Female Tract, Oogenesis + Endocrine control

Question 1

Why is the anatomical position of the female fallopian tubes important?

Answer 1

There is no physical connection between the ovaries and the fallopian tubes

Question 2

Ovarian follicle = ____ + ____

Answer 2

Oocytes + support cells

Question 3

Ovarian follicles are located in the ____ of the ovary

Answer 3

Cortex

Question 4

Oogonia develop in the _____ and then migrate to the _____

Answer 4

Yolk Sac

Genital ridges

Question 5

Gonads are undifferentiated until around ____ weeks

Answer 5

6

Question 6

Mitotic division of oogonia occurs until about _____ months of gestational age

Answer 6

6

Question 7

Oogonia arrest meiotic divisions in ____

Answer 7

Metaphase I

Question 8

What are the characteristic feature(s) of a primordial follicle?

Answer 8

Flattened granulosa cells

Question 9

Cuboidal granulosa cells are a characteristic feature of which ovarian follicle?

Answer 9

Primary follicle

Question 10

What are the characteristic feature(s) of a secondary follicle?

Answer 10

Multi-layered granulosa cells and thecal cells

Question 11

An antrum is a characteristic feature of which stage in follicular development?

Answer 11

Small tertiary follicle

Question 12

What are the characteristic feature(s) of a large tertiary follicle?

Answer 12

Cumulus oophorous

Question 13

Granulosa cells express ___ receptors and produce ___, ____ and ____

Answer 13

FSH

Oestrogen, inhibin, AMH

Question 14

Thecal cells express ___ receptors and produce ____

Answer 14

LH

Androgens

Question 15

What is the function of the Zona Pellucida?

Answer 15

• Filtering normal sperm

- Preventing polyspermy

Question 16

What is the difference in function between zona pellucida proteins 1, 2 and 3?

Answer 16

ZP1: laid down in primordial follicle

ZP2 and ZP3: sperm inactivation, added to activated follicles

Question 17

What is the role of AMH in follicular development?

Answer 17

Prevents progression of primary -> primordial follicles

Question 18

Which hormone can be used as a measure of follicular reserve?

Answer 18

AMH

Question 19

Cells of the corpus lutem are predominantly involved in the production of ____

Answer 19

Progesterone

Question 20

The first day of the ovarian cycle is the first day of _____

Answer 20

Menstruation

Question 21

Which hormone induces ovulation?

Answer 21

LH

Question 22

What are the two feedback mechanisms of oestrogen in the ovarian cycle?

Answer 22

1. Suppress GnRH/FSH/LH as follicles develop (negative feedback)
2. Stimulate production of LH at ~day 10 (positive feedback)

Question 23

Inhibin is produced by ____ cells and inhibits ____

Answer 23

Granulosa

FSH

Question 24

Increase in _____ causes increase in basal body temperature following ovulation.

Answer 24

Progesterone

Question 25

Activated follicles can be recognised by changes in ____ and number of _____ cells surrounding the oocyte

Answer 25

Morphology | Granulosa cells

Question 26

It takes approx ____ months from time of follicular activation to formation of an antrum (containing follicular fluid) and to be capable of ovulation

Answer 26

3

Question 27

The ovarian cycle is split up into the ____ phase and the ____ phase

Answer 27

Follicular | Luteal

Question 28

What is a follicular wave?

Answer 28

Development of a group of follicles with each menstrual cycle

Question 29

Menstrual cycle length ____ with age and is more variable at the ____ and ____

Answer 29

Decreases | Beginning and end

Question 30

The _____ phase of the menstrual cycle is longer and more variable in length than the ____ phase

Answer 30

Follicular | Luteal

Question 31

What are some examples of how the reproductive life cycles of our early ancestors differ from those currently?

Answer 31

- Puberty later - Earlier pregnancy - More children - Shorter life span

Question 32

Why is the fallopian tube tortuous in nature?

Answer 32

To allow close contact of the embryo to the maternal surface

Question 33

What kind of cells comprise the epithelial lining of the fallopian tubes?

