L36. Female reproductive 2

Question 1

What is the function of the uterine tube?

Answer 1

1. captures oocyte at fimbrae
2. site of spermatocyte capacitation
3. site of fertilization and not implantation
4. moves oocyte or fertilized egg to the uterus

Question 2

What are the layers of the uterine tube?

Answer 2

1. mucosa
2. muscularis
3. serosa
   * * There is no submucosa layer

Question 3

Describe the mucosa layer of the oviduct

Answer 3

1. simple columnar epithelium
2. has ciliated cells to sweep the oviduct down the fallopian tube
3. non-ciliated peg cells secrete glycosidase to umask ZP3 (oocyte) receptors on the head of the spermatozoa and nutrients for the oocyte
4. lamina propria is unremarkable

Question 4

Describe the muscularis layer of oviduct

Answer 4

1. poorly defined layers of the smooth muscle

2. contract rhythmically to move the oocyte down

Question 5

Describe the serous layer of the oviduct

Answer 5

1. loose connective tissue adventitia

2. covered by the simple squamous epithelium (=peritoneum/mesothelium)

Question 6

What are the 3 main parts of the uterus?

Answer 6

1. fundas
2. body
3. cervix

Question 7

What is the fundas of the uterus

Answer 7

It is the rounded area superior to the oviducts

Question 8

What is the function of the uterus?

Answer 8

1. site of implantation and placental development

2. usually the implantation occurs in the body but can also occur at the fundas

Question 9

Name the 3 layers of the uterine wall?

Answer 9

1. endometrium: inner mucosal lining
2. myometrium: middle, muscular layer
3. serous or adventitia: outer, connective tissue

Question 10

Describe the endometrium lining of the uterine wall

Answer 10

1. simple columnar epithelium
2. has simple tubular exocrine glands
3. highly vascular loose connective tissue in the lamina propria
4. functional layer is the site of implantation and placenta formation ( lost and reformed per cycle); supplied by helical arteries
5. basal layer remains throughout menstrual cycle; site of stem cell epithelium, supplied by straight arteries
6. arculate arteries deep in the myometrium give rise to the helical and straight arteries

Question 11

Describe what happens to the endometrium during phase 1 (mensus)

Answer 11

1. decrease of progesterone, constriction and degeneration of helical arteries
2. functional layer bleeds and is lost
3. remaining basal layer with glands are present ( with epithelial stem cells and supplied by straight arteries)

Question 12

Describe what happens to the endometrium during phase 2 (pre-ovulatory/proliferative)

Answer 12

1. increase in estrogen causes the endometrium lining to proliferate
2. helical arteries form from the arculate arteries in the myometrium
3. functional layer of the endometrium re-forms
4. undifferentiated/non-secretory endometrial glands are straight

Question 13

Describe what happens to the endometrium during phase 3 (post-ovulatory/secretory)

Answer 13

1. increase in progesterone causes the epithelium to proliferate
2. differentiated endometrial gland become serrated and produce glycogen rich nutritive secretions : support the developing embryo until placental circulation is established
3. endometrium is at its thickest
4. gland grow, spiral and secretes nutrients
5. helical arteries grow and become tortous

Question 14

How do estrogen and progesterone based contraceptives work?

Answer 14

1. they block FSH and LH production - prevent ovulation

2. prevent sperm transit by increasing cervical mucous

Question 15

What is hyperplasia

Answer 15

Increase in smooth muscle cell number

Question 16

What is hypertrophy

Answer 16

Increase in smooth muscle cell size

Question 17

Describe what happens to the uterus during pregnancy

Answer 17

1. functional layer is maintained

2. myometrium undergoes hyperplasia and hypertrophy due to stimulation by estrogen

Question 18

What happens at child birth

Answer 18

1. oxytoxin (from the posterior pituitary) and paracrine factors (prostagladins0 in the myometrium induce rthymic contractions of the myometrium
2. continues post-partum to allow placenta expulsion
3. cervix must release mucous plug and dilate before childbirth
4. childbirth is aided by contraction of the abdominal wall (skeletal muscles)

Question 19

How many aspects are there in a cervix

Answer 19

2 aspects:
inner aspect ( uterine=endocervix)
outer aspect ( vaginal = ectocervix)

Question 20

Describe the endocervix

Answer 20

1. inner aspect, lined by simple columnar epithelium with glandular invaginations; during pregnancy there is an increase in the mucous secretions to generate protective cervical plug

Question 21

Describe the exocervix

Answer 21

1. stratified squamous; susceptible to human papilloma virus infections of the stem cells -> leads to increase in proliferation and inhibits DNA repair by blocking the function of tumor surpressors ( p53)

Question 22

Describe the wall of the cervix

Answer 22

1. submucosa and adventitia layer
2. almost entirely dense fibroelastic connective tissue
3. local prostaglandin release ripens the wall and increases collagenase production to weaken the CT during cervical dilation
4. facilitated by the pressure of the baby’s head during myometrial contraction-mediated ‘effacement’

Question 23

What are the 3 layers of the vagina

Answer 23

1. mucosa
2. muscularis
3. adventitia

Question 24

Describe the mucosa layer of the vagina

Answer 24

1. stratified squamous epithelium
2. apical cells secrete glycogen and release into lumen in response to mid-menstrual cycle estrogen
3. vaginal bacteria break down glycogen to lactic acid and the decrease in pH retards growth of pathogenic microbes
4. lamina propria is loose connective tissue

Question 25

Describe the muscularis layer of the vagina

Answer 25

mostly smooth muscle, weak skeletal muscle sphincter at vaginal opening

Question 26

Describe the adventitia

Answer 26

fibroelastic connective tissue

Question 27

Describe the mammary gland

Answer 27

1. consists of 15-20 compound tubuloalveolar glands
2. epithelial ducts and secretary alveoli =parenchyma
3. stroma= adipose tissue and dense irregular connective tissue
4. estrogen increases alveolar epithelial cell proliferation
5. progesterone and prolactin increases alveolar cell differentiation for synthesis and apical secretion of lipid milk protein and lactose
6. during lactation oxytocin causes contraction of basal myoepithelial cells for milk ejection

Question 28

How do we treat breast cancer

Answer 28

1. respond to anti-estrogen :tamoxifen blocks estrogen receptors
2. letrazole : an aromatase inhibitor that blocks all estorgen production ( causes menopausal symptoms)