histology of female reproductive system- lecture

Question 1

Answer 1

orange= uterus
black= cervix
green= vagina
red= ovary
blue= uterine tube

Question 2

functions of ovaries?

Answer 2

2 related functions:
-produce gametes (termed oogenesis in females)
-produce steroids, mainly oestrogen and progesterone

Question 3

what is the ovary structure made out of?

Answer 3

medulla and cortex

Question 4

where is the medulla of the ovary found?

Answer 4

in the core of the organ

Question 5

what is the medulla of the ovary continuous with?

Answer 5

the hilum of the ovary

Question 6

what is the medulla made out of in the ovary?

Answer 6

loose connective tissue, contorted arteries, veins and lymphatics

Question 7

what does the cortex of the ovaries contain?

Answer 7

-follicles and connective tissue with stromal cells and scattered smooth muscle fibres

Question 8

what is the outer shell of the cortex made out of?

Answer 8

The outer ‘shell’ is made out of dense connective tissue layer called the tunica albuginea which is covered by a single layer of cuboidal cells called the germinal epithelium

Question 9

what artery supplies the uterus and how does it enter?

Answer 9

Helicine arteries (branch of the uterine artery) enter the hilum from the broad ligament to supply the uterus

Question 10

how and when are oogonia formed?

Answer 10

Around 6 weeks into embryonic development germ cells from the yolk sac invade the ovaries and proliferate by mitosis to form oogonia

Question 11

how are oocytes AKA ova formed from germ cells?

Answer 11

-at 6 weeks germ cells from yolk sac invade the ovaries and proliferate by mitosis to form oogonia
-at roughly 7 months oogonia will undergo development and division via meiosis to form mature oocytes (AKA ova)

Question 12

what is oogenesis

Answer 12

development of mature oocytes (female germ cells) from oogonia

(oogonia undergo meisosis to form mature oocytes)

Question 13

what is folliculogenesis

Answer 13

growth of the follicle, which consists of the oocyte and any associated support cells

Question 14

what is atresia

Answer 14

a condition in which a body orifice or passage in the body is abnormally closed or absent.

e.g. Biliary atresia, a condition in newborns in which the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent.

Question 15

what is a pregranulosa cell?

Answer 15

follicle cell

Question 16

what happens if an oocyte (foillicle cell) fails to associate with a pregranulosa cell?

Answer 16

it will die

Question 17

at what point do ovaries have the highest number of germ cells present?

Answer 17

roughly at 7 months in utero
-they begin to decline at birth as oogonia divide by mitosis into primary oocytes

Question 18

what type of cell is seen in primary follicles?

Answer 18

-surrounded by cuboidal granulosa cells AKA zona granulosa
-develop zona pellucida
-develop theca interna and theca externa

Question 19

what type of cells allow you to distinguish primordial cells?

Answer 19

-the single layer or squamous epithelium cells

Question 20

role of theca interna?

Answer 20

-it produces oestrogen precursors which later are converted to oestrogen by the granulosa cells

Question 21

if no implantation occurs, what does the corpus luteum become?

Answer 21

the corpus albicans

Question 22

how does the ovum move down the uterine tubes?

Answer 22

using peristalisis

Question 23

where does fertilisation occur?

Answer 23

in the ampulla

Question 24

histology of ampulla and uterine tubes?

Answer 24

-mucosa is highly folded and lined with simple columnar epithelium with ciliated and secretory cells
-this is surrounded by smooth muscle (SM)

Question 25

how to tell the difference betweern ampulla and isthmus using layers of smooth muscle?

Answer 25

2 layers smooth muscle= ampulla 3 layers smooth muscle= isthmus

Question 26

what can the endometrium be divided into?

Answer 26

-Stratum functionalis -Stratum basalis

Question 27

role of stratum functionalis + basalis?

Answer 27

Stratum functionalis- undergoes monthly growth, degeneration and loss stratum basalis- reserve tissue that regenerates the functionalis

Question 28

histology of endometrium during proliferative phase?

Answer 28

pseudostratified columnar epithelium lines glands which are relatively straight The stroma is proliferating due to high oestrogen

Question 29

histology if endometrium during secretory/ luteal phase?

Answer 29

during the secretory phase the glands become coiled with a corkscrew appearance and secrete glycogen

Question 30

histology of endometrium during the menstrual phase?

Answer 30

-arterioles in the stratum functionalis undergo constriction, depriving the tissue of blood and causing iscahemia with resultant tissue breakdown

Question 31

what is the myometrium made up of?

Answer 31

3 layers of smooth muscle, combined with collagen and elastic tissue

Question 32

what is the perimetrium made out of?

Answer 32

covering of loose connective tissue covered by mesothelium

Question 33

histology of cervix?

Answer 33

outer/ ectocervix= stratified (non keratinised) squamous epithelium transition zone inner/ endocervix= simple columnar epithelium

Question 34

what part of the cervix is where most cervical cancer occurs?

Answer 34

-the transition zone

Question 35

what are the 4 layers of the vagina?

Answer 35

1. Non keratinised stratified squamous epithelium 2. Lamina propria 3. Fibromuscular layer 4. Adventitia

Question 36

how is the vagina lubricated?

Answer 36

There are no glands in the wall of the vagina (non keratinised stratified squamous epithelium) -it is lubricates by mucous from the cervical glands and fluid from the thin walled blood vessels of the lamina propria

Question 37

what is the mons pubis?

Answer 37

-Skin which contains highly oblique hair follicles (produce coarse, very curly hair characteristic of pubic hair), overlaying a substantial subcutaneous fat pad which itself overlies the pubic symphis -Fatty tissue that overlies the pubic symphysis

Question 38

what is the labia major an extension of?

Answer 38

-labia majora is an extension of the mons pubis

Question 39

what is the histology of the labia majora?

Answer 39

-rich in apocrine sweat glands and sebaceous glands and with small bundles of smooth muscles -hair follicles on the outer surface not the innner

Question 40

what is the histology of the labia minora?

Answer 40

-thin skin folds that lack subcutaneous fat and hair follicles -rich in vasculature and sebaceous glands that secrete directly onto the surface of the skin -Keratinized epithelium extends into the opening of the vagina to the level of the hymen, where there is a transition to non keratinized stratified squamous epithelium

Question 41

histology of clitoris?

Answer 41

-contains two tubes of erectile vasculature tissue (Corpora cavernosa) covered by fibrocollagenous sheath covered by skin with rich innervation and a thin epidermis