Lecture 5: Histology of the Female Reproductive System Flashcards
(46 cards)
What are the female reproductive system functions?
- Female gamete production
- Male gamete reception
- Provide environment for fertilization
- Provide environment for implantation
- Nourishes fetus
- Expels mature fetus at the end of pregnancy
Where are the follicles located in ovary?
The cortex of the ovary
What is located in the medulla of the ovary?
The vasculature
What are the two major functions of the ovaries?
- Produce female gametes
2. produce steroid hormones to prepare endometrium for conception
What is the difference between primordial follicles and primary follicles?
Primordial follicles = arrest at prophase of M1
-oocyte surrounded by one layer of granulosa cells
Primary follicles = developed during puberty
-oocyte surrounded by 2+ cuboidal epithelial cells
What is the zona pellucida?
A thick layer of glycoprotein
Secreted by granulosa/oocyte
Occupies space between oocyte and granulosa cells
What are the different stages of the female follicles?
- Primary follicle
- Secondary follicle
- Mature follicle
(ovulation) - corpus luteum
What stage is female gamete arrested in?
Oocyte in prophase of meiosis I
What is a follicle?
- Germ cell
2. Surrounding follicular cells
What is the antrum?
Fluid space in follicle
Characteristic of secondary follicle
What is a graafian follicle?
The mature graffian
First meiotic division is completed
Means this is when first polar body is made
How many follicles does woman have?
450,000
450 eggs are ovulated in a woman’s lifetime
Is a follicle vascularized?
No, because it is protected by a basement membrane
In the secondary follicle, what is going on?
- Theca folliculi differentiates into the following
a. Theca interna
-secretes androstenedione that transfers to follicular cells for testosterone production
-testosterone is converted to estradiol
b. Theca externa
-connective tissue capsule-like layer
-continuous with ovarian stroma
At this point, one follicle becomes dominant
What are the characteristics of Graafian follicles?
Completes the first meiotic division right before ovulation
Commences second meiotic division where it arrests in METAPHASE until fertilization
Fluid filled antrum (FA) is greatly enlarged and the oocyte (O2) is surrounded by the corona radiate (CR)
What is the corona radiatia?
Innermost layer of the cumulus oophorus
Directly adjacent to zona pellucida
Surrounds zona pellucida!!
Supplies vital proteins to the cell
What are the characteristics of atretic follicles?
Follicular atresia occurs at any point in the cycle
-both the oocyte and the granulosa cells are degenerating
in this case of early atresia
Follicular cells/oocytes die and are phagocytized
Occurs constantly but is maximal after birth, during puberty and during pregnancy
Where does fertilization take place?
Ampulla
What are the histologic characteristic of an atretic follicle?
-characterized by gross thickening of basement membrane between granulosa cells and the theca interna
Called a glassy membrane (GM)
What is the purpose of the corpus luteum?
Becomes a endocrine gland
Secretes progesterone
Granulosa and theca layers turn into granulosa lutein and theca lutein cells
Granulosa lutein secretes Prog and Estro
Theca lutein cells secrete Androstenedione and Prog
What is the purpose of progesterone?
PREVENTS further follicles from maturing
What is the corpus albicans?
Inactive fibrous tissue mass that forms following the involution of the corpus luteum
What are the three different parts of the oviduct (fallopian tube)?
- Infundibulum (closest to ovary)
- Ampulla
- Isthmus
- Interstitial part (closest to uterus)
What is the function of the epithelium of the ampulla?
Activates spermatozoa (capacitation)
Secretes nutrients for egg
Protects egg
Propells egg towards the uterus by ciliated cells
