Week 8 Flashcards
Organs that comprise the female reproductive system
ovaries, the uterine tubes (oviducts), the uterus, the vagina and external genitalia
Functions of the ovary
- produce female gametes (oocytes, ova)
- female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Define the tissue found here and its name
DICT capsule
what cells are found here?
single layer of flattened or cuboidal (or even columnar) mesothelial cells
Describe the ovarian cortex
~ thick, outer cellular region
~ composed of follicles at different stages of maturation
~ follicles embedded in stroma
Describe ovarian medulla
central region of richly vascularized loose connective tissue
What is a follicle?
~ specialized cellular endocrine sacs in which an oocyte matures
~ consists of an oocyte surrounded by one or more layers of epithelial follicular cells (granulosa cells), which produce sex hormones.
What follicles are these and what cells are identified by the orange box?
Primordial follicles and follicular cells
Describe primordial follicles
~ most immature stage
~ consist of an oocyte surrounded by a single thin layer of flattened follicular cells
~ found predominantly near the periphery of the cortex
What is a primary follicle?
~ consist of an oocyte surrounded by layers of cuboidal follicular cells
~ unilaminar: one layer
~ multilaminar: multiple layers
What stage is this follicle in?
Multilaminar
What is the zona pellucida?
glycoprotein coat that surrounds the oocyte and initiates the acrosomal reaction at fertilization
What do granulosa (follicular) cells do?
convert androgens to estrogens via aromatase
Describe theca folliculi
modified interstitial cells surrounding the granulosa
What follicle is this?
Secondary/Antral follicle
