Histology of the Female Reproductive System

Question 1

What is the function of the ovaries?

Answer 1

produces gametes; produce steroids

Question 2

What is found within the medulla of the ovaries?

Answer 2

loose connective tissue; contorted arteries, veins and lympathatics

Question 3

What is the medulla of the ovaries continuous with?

Answer 3

hilum of the organ

Question 4

What is found in the cortex of the ovaries?

Answer 4

scattered ovarian follicles in a highly cellular connective tissue stroma

Question 5

What is the outer shell of the ovarian cortex?

Answer 5

dense connective tissue layer called the tunica albuginea

Question 6

What is the germinal epithelium of the ovary?

Answer 6

single layer of cuboidal cells covering the cortex

Question 7

What other name is the germinal epithelium of the ovary called?

Answer 7

ovarian surface epithelium

Question 8

What are oogonia?

Answer 8

germ cells from the yolk sac that have invaded the ovaries and proliferated by mitosis

Question 9

What is oogenesis?

Answer 9

development of oocytes from oogonia (by meiosis)

Question 10

What is folliculogenesis?

Answer 10

growth of the folicle- oocyte and supporting cells

Question 11

What is loss of oogonia and oocytes called?

Answer 11

atresia

Question 12

What stage of meiosis occurs in the oocytes before birth?

Answer 12

prophase I

Question 13

What significant event occurs at prophase I?

Answer 13

crossing over

Question 14

What cells are associated with primary oocytes?

Answer 14

pregranulosa cells

Question 15

What is the difference between the pregranulosa cells (follicle cells) associated with primordial follicles and when follicle enters growth phase?

Answer 15

change from squamous to cuboidal

Question 16

What defines primary follicles?

Answer 16

cuboidal granulosa cells

Question 17

What is the name for the layer of cuboidal granulosa cells in primary follicles?

Answer 17

zona granulosa

Question 18

What begins to form between the oocyte and granulosa cells in primary follicles?

Answer 18

zona pellucida

Question 19

What is the zona pellucida?

Answer 19

layer of special extraceullar matrix

Question 20

What happens with the stromal cells in the primary follicles?

Answer 20

stromal cells are asosicating with the outside of the follicle

Question 21

What happens to the granulosa cells layer in the late primary follicle?

Answer 21

proliferates

Question 22

What do the stromal cells around the follicle form in the late primary follicle?

Answer 22

theca folliculi

Question 23

What happens to the inner layer of the theca folliculi?

Answer 23

transform to form the theca interna

Question 24

What is the function of the theca interna?

Answer 24

secrete oestrogen precursors

Question 25

What layer of cells in follicle converts oestrogen precursors to oestrogen?

Answer 25

granulosa cells

Question 26

What happens to the outer layers of the theca folliculi?

Answer 26

remain fibroblast-like and form theca-externa

Question 27

What defines the secondary follicle?

Answer 27

antrum develops in the granulosa cell

Question 28

What fills the antrum?

Answer 28

follicular fluid

Question 29

What are the very largest antral follicles called?

Answer 29

Graafian follicles

Question 30

What is cumulus oophorus?

Answer 30

cloud of granulosa cells which surround cells

Question 31

What is the name for the granulosa cells that are released with the oocyte?

Answer 31

coronoa radiata

Question 32

What happens to teh oocyte in the largest Graafian follicle one day before ovulation?

Answer 32

completes meiosis I

Question 33

What is different about the completion of meiosis I in oocytes?

Answer 33

doesnt produce 2 cells, but 1 cell-secondary oocyte and one tiny polar body

Question 34

What phase of meiosis does the secondary oocyte stop at?

Answer 34

metaphase II

Question 35

What happens to the follicle after ovulation?

Answer 35

transforms into the corpus luteum

Question 36

What is the function of hte corpus luteum?

Answer 36

theca and granulosa cells secrete oestrogens and progesterone preparing the uterus for implantation

Question 37

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

Answer 37

corpus albicans

Question 38

What happens to the corpus luteum if implantation occurs?

