14

• Thickness: 4-5mm
• Glands: wide, irregular in outline
• Stroma: dense, leukocytes, RBCs
• Columnar epithelium
• Absent mitoses

Question 15

What phases of the endometrium are these?

Answer 15

Question 16

Functions of cervix

Answer 16

• At ovulation: Secretes watery mucus to help sperm into uterus
• Other times & during pregnancy: Secretes viscous mucus to prevent sperm and microorganisms entering the tuerus

Question 17

When would cervical mucous be the most abundant and watery?

Answer 17

At ovulation (mid-cycle) to promote survival and transport of sperm through cervical canal.

Note: this is under the control of estrogen

Question 18

Components of cervix wall

Answer 18

• Mucosa:
  
  • Simple columnar epithelium
    
    • Transitions to stratified squamous outside the external os
  • Lamina propria (more fibrous than cellular)
  • Branched, tubular glands lined by simple columnar epithelium
  • Nabothian cysts: mucus retention in gland
• Muscularis - dense collagenous c.t. w elastic & smooth muscle fibers
• Adventitia

Question 19

In the cervix, the mucosa transitions from __ to __ epithelium at the __

Answer 19

Simple columnar to stratified squamous at the external os

Question 20

What is this

Answer 20

Cervix’s nabothian cyst: mucus got stuck in the gland

Question 21

What is this?

Answer 21

Stratified squamous epithelium of cervix outside the external os

Question 22

Cervical glands are lined with __ epithelium

Answer 22

Question 23

Pap smear

Answer 23

Swabbing the stratified squamous epithelium in the cervix to check for cervical carcinoma (frequently observed, but low mortality due to early detection)

cervical cancer most often caused by hpv 16

Question 24

Hormonal regulation of the cervix

Answer 24

• Estradiol -> produce watery mucous (lysozyme)
• Progesterone -> viscous mucous
• Relaxin: softening of the cervix by lysis of collagen during parturition
  
  • Produced by corpus luteum & placenta

Question 25

Vagina funcitons

Answer 25

excretory duct for uterus

organ of copulation

birth canal

Question 26

Structure of vagina

Answer 26

Question 27

What is this

Answer 27

Vagina

• stratified squamous epithelium of mucosa
• blood & vasculature in the lamina propria and muscularis
• outer, thick adventitia

Question 28

What hormone stimulates the basal cells to produce that stratified squamous epithelium?

Answer 28

estradiol

Question 29

Hormonal regulation of vagina

Answer 29

Question 30

E & P on oviducts, uterus, vagina

Answer 30

Question 31

Carcinoma of the cervix originates from

Answer 31

Stratified squamous NONkeratinized epithelial cells.

Can be contained in the epithelium and not invade the underlying stroma OR penetrate the basal lamina and metastasize to toher parts of the body (invasive)

Usu caught by pap smear –> surgery

Question 32

Endometriosis

Answer 32

Endomterial tissu eexists in the pelvic peritoneal cavity

• ASsociated w hormone-induced changes -> pain, cysts, adhesions
• May lead to sterility bc deformed ovaries & oviducts
  *