Histology of the Female Reproductive Tract

Question 1

What makes up the medulla of the ovary?

Answer 1

connective tissue and blood vessels

Question 2

What makes up the cortex of the ovary?

Answer 2

gametes, connective tissue and smooth muscle

Question 3

Why is the surface of the ovary irregular?

Answer 3

scars from previous release of oocytes

Question 4

What is the epithelium of the outer surface of the ovary?

Answer 4

squamous or cuboidal simple epothelium continuous with the mesothelium

Question 5

Where do 70% of ovarian tumours start?

Answer 5

in the epithelium - because it is constantly breached and repaired

Question 6

What is the tunica albuginea?

Answer 6

a thick layer of connective tissue beneath the epithelium of the ovary

Question 7

What is wrapped around primordial oocytes?

Answer 7

squamous follicle cells and a basal lamina (type IV collagen)

Question 8

What is wrapped around primary oocytes?

Answer 8

zona pellucida, stratum granulosum (single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells), basal lamina, theca interna and externa (thecal cells from the stroma)

Question 9

What is wrapped around a secondary follicle?

Answer 9

zona pellucida, granulosa cells that will become the corona radiata after release, fluid filled antrum, granulosa cells, basal lamina, theca interna and externa

Question 10

What is the cumulus oophorus?

Answer 10

the stalk which the secondary follicle sits on in the antrum

Question 11

What is a Graafian follicle?

Answer 11

a mature follicle

Question 12

When does a secondary follicle become a secondary occyte?

Answer 12

when it starts its second meiotic division

Question 13

What is the corpus luteum?

Answer 13

the follicle after it looses its oocyte - made up of stromal, thecal and granulosa cells which invade the cavity and differentiate into luteal cells - contains lots of lipid and is very vascularised

Question 14

What hormones does the corpus luteum produce?

Answer 14

progesterone and oestrogen

Question 15

What is the corpus albicans?

Answer 15

what the corpus luteum becomes after 14 days if there is no fertilisation

Question 16

What is the structure of the fallopian tubes?

Answer 16

a serosa (mesothelium plus thin connective tissue), a smooth muscle layer and a mucosa (connective tissue plus epithelium)

Question 17

What type of epithelium is in the fallopian tubes?

Answer 17

cilliated epithelium

Question 18

What happens to the structure of the fallopian tube as you get closer to the uterus?

Answer 18

smooth muscle gets thicker and epithelium gets thinner

Question 19

What makes up the uterine wall?

Answer 19

endometrium, myometrium and perimetrium

Question 20

What are the three layers of the myometrium?

Answer 20

inner and outer layers are longitudinal muscle and the middle layer is circular muscle

Question 21

What is the structure of the endometrium?

Answer 21

covered with a mix of ciliated and secretory simple columnar epithelium with deep glands that penetrate into the lamina propria - supplied by helical arteries

Question 22

Histologically what is the difference between the proliferative endometrium and the secretory endometrium?

Answer 22

the proliferative phase is characterised by small undeveloped glands with lots of connective tissue and the secretory phase is characterised by large glands containing secretions

Question 23

What type of epithelium is in the endocervix?

Answer 23

simple columnar epithelium that is glandular

Question 24

What type of epithelium is in the ectocervix?

Answer 24

stratified squamous epithelium that is non glandular

Question 25

What type of epithelium is in the vagina?

Answer 25

stratified squamous epithelium (non keratinised)

Question 26

What is special about the lamina propria of the vagina?

Answer 26

it is partly erectile and can be engorged by blood

Question 27

What is the structure of the breast?

Answer 27

multiple mammary glands embedded in dense connective tissue and abundant adipose tissue

Question 28

What happens to mammary glands in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 28

the lumens of the glands are not visible and the glands are lined by cuboidal epithelial cells

Question 29

What happens to mammary glands in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 29

the epithelial cells become more columnar and there a small amount of secretions produced so the lumen opens up - there is also fluid in the connective tissue

Question 30

What happens to mammary glands in pregnancy?

Answer 30

terminal ductules elongate and branch, epithelial cells and myoepithelial cells proliferate, epithelial cells become cuboidal, whole breast grows

Question 31

How does lactation occur?

Answer 31

suckling inhibits prolactin release inhibiting hormone and prolactin and oxytocin are released which acts on myoepithelial cells to contract

Question 32

What happens to mammary glands in menopause?

Answer 32

mammary glands involute, secretory cells disappear, connective tissue loses elastic and collagen fibres