Answer 33

Ciliated and secretory

Question 34

What effect does oestrogen have on the fallopian tubes? - Cilia - Secretory activity - Muscular activity

Answer 34

- Increase cilia - Increase secretory activity - Increase muscular activity

Question 35

What effect does progesterone have on the fallopian tubes? - Cilia - Secretory activity - Muscular activity

Answer 35

- Decreased muscular activity - Decrease in cilia - Increase in beat frequency (after oestrogen priming) - Decrease volume of secretion

Question 36

What is the difference in volume between a non-pregnant and pregnant uterus?

Answer 36

Non-pregnant has a luminal volume of ~10mL Pregnant ~5L

Question 37

What is the normal orientation of the uterus?

Answer 37

Anteverted

Question 38

What proportion of women have a retroverted uterus?

Answer 38

20-25%

Question 39

What are the three layers of the uterus?

Answer 39

Serosa Myometrium Endometrium

Question 40

The myometrium is approx ___% of the non-pregnant uterus

Answer 40

90%

Question 41

What are the two layers of the endometrium?

Answer 41

Basal layer and functional layer

Question 42

During pregnancy, the endometrium becomes the ____

Answer 42

Decidua

Question 43

What histological feature distinguishes the endometrial proliferative phase from the secretory phase?

Answer 43

Tortured glands in the secretory phase

Question 44

What is the purpose of the decidual reaction?

Answer 44

Prepare the uterine wall for implantation of the embryo

Question 45

What two changes occur in the decidual reaction?

Answer 45

Fibroblast-like cells expand and fill with glycogen Stroma of endometrium become oedematous

Question 46

Which arteries are located at the myometrial/endometrial boundary?

Answer 46

Spiral arteries

Question 47

Why are spiral arteries spiral in shape?

Answer 47

Vessels and gland grow faster than stromal tissue

Question 48

How is exsanguination prevented in menstruation?

Answer 48

- Vessels clamp - Necrosis of functional endometrial layer - Tissue dies and is sloughed off

Question 49

Why do neutrophils invade into the tissue during menstruation?

Answer 49

Menustruation causes an open wound, neutrophils protect against potential infection

Question 50

What are five effects of oestrogen on the uterus?

Answer 50

- Epithelial and stromal cell proliferation - Stromal oedema - Glandular secretions (serous) - Synthesis of intracellular progesterone receptors - Myometrial activity

Question 51

What are the effects of progesterone on the uterus?

Answer 51

- Glandular secretions (thick) in luteal phase (against oestrogen background) - Stromal cell proliferation - Decidual reaction - Block myometrial activity

Question 52

What proves that the decidua is not necessary for implantation?

Answer 52

Ectopic implanation

Question 53

What are potential causes of endometriosis?

Answer 53

- Retrograde menstruation - Transport of endometrial cells via blood/lymphatics - Growth of endometrial-like tissue from stem cells

Question 54

What are three histological features of the endocervix?

Answer 54

- Columnar epithelium - Glands - Crypts

Question 55

The ____cervix has stratified squamous epithelium?

Answer 55

Ectocervix

Question 56

The HPV vaccine exists for serotypes __ and __

Answer 56

16 and 18

Question 57

Regular cervical smears can reduce risk of developing cervical cancer by ___%

Answer 57

90

Question 58

Regular cervical smear tests every ___ years are recommended for women, if they have ever been sexually active from age ___

Answer 58

3 | 20-70

Question 59

What is the predominant histological feature of the endometrium in menses?

Answer 59

Leucocytic infiltration

Question 60

What is the earliest morphological evidence of ovulation used for endometrial dating?

Answer 60

Basal vacuolation

Question 61

In which two parts of the cycle are stromal mitoses evident?

Answer 61

- Proliferation | - Just prior to pseudodecidual reaction

Question 62

What histological features are characteristic of the late secretory phase in endometrial dating?

Answer 62

- Pseudodecidual reaction | - Leucocytic infiltration

Question 63

Which three histological features are characteristic of the proliferative phase in endometrial dating?

Answer 63

- Inc. gland mitoses and tortuosity - Inc. pseudostratification of nuclei - Inc. stromal mitoses