Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

REPRODUCTION > Uterus, Uterine Tubes and Cervix > Flashcards

Uterus, Uterine Tubes and Cervix Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three layers of the uterus?

A
  • The inner walls of the uterus are lined by the endometrium
  • The middle layer is the muscular layer called the myometrium
  • The outer layer is called the perimetrium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the difference between the uterus size of a new born baby and a four year old? And why?

A
  • The uterus of a new born baby is significantly bigger than the uterus of a four-year-old.
  • This is because the myometrium responds to maternal steroid oestrogen increasing the size of new-born uterus.
  • The uterus grows with height during infancy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What hormone is the myometrium dependant on?

A

Oestradiol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which part of the uterus undergoes a greater increase in size than the cervix?

A

Corpus of the uterus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the changes of the myometrium throughout life

A
  • The outer muscular myometrium will grow gradually throughout childhood
  • It increases rapidly in size and configuration during puberty
  • Changes in the size throughout the cycle and is capable of vast expansion during pregnancy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the different fibres of the myometrium?

A
  • Inner circular fibres
  • Middle figure of 8 fibres
  • Outer longitudinal fibres (allow for large expansion during pregnancy)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Describe how the endometrium will change in thickness

A
  • Thin during childhood, thickens during puberty
  • Dependant on steroids and responds cylically to hormone changes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What happens to the endometrium throughout menstruation?

A
  • Changes in glandular and epithelial cells through cycle.
  • At menstruation most of the endometrium is lost (if no pregnancy corpus luteum dies and the endometrium is lost)
  • After menstruation - stromal matrix with small columnar cells with glandular extensions 2-3mm thick
    • The glands are simple and straight
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the endometrial proliferative phase?

A
  • Reffered to as the follicular phase in the ovaries
    • Proliferative phase is stimulated by oestradiol from the dominant follicle
    • Stromal cell division, ciliated surface
    • The glands expand and become tortuous, increased vascularity, neoangiogenesis maximal cell division by days 12-14
    • When endometrium is greater than 4mm induction of progesterone and small muscular contractions of the myometrium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What stimulates the proliferative phase?

A

Oestradiol from the dominant follicle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What happens when the endometrium is greater than 4mm?

(Endometrial Proliferative Phase)

A
  • Induction of progesterone receptors
  • Small muscular contractions of the myometrium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When does the endometrial secretory phase come in?

A

2-3 days after ovulation (around the stage of the luteal phase of the ovary)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the endometrial secretory phase

A
  • Gradual rise in progesterone causes reduction in cell division
  • Progesterone acts on endometrium and makes it differentiate
    • Allows glands to increase in tortuosity and distension, secretion of glycoproteins and lipids
  • Oedema, increased vascular permeability arterioles contract and grow tightly wound.
  • Myometrial cells enlarge and movement is suppressed
  • blood supply increases.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What stimulates the corpus luteum during the luteal phase?

A

LH from the pituitary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What rescues the corpus luteum is a female becomes pregnant?

A
  • Fertilised oocyte will form a blastocyst (differentiating cells trophoblast, blastocoel and embryoblast (inner cell mass)) which will produce human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)
    • hCG will act like LH on the LH receptor and rescue the corpus luteum
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What happens to the corpus luteum if no hCG is produced?

A
  • Falling levels of steroid from the corpus luteum result in menstruation
    • (Reminder: less negative feedback of progesterone on HPG axis meaning increased FSH levels, selection of dominant follicle, follicles start to produce estradiol)
17
Q

Describe the process of menstruation?

A
  • Prostaglandin release causes constriction of spiral arterioles. Hypoxia causes necrosis.
  • Vessels then dilate and bleeding ensues.
  • Proteolytic enzymes released from the dying tissue.
  • Outer layer of endometrium shed, 50% lost in 24hrs, up to 80ml is considered normal. Bleeding normally lasts 4+ days.
  • Basal layer remains and is then covered by extension of glandular epithelium.
  • Estrogen from follicle in next follicular phase starts cycle off again.
18
Q

How long does bleeding in menstruation normally last?

A

4+ days

19
Q

What are the layers of the uterine tube?

