Female Reproductive Histology

Question 1

What are the two main regions of the ovaries?

Answer 1

Medulla - CT, blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves

Cortex - outer follicles

Question 2

What are primordial follicles?

Answer 2

Immature follicles formed during fetal development awaiting their turn to enter the developmental cycle prior to ovulation

Question 3

What is a primary follicle?

Answer 3

Primordial follicles that enter the developmental cycle

Composed of oocyte and surrounding layer of epithelial cells

Question 4

What is a secondary follicle?

Answer 4

Follicular stage when the follicular cells thicken into a layer of granulosa cells that synthesize estrogens

The estrogen-rich follicular fluid forms in small antral lakes

Question 5

What is a mature follicle?

Answer 5

The dominant follicle that exhibits fused antral lakes into a single antrum

The oocyte sits on a pedestal of granulosa cells called the cumulus oophorus

Question 6

What are the fimbriae?

Answer 6

Finger-like exdtensions from the uterine tube that surround the ovary at time of ovulation to catch the ovulated oocyte and direct it toward the opening of the uterine tube

Question 7

What is the corpus luteum?

Answer 7

Remnant of the dominant follicle post-ovulation

Secretes large amounts of progesterone

Question 8

What are granulosa lutein cells?

Answer 8

Represent the remnant sof the follicle and compose 80% of the corpus luteum

Produce progesterone and convert androgens into estrogens

Question 9

What are theca lutein cells?

Answer 9

Periphery of the corpus luteum and account for 20% of the structure

Produce progesterone and androgens

Question 10

What is the corpus albicans?

Answer 10

Inactive remnant of the corpus luteum if pregnancy does not occur

Formed by a process called involution

Question 11

What type of cells line the lumen of the uterine tubes?

Answer 11

Ciliated simple columnar epithelium

Secretory peg cells

Question 12

What are the three layers of the wall of the uterus?

Answer 12

Endometrium - inner, mucosal layer, columnar epithelium

Myometrium - thick muscular layer, expels fetus during childbirth

Perimetrium - outer, serosa

Question 13

What are the two layers of the endometrium?

Answer 13

Stratum functionale - superficial, columnar epithelium with secretory glands, sheds during menstruation

Stratum basale - deep, highly vascularized, regenerates stratum functionale each month

Question 14

What are the three layers of the wall of the vagina?

Answer 14

Mucosal - stratified squamous epithelium, no glands

Muscular layer - longitudinal smooth muscle

Fibrous layer - attaches the vagina to surrounding tissues