SFP: female reproductive histology

Question 1

What is the epithelium of the ovary?

Answer 1

A germinal epithelium that is simple cuboidal

Question 2

Beneath the germinal epithelium, there is a layer called ___

Answer 2

Tunica albuginea

Question 3

Describe the cortex of the ovary.

Answer 3

Contains a vascular connective tissue stroma and follicles at various developmental stages

Question 4

Describe the medulla of the ovaries.

Answer 4

Loose connective tissue with lots of blood vessels, nerves, lymphatics

Question 5

Describe the hilum of the ovary.

Answer 5

The entry/exit point of ovarian artery, vein, nerves, and lymphatics

Question 6

What is an ovarian follicle prior to puberty?

Answer 6

A primary oocyte surrounded by follicular epithelium; maintained in the primordial stage prior to puberty

Question 7

What kind of epithelium is follicular epithelium?

Answer 7

Simple squamous

Question 8

Describe a primordial follicle.

Answer 8

A primary oocyte arrested in prophase I of meiosis found in the outer region of the cortex of the ovary

Question 9

Describe the first stage of follicular development.

Answer 9

A growing primary oocyte still in prophase I surrounded by 1-2 layers of follicular cells (granulosa cells) in a cuboidal shape

Question 10

What is the zona pellucida?

Answer 10

A glycoprotein coat that develops as the primary oocyte enlarges

Question 11

Describe the secondary stage of follicular development.

Answer 11

A follicle with more than two layers of granulosa cells connected by gap junctions. The primary oocyte continues to grow, it still arrested in prophase I, and the zona pellucida gets bigger. Granulosa cells secrete follicular fluid enriched in steroid hormones, growth factors, proteoglycans, etc

Question 12

Describe the stroma in the secondary stage of follicular development.

Answer 12

It differentiates into the theca interna and theca externa

Question 13

What is the function of theca interna?

Answer 13

Functions as an endocrine gland and secretes androstenedione that is converted to estradiol

Question 14

What is the function of theca externa?

Answer 14

Fibromuscular outer coat

Question 15

What are antra?

Answer 15

Fluid-filled cavities in the granulosum in secondary follicles

Question 16

Describe the tertiary phase of follicular development.

Answer 16

The antra combine to form one big antrum, granulosum cells push to the periphery, with the primary oocyte remaining attached to/enveloped in the granulosum. The theca interna and externa are super prominent.

Question 17

What is the corona radiata?

Answer 17

The layer of granulosa cells in contact with the zona pellucida in a tertiary follicle; they are connected to the oocyte via gap junctions

Question 18

What happens to the corona radiata in a secondary oocyte?

Answer 18

It remains attached

Question 19

What is the cumulus oophorus?

Answer 19

A stalk of cells connecting the primary oocyte to the granulosum in a tertiary follicle

Question 20

What are ZP cells?

Answer 20

Cells of the zona pellucida produced by both the oocyte and granulosa cells that serve as sperm receptors

Question 21

What happens to follicles that do not reach full maturity to undergo maturation?

Answer 21

They undergo atresia; oocyte degrades, and granulosa cells die

Question 22

When does the first mitotic division of the primary oocyte occur?

Answer 22

Just before ovulation, along with 1st polar body; secondary oocyte is what is ovulated and 1st polar body gets degraded

Question 23

Describe the process of ovulation.

Answer 23

1. Granulosa cells ramp up prostaglandin, hyaluronan synthesis
2. Mature follicle bulges and forms a finger-like projection on the surface and a stigma on the tip of the projection
3. Plasmin weakens germinal epithelium and tunica albuginea
4. Smooth muscle contraction in the tunica externa is triggered by prostaglandins
5. Follicle ruptures and secondary oocyte is expelled

Question 24

What is the corpus luteum?

Answer 24

A temporary endocrine gland formed from the granulosa cell and theca interna after ovulation

Question 25

What does the corpus luteum do?

Answer 25

Secrete estrogens and progesterone

Question 26

What are the parts of the corpus luteum?

Answer 26

Granulosa lutein and thecal lutein cells

Question 27

Describe granulosa lutein cells.

Answer 27

Differentiated granulosa cells that make up most of the corpus luteum and secrete progesterone and promote conversion to estradiol

Question 28

Describe the theca lutein cells.

Answer 28

Differentiated theca interna cells found in the folds of the corpus luteum that make androstenedione

Question 29

What is the corpus albicans?

