Histology of the Female Reproductive Tract

Question 1

Label this histograph of an ovary

Answer 1

• H - Hilum
• F - Follicle
• CL - Corpus luteum

Question 2

What is the hilum of the ovary?

Answer 2

The point at which all structures, including neurovascular and lymphatics, enter and leave the ovary

Question 3

What are the stages in ovarian follicular development?

Answer 3

1. Primordal
2. Primary
3. Pre-antral
4. Early antral
5. Mature
6. Corpus luteum

Question 4

What stage of ovarian follicular development is this histograph showing?

Answer 4

Pre-antral

Question 5

What stage of ovarian follicular development is this histograph showing?

Answer 5

Early antral

Question 6

What stage of ovarian follicular development is this histograph showing?

Answer 6

Mature

Question 7

What stage of ovarian follicular development is this histograph showing?

Answer 7

Corpus luteum

Question 8

What are the features of the primordial stage of follicular development?

Answer 8

Small oocyte with flat, almost squamous, follicular cells

Question 9

What are the features of the primary stage of follicular development?

Answer 9

• Oocyte at maximum diameter
• One or more layers of cuboidal granulosa cells
• Zona pellucida develops

Question 10

What are the features of the pre-antral stage of follicular development?

Answer 10

• Theca follucli established
• Begin to see spaces between granulosa cells

Question 11

What are the features of the early antral stage of follicular development?

Answer 11

• Thick zona pellucisa
• Coalesence of smallr spaces into one large space, the antrum

Question 12

What are the features of the mature stage of follicular development?

Answer 12

• Oocyte almost completely seperated from the granulosa cells, apart from one small collection called the corona radiata
• Antrum bigger as more follicular fluid is produced

Question 13

What are the features of the corpus luteum stage of follicular development?

Answer 13

• Has septae with rich blood supply so steriod hormones can access
• Oocyte left, so only left with granulosa cells and thecal cells

Question 14

What does the uterine tube consist of?

Answer 14

• Ithsmus
• Ampulla
• Infundibulum
• Fimbriae

Question 15

Describe the features of the ithsmus of the uterine tube?

Answer 15

• Thick muscular wall
• Epithelium less specialised

Question 16

What is the ampulla of the uterine tube?

Answer 16

A wide dilation that is the usual site of fertilisation

Question 17

What happens once the zygote has been fertilised in the ampulla of the uterine tube?

Answer 17

It continues to the body of the uterus

Question 18

Describe the histological features of the uterine tube?

Answer 18

Has prominent epithelial lining with lots of secretory cells and cilia

Question 19

What is the purpose of the cilia of the ampulla?

Answer 19

Movement of the zygote

Question 20

What is the purpose of the fimbriae of the uterine tube?

Answer 20

Move around to catch the ovum and move it to the uterine tube

Question 21

Label this histograph of the uterus

Answer 21

• E - Endometrium
• B - Stratum basalis
• F - Stratum functionalis
• S - Stratum spongiosum
• C - Stratum compactum
• M - Myometrial layer

Question 22

What happens to the endometrium of the uterus?

Answer 22

It develops over the course of the menstural cycle

Question 23

What is the stratum basalis?

Answer 23

Stem cell layer which provides endometrium

Question 24

Does the stratum basalis response to hormones?

Answer 24

No, it is very stable

Question 25

What happens to the stratum functionalis?

Answer 25

Specialises over the course of the cycle to specalise for pregnancy

Question 26

What happens to the myometrial layer of the uterus?

Answer 26

It grows and thickens to expel fetus at delivery

Question 27

What stage of the menstrual cycle is this histograph showing?

Answer 27

Early proliferative

Question 28

What stage of the menstrual cycle is this histograph showing?

Answer 28

Late proliferative

Question 29

What stage of the menstrual cycle is this histograph showing?

Answer 29

Early secretory

Question 30

What stage of the menstrual cycle is this histograph showing?

Answer 30

Late secretory

Question 31

What are the histological features of the early proliferative stage of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 31

* Glands sparse, not well developed, and almost entirely circular * Straight * No stratum functionalis, as it has been shed

Question 32

What are the histological features of the late proliferative stage of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 32

* Functionalis has now doubled * Glands now coiled

Question 33

What do the glands develop under the influence of in the late proliferative stage of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 33

Oestrogen

Question 34

What is the clinical relevance of glands developing under the influence of oestrogen in the late proliferative stage of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 34

Don't give post-menopausal women oestrogen

Question 35

What are the histological features of the early secretory phase of the menstural cycle?

Answer 35

* Endometrium max thickness * Very pronounced, coiled glands

Question 36

What acts on the endometrium that has been prepared by oestrogen in the early secretory phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 36

Progesterone

Question 37

What is the action of progesterone on the enodmetrium in the early secretory phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 37

Stops growing, provides glandular function

Question 38

What are the histological features of the late secretory phase of the menstrual cycle?

Answer 38

Glands adopt characteristic 'saw tooth' apperance, having reached maximal differentiation

Question 39

What are the parts of the cervix?

Answer 39

* Endocervical canal * Ectocervix

Question 40

What are the histological features of the endocervical canal of the cervix?

Answer 40

Mucus secreting, simple columnar epithelium

Question 41

What are the histological features of the ectocervix?

Answer 41

Stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium

Question 42

Where is the squamocolumnar junction located?

Answer 42

Can be at any point in the cervix

Question 43

What is the squamocolumnar junction?

Answer 43

The junction between the uterus and the vagina where the is an abrupt change in epithelium

Question 44

What is the clinical importance of the transformation zone adjacent to the squamocolumnar junction?

Answer 44

It is where the majority of neoplasms arise, and so is the area sampled in smears

Question 45

What is the vagina?

Answer 45

A three layered fibromuscular canal

Question 46

What are the histological features of the vagina?

Answer 46

* Glycogen producing non-keratinised squamous epithelium * Submucosa rich in elastin fibres and highly vascular * No glands

Question 47

What are the histological features of the breast?

Answer 47

* A single lactiferous duct opens from each of multiple (15-20) lobes * Main duct branches repeatly into terminal ducts

Question 48

What does a lobar unit of the breat consist of?

Answer 48

Multiple acini

Question 49

What % of breast malignancies are infiltrating ductal carcinomas?

Answer 49

˜70%

Question 50

What are the histological features of inactive breast tissue?

Answer 50

* Limited development of duct-alveolar system * Relatively dense fibrous interlobular tissue

Question 51

What are the histological features of lactating breast tissue?

Answer 51

* Highly developed with milk secretions in alveolar lumen * Interlobular tissue reduced to thin septa