Answer 38

placental hCG prevents degeneration to maintain progesterone levels

Question 39

How does the ovum move down the uterine tubes?

Answer 39

propelled by gentle peristlasis and currents created by the ciliated epithelium

Question 40

Where does fertilisation usually occur?

Answer 40

in the ampulla

Question 41

Describe the ampulla of the uterine tube?

Answer 41

mucosa is folded and lined with simple columnar ciliated epithleium and secretory cells, surrounded by SM

Question 42

What is the epithelium of the isthmus of the uterine tube like?

Answer 42

mostly secretory with few ciliated cells

Question 43

What is the difference between muscle in the ampulla and isthmus?

Answer 43

2 layers in ampulla and 3 in isthmus

Question 44

What is the endometrium composed of?

Answer 44

tubular secretory glands embedded in a connective tissue stroma

Question 45

What is the myometrium composed of?

Answer 45

3 layers of SM with collagen and elastic tissue

Question 46

What is the perimetrium composed of?

Answer 46

loose connective tissue covered by mesothelium

Question 47

What are the 2 layers of hte endometrium?

Answer 47

stratum functionalis and stratum basalis

Question 48

What is the difference between the stratum functionalis and stratum basalis?

Answer 48

functionalis undergoes monthly loss whereas basalis is a reserve tissue that regereates the functionalis

Question 49

What causes the stroma of the uterus to proliferate?

Answer 49

oestrogen

Question 50

What causes the stratum functionalis to degenerate?

Answer 50

deprived of nutrients by spasm of spiral artery before mentruation

Question 51

When does the proliferative phase of the uterus end in the menstrual cycle?

Answer 51

1 day after ovulation

Question 52

What happens to the glands of the uterus during the secretory phase?

Answer 52

glands become coiled with a corkscrew appearance and secrete glycogen

Question 53

What is the difference bewteen the epithelium on the vaginal surface of the cervix and further in?

Answer 53

stratified squamous epithelium on vaginal surface to mucous secreting simple columnar epithlium

Question 54

What is significant about the transition between squamous and oclumnar epithlium?

Answer 54

transition zone is a common site of syplasia with common beginning of cervical cancer

Question 55

What is the name for the glands of the cervix?

Answer 55

endocervical glands

Question 56

What is the secretion of the endocervical glands in the proliferative phase?

Answer 56

thin and watery

Question 57

What is the secretion of the endocervical glands following ovulation?

Answer 57

thick and viscous

Question 58

What is a nabothian cyst?

Answer 58

when outlets of endocervical glands become blocked and expand

Question 59

What are the 4 layers of hte vagina?

Answer 59

non-keratinised squamous epithlium; lamina propria; fibromuscular; adventita

Question 60

What happens to the non-keratinized stratified squamous epithium during reproductive years?

Answer 60

layer is thicker and cells are enlarged due to glycogen acucumulation

Question 61

What are the layers of muscles in the fibromusclar layer?

Answer 61

inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle

Question 62

What lubricates the vagina?

Answer 62

mucous from the endocervical glands and fluid from the thin walled blood vessels of the lamina propria

Question 63

What is the function of glycogen in the vagina?

Answer 63

commensal metabolise the glycogen to form lactic acid

Question 64

Where does the mons pubis lie?

Answer 64

over the subcut fat pad over the pubic sympysis

Question 65

What does the skin of the mons pubis contain?

Answer 65

highly oblique hair follicle

Question 66

What types of glands are found in the labia majora?

Answer 66

apocrine and sebaceous glands

Question 67

What is the labia minora?

Answer 67

thin skin folds that lack subcut fat and hair follicles but los of vasculature and sebaceous glands

Question 68

How far does keratinized epithelium extend into the vagina?

Answer 68

to the level of the hymen

Question 69

What is the clitoris formed of?

Answer 69

2 tubes of erectile vascular tissue (corpora cavernosa) covered by a fibrocollagenous sheath