Answer 29

Degenerated corpus luteum from the remaining unfertilized ovum that forms scar tissue

Question 30

What is the fate of the corpus albicans?

Answer 30

Gradually gets absorbed by macrophages

Question 31

Describe the infundibulum of the fallopian tube.

Answer 31

Funnel-shaped portion near the free end of the ovary with projections called fimbriae

Question 32

Describe the ampulla of the fallopian tube.

Answer 32

Longest part of the tube with a highly folded mucosa

Question 33

What is the normal site of fertilization in the fallopian tube?

Answer 33

The ampulla

Question 34

Describe the isthmus of the fallopian tube.

Answer 34

Short, narrow portion entering the uterine wall

Question 35

Describe the intramural portion of the fallopian tube.

Answer 35

Traverses the uterine wall and opens into the lumen of the uterus

Question 36

What are the layers of the oviducts?

Answer 36

Mucosa, muscularis, serosa

Question 37

Describe the mucosa of oviducts.

Answer 37

Simple columnar epithelium with cilia; the mucosa of infundibulum and ampulla has longitudinal folds

Question 38

Describe the histology of the isthmus.

Answer 38

No longitudinal folds, more peg cells, complete inner and outer muscularis layers giving it a thicker wall and smaller lumen

Question 39

Describe the muscularis of oviducts.

Answer 39

Inner circular and outer longitudinal layers that facilitate transport of the oocyte

Question 40

What are peg cells?

Answer 40

Secretory cells in the epithelium of oviducts

Question 41

What are capacitation factors?

Answer 41

Stuff secreted by peg cells that helps sperm cells to be able to bind to eggs

Question 42

Compare longitudinal folds in the infundibulum and oviduct.

Answer 42

They are smaller in the ampulla, but more numerous

Question 43

What is the internal os?

Answer 43

Opening between the lumen of the uterus and cervical canal

Question 44

What is the external os?

Answer 44

Opening of the cervical canal into the vagina

Question 45

Describe the endometrium.

Answer 45

Mucosal layer of the uterus containing tubular glands, simple columnar ciliated epithelium, and stroma

Question 46

Describe the myometrium.

Answer 46

Thickest layer of the uterus aka the muscle layer with an inner longitudinal, middle circular, and outer longitudinal layer

Question 47

Describe the perimetrium.

Answer 47

Serosa with connective tissue

Question 48

What are the layers of the endometrium?

Answer 48

Basalis and functionalis

Question 49

Which layer of the endometrium remains following menstruation?

Answer 49

The basalis

Question 50

Describe the endometrium in the proliferative phase.

Answer 50

The stroma and functionalis are restored, uterine glands are straight and narrow, endometrium in 2-3 mm thick

Question 51

Describe the endometrium in the secretory phase.

Answer 51

Uterine glands become dilated and coiled, endometrium reaches maximum thickness, blood-filled lacunae form in the functionalis

Question 52

The secretory phase is synchronized with…

Answer 52

Ovulation and production of progesterone by the corpus luteum

Question 53

Describe the menstrual phase.

Answer 53

Drops in progesterone and estrogen cause spiral arteries supplying the functionalis contract and release prostaglandins, causing vasoconstriction and hypoxic injury. Blood vessels rupture, endometrium becomes partially detached.

Question 54

What are arcuate arteries of the endometrium?

Answer 54

Those that branch from the uterine artery and are found on the edges in the middle layer of myometrium

Question 55

Arcuate arteries give rise to ___ and ___

Answer 55

Straight arteries and spiral arteries

Question 56

What are straight arteries?

Answer 56

Supply the basalis

Question 57

What are spiral arteries?

Answer 57

Supply the functionalis

Question 58

What is the transformation zone?

Answer 58

An area in the cervix where simple columnar epithelium changes to stratified squamous epithelium; usually just outside the external os

Question 59

What causes a lower pH in the vagina?

Answer 59

Lactobacilli metabolize glycogen that accumulates in response to estrogens to lactic acids, lowering the pH

Question 60

What mucosal glands are in the vagina?

Answer 60

None! Mucus secretions are derived from cervical glands

Question 61

Describe the muscularis of the vagina.

Answer 61

Composed mostly of longitudinal bundles of smooth muscle fibers, with some circular bundle present

Question 62

Does the vagina have adventitia or serosa?

Answer 62

Adventitia