Female Reproductive System

Front 1

What are the layers of the ovary?

Back 1

1. Cuboidal "germinal" epithelium
2. Tunica albuginea
3. Ovarian cortex: contains ovarian follicles
4. Ovarian medulla: contains rich vascular bed

Front 2

What are the ovaries suspended by?

Back 2

Ovarian ligament

Front 3

Primordial follicles

Back 3

Small oocytes at ovarian surface
Simple squamous epithelium

Front 4

Primary follicles

Back 4

Granulosa cells: cuboidal cells that surround oocytes in unilaminar or multilaminar layers

Zona pellucida: glycoprotein membrane surrounding PM of developing ovum starts to develop

Front 5

Secondary follicles

Back 5

(Vesicular)
Follicular fluid: accumulates and causes space to develop between granulosa cells
Zona pellucida: continues development
Granulosa cells
Thecal cells: condensations of stromal cells at perimeter

Front 6

Tertiary follicles

Back 6

(Antral)
Antral cavity: coalescence of fluid-filled spaces
Granulosa: layers at perimeter
Zona pellucida: clearly visible
Cumulus oophorus: peninsula of granulosa cells surrounding developingn ovum
Theca interna: well-vascularized layer of endocrine cells
Theca externa: external condensation of flattened stromal cells
Corona radiata

Front 7

Graafian follicles

Back 7

Bulge from ovarian surface (in preparation for ovulation)
Very big cell

Front 8

Atresic follicles

Back 8

Follicular atresia: regression/involution of remaining follicles that will not reach maturity
Empty eosinophilic remnant of zona pellucida

Front 9

Corpus luteum

Back 9

Follicle differentiation into corpus luteum midcycle

Front 10

What stimulates follicle differentiation into corpus luteum?

Back 10

Midcycle LH surge

Front 11

What events do the midcycle LH surge stimulate?

Back 11

1. Ovulation
2. Egg discharge from follicle
3. Hemorrhage into follicle
4. Follicle differentiation into corpus luteum

Front 12

Stages of follicle differentiation into corpus luteum

Back 12

1. Capillaries invade antral cavity from theca interna
2. Proliferation of granulosa and theca interna cells --> granulosa lutein, thecal lutein

Front 13

Corpus luteum function

Back 13

1. Postovulatory endocrine organ of ovary that produces progesterone

2. Maintains endometrium during secretory phase

Front 14

What happens if the egg is fertilized?

Back 14

1. Corpus luteum is sustained by HCG from trophoblasts of developoingn placenta

2. Corpus luteum maintains placenta during 1st trimester

3. Placenta takes over as endocrine organ thereafter

Front 15

What hormones are secreted by the placenta?

Back 15

1. Progesterone
2. HCG
3. Estrogen
4. Placental lactogenic hormone
etc

Front 16

What happens if the egg is not fertilized?

Back 16

1. Corpus luteum reduces and involutes into acellular collagenous scar
2. Corpus albicans is formed and resorbed over time

Front 17

What stimulates proliferation of preovulatory follicles?

Back 17

FSH

Front 18

What stimulates proliferation of postovulatory follicles?

Back 18

LH

Front 19

In what state are primary oocytes arrested and what stimulates development beyond this stage?

Back 19

Prophase Meiosis I until LH surge

Note: Primary oocytes refer to primordial, primary, and secondary, and tertiary follicles

Front 20

In what state are secondary oocytes arrested and what stimulates developed beyond this stage?

Back 20

Metaphase Meiosis II until fertilization

Front 21

What is shed during meiotic division? Why?

Back 21

Polar bodies;

To conserve cytoplasm, its organelles, and yolk proteins for just one egg

Front 22

Where do the polar bodies end up?

Back 22

Trapped outside egg underneath zona pellucida

Front 23

What are the major components of the female uterus?