A
  • Mucosa contains three types of cells
    • Secretory, columnar ciliated epithelial cells, non ciliated peg cells
  • Muscularis
  • Serosa - Outer protective layer
20
Q

What are in the mucosa layers of the uterine tube?

A
  1. Secretory
  2. Columnar ciliated epithelial
  3. Non-ciliated peg cells
21
Q

Define the structure of the muscularis of the uterine tube?

A
  • Inner is circular and outer longitudinal layers
  • Has blood vessels and lymphatics
22
Q

What is the serosa of the uterine tube?

A

Outer Layer

23
Q

What are the changes in the cells lining the uterine tube throughout the menstrual cycle

A
  • During the follicular/proliferative phase there is an increase in estradiol
  • Epithelial cells express high number of oestrogen receptors and undergo differentiation in response to estradiol and increase in height mid cycle
  • The oocyte can only pass mid cycle
  • Cilia beat and secretory cells are active along with muscle layer contractions - responding to oestrogen
  • After being exposed to progesterone, oestrogen receptors are supressed and there is a decrease in height mid luteal onwards
24
Q

How long does the egg stay in the tube?

A

Approximately 5 days

25
Q

Explain how oestrogen and progesterone have opposing effects

A
  • Whilst progesterone is differentiating the endometrium it is dedifferentiating the uterine tube
  • Whilst oestrogen is causing proliferation of the endometrium at the start of the cycle it is causing differentiation of the uterine tube
26
Q

What can cause pain, infertillity and ectopic pregnancy?

A

Damage to lining of the tube by infection, endometriosis, surgery or adhesions may cause blockage or damage to ciliated epithelia, resulting in…

27
Q

How can we check if the uterine tubes are functioning properly?

A
  1. Laparoscopy and dye - blue dye should appear at fimbrial ends, if it doesn’t appear at the ends then the tube is blocked
  2. Hystero Salpingo-contrast sonography: ultrasound probe is used to see if the dye also appears at the fimbrial ends (less invasive)
28
Q

What is the function of the cervix?

A

Muscular structure capable of expansion

29
Q

What does endocervical mucosa do?

A
  • Lined with a single layer of columnar mucous cells
    • contain numerous tubular mucous glands that empty viscous alkaline mucus into the lumen
30
Q

What is the function of the viscous alkaline mucus secreted by the endocervical mucosa?

A
  • protective barrier to infection…
  • however has to allow passage of motile sperm
31
Q

What is the purpose of the grooves in the cervix?

A

Trap sperm which provides reservoir for slow release of sperm

32
Q

What is the ectocervix?

A

covered with nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium, resembling the squamous epithelium lining the vagina.

33
Q

What happens to the cervix during the follicular phase?

A

Estrogen in the follicular phase causes…

  • change in vascularity of cervix and oedema
34
Q

What happens to the cervix mid-cycle?

A

Mid-cycle estrogen levels cause change in mucous to become less viscous.

  • change in mucous composition
  • contains glycoproteins glycoproteins which become aligned and form microscopic channels andsperm swim up the channels!
35
Q

What happens to the cervix during the luteal phase?

A

Progesterone in luteal phase causes…

  • Reduced secretion and viscous mucous (reduced water content)
  • Glycoproteins now form mesh like structure: acts as barrier
  • One mechanism of action of oral contraceptives.
36
Q

What is the structure of the vagina?

A
  • Thick-walled tube approx 10cm
  • Lined by specialised ‘squamous epithelial’ cells
  • Warm damp environment containing glycoprotein…
37
Q

How is infection of the vagina prevented?

A
  • layers of epithelial cells shed constantly and ‘flow’ downwards with the secretions
  • secretions are from cervix and transudation from vaginal epithelium
  • secretions change with cycle and are generally acidic providing anti-microbial protection
38
Q

What lubricates the vagina and what are they homologous to?

A
  • BARTHOLINS GLAND
    • located posterior to left and right side of vaginal opening
  • Secrete mucus to lubricate vagina
    • Homologous to bulbourethral glands in males

REPRODUCTION (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions