Uterus, Uterine Tubes and Cervix

Question 1

What is the inner lining of the uterus called?

Answer 1

→ Endometrium

Question 2

What is the body of the uterus called?

Answer 2

→ Myometrium

Question 3

What do the uterine tubes end in?

Answer 3

→ Fimbriae

Question 4

What increases the size of a newborns uterus?

Answer 4

→ Maternal steroids

Question 5

What does the myometrium growth depend on?

Answer 5

→ Estradiol

Question 6

When does the myometrium grow rapidly?

Answer 6

→ During puberty

Question 7

Where do uterine fibroids originate?

Answer 7

→ Myometrium

Question 8

In what shape are myometrial fibres?

Answer 8

→ Spiral fibres

Question 9

When does the endometrium thicken?

Answer 9

→ At puberty

Question 10

What is a good bioassay of estradiol levels?

Answer 10

→ 7-16mm

Question 11

What is the stromal matrix?

Answer 11

→ The smallest the endometrium can get

Question 12

What does the stromal matrix look like after menstruation?

Answer 12

→ Small columnar cells with glandular extensions 2-3mm thick

Question 13

What is the proliferative phase stimulated by?

Answer 13

→ Estradiol from the dominant follicle

Question 14

What are the changes that occur in the proliferative phase?

Answer 14

→ Stromal cell division, ciliated surface
→ Glands expand and become tortuous
→ Increased vascularity and neoangiogenesis

Question 15

When are progesterone receptors expressed?

Answer 15

→ when the endometrium gets to 4mm

Question 16

When does the secretory phase start and why?

Answer 16

→ 2-3 days after ovulation

→ The gradual rise in progesterone causes a reduction in cell division

Question 17

What are the changes that occur in the secretory phase?

Answer 17

→ Glands increase tortuosity and distend
→ Secretion of glycoproteins and lipids 
→ oedema
→ increased vascular permeability 
→ arterioles contract and grow tightly wound

Question 18

What happens to the myometrium during the secretory phase?

Answer 18

→ Myometrial cells enlarge
→ movement is suppressed to prevent contractions
→ blood supply increases

Question 19

What causes menstruation?

Answer 19

→ Falling levels of steroid from the corpus luteum

Question 20

Describe what happens during menstruation

Answer 20

1) Prostaglandin release causes constriction of the spiral arterioles
2) Hypoxia causes necrosis
3) Vessels then dilate and bleeding ensues
4) Proteolytic enzymes are released from the dying tissue
5) Outer layer of the endometrium is shed and 50% is lost in 24 hours

Question 21

How long does bleeding last?

Answer 21

→ 4 days

Question 22

What happens to the basal layer after menstruation?

Answer 22

→ It is covered by an extension of glandular epithelium

Question 23

What are the three components of the mucosa?

Answer 23

→ secretory
→ columnar ciliated epithelial cell
→ non ciliated peg cell

Question 24

What does the muscularis layer consist of?

Answer 24

→ inner circular and outer longitudinal layers

→ blood vessels and lymphatics

Question 25

What is the serosa?

Answer 25

→ Outer layer of the uterine tubes

Question 26

What do epithelial cells in the uterine tube express?

Answer 26

→ High numbers of estrogen receptors

Question 27

What happens to epithelial cells in the uterine tube mid cycle?

Answer 27

→ They undergo differentiation and increase in height

Question 28

When can the oocyte pass?

Answer 28

→ Mid cycle

Question 29

What happens to the epithelial cells of the uterine tube when progesterone starts being produced?

Answer 29

→ The estrogen receptors are suppressed | → They decrease in height

Question 30

What is the function of the cilia?

Answer 30

→ They beat which moves the egg forward

Question 31

How long does the egg remain in the tube for?

Answer 31

→ 5 days

Question 32

Where does fertilisation occur?

Answer 32

→ in the ampulla

Question 33

What does damage to the epithelial cells cause?

Answer 33

→ Pain → Infertility → Ectopic pregnancy

Question 34

What are the two ways to investigate tube patency?

Answer 34

→ Laparoscopy | → Hystero-Salpingo-contrast sonography

Question 35

How is laparoscopy done?

Answer 35

→ A small incision is done on the anterior abdominal wall and a laparoscope is put through → Uterine cannula passes through and some blue dye is injected into the uterus → If you don't see the dye the tube is blocked

Question 36

How is a hystero-salpingo-contrast sonography done?

Answer 36

→ Cannula is put through the cervix and instead of dye an ultrasound opaque dye is injected → you ultrasound the abdomen and monitor the progress of the dye

Question 37

What is endometriosis?

Answer 37

→ The cells of the endometrium escape from the uterus and get into the body → They implant in other places and still respond to progesterone and estrogen

Question 38

What is the cervix?

Answer 38

→ Muscular structure which is capable of great expansion

Question 39

How thick is the endocervical mucosa?

Answer 39

→ 3mm thick

Question 40

What is the cervix lined with?

Answer 40

→ A single layer of columnar mucous cells containing numerous tubular mucous glands

Question 41

What do the mucous glands in the cervix do?

Answer 41

→ empty viscous alkaline mucus into the lumen

Question 42

What is the mucus in the cervix for?

Answer 42

→ Protective barrier to infection

Question 43

What is the ectocervix covered with?

Answer 43

→ Monokeratinized stratified squamous epithelium

Question 44

After ovulation what happens to the cervical mucus?

Answer 44

→ it becomes more liquid and has channels through which sperm can swim

Question 45

What does estrogen cause in the cervix?

Answer 45

→ Changes in vascularity and oedema

Question 46

How does the mucus change to allow sperm through?

Answer 46

→ During early stages the glycoproteins form a mesh that the sperm can't get through → Glycoproteins then become aligned and form microscopic channels that sperm can swim through

Question 47

What does progesterone do to the cervical secretions?

Answer 47

→ Reduced secretion and viscous mucus | → Glycoproteins form a mesh structure

Question 48

How long is the vaginal canal?

Answer 48

→ approximately 10cm long

Question 49

How is infection prevented in the vagina?

Answer 49

→ Layers of epithelial cells shed constantly and flow downward with secretions → secretions are acidic and provide anti-microbial protection

Question 50

Where are Bartholins glands located?

Answer 50

→ Slightly posterior and left and right of the opening to the vagina

Question 51

What do Bartholins glands do?

Answer 51

→ Secrete mucus to lubricate the vagina

Question 52

What are Bartholins glands homologous to?

Answer 52

→ Bulbourethral glands in males