Back 23

1. Myometrium
2. Endometrium

Front 24

Myometrium composition

Back 24

Thick muscular wall with thick walled vessels

Front 25

Endometrium composition

Back 25

1. Stratum functionale: undergoes changes in thickness and appearance
2. Stratum basale: residual layer that remains after menstruation and gives rise to new stratum functionale

Front 26

Uterine cycle phases

Back 26

1. Menstrual phase
2. Proliferative phase (Preovulatory)
3. Secretory phase (Postovulatory)

Front 27

Menstrual phase

Back 27

Endometrium is thin, non-epithelialized

Front 28

Proliferative phase

Back 28

Endometrium is intermediate
Straight simple glands with columnar epithelium

Front 29

What is the proliferative phase dependent upon?

Back 29

Estrogen

Front 30

Secretory phase

Back 30

Endometrium is thickest (via s. functionale thickening)
Tortuous simple glands with glycogen-rich epithelium
Well vascularized lamina propria
Spiral arteries (helicine arterioles)
Nutritive environment set for implantation of embryo

Front 31

What is the secretory phase dependent upon?

Back 31

Progesterone

Front 32

What is the placenta derived from?

Back 32

1. Extraembryonic fetal tissue
2. Epithelial surfaces developing from trophoblastic layer

Front 33

Placenta function

Back 33

1. Serves as endocrine organ to maintain pregnancy after first trimester
Secretes: HCG, progesterone, estrogen, lactogenic hormone, etc
2. Nutrient/waste and gas exchange

Front 34

Cotyledons

Back 34

Modular unit of placental circulation

Front 35

Villi

Back 35

Branch from anchoring villus in each cotyledon

Front 36

Fetal placental circulation is composed of what?

Back 36

2 arteries and 1 vein

Front 37

What is contained within the intervillous space?

Back 37

Maternal blood (pumped by spiral arteries of uterus)

Front 38

What are the layers of the trophoblastic epithelium?

Back 38

1. Cytotrophoblast
2. Syncytiotrophoblast

Front 39

What are the functions of these layers?

Back 39

1. Cytotrophoblast: gives rise to outer syncytial layer via cell fusion
2. Syncytiotrophoblast: anatomical substrate for fetal-maternal barrier, source of placental hormones, location of synthesis of nutrients used by embryo

Front 40

Syncytial knots are formed by what?

Back 40

Degenerating cellular nodules of syncytiotrophoblast

Front 41

What is unique about the vaginal wall epithelium?

Back 41

1. High glycogen content and acidic pH that confers resistance to bacterial infection (wears with age)

2. Fibromuscular wall (much less muscle than uterus)

Front 42

Nabothian cysts

Back 42

Found within the cervix; normal cystoid glandular structures

Front 43

Infundibulum

Back 43

At ovarian end with fibria that sweep ovarian surface for egg

Front 44

Intramural oviduct

Back 44

simple channel surrounded by uterine smooth muscle

Front 45

What is characteristic about the oviduct epithelium?

Back 45

1. Ciliated, simple columnar to propel sperm upward or egg downward
2. Elaborately infolded mucosa
3. Muscular wall with inner circular and outer longitudinal layers

Front 46

Where does the mammary gland open on to?

Back 46

Modified sweat gland that opens to surface of nipple

Front 47

What characterizes an inactive mammary gland?

Back 47

Fat, fibrous tissue

Few ducts present

Cuboidal epithelium

Front 48

What characterizes an active mammary gland?

Back 48

1. Duct system proliferation and differentiation under influence of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, placental lacotropin

2. Production of alveolar clusters and secretion from acinar cells

Front 49

What is secreted form the acinar cells of active mammary glands?

Back 49

1. Casein (principle milk protein)
2. Lipid
3. Secretory IgA packaging (confers passive immunity to newborn)

Front 50

How is milk ejected?

Back 50

Suckling reflex which stimulates:
1. Oxytocin release from posterior pituitary
2. Myoepithelial cell contraction around secretory acini

Front 51

What is the function of theca interna?

Back 51

Well-vascularized layer of endocrine cells;

Secretes androgens that are converted to estrogen by Granulosa cells

Front 52

What is secreted during the secretory phase?

Back 52

Glycogen

Front 53

What are the layers of the oviduct?

Back 53

1. Intramural
2. Isthmus
3. Ampulla
4. Infundibulum

Front 54

What kind of epithelium is found in the ampulla of the oviduct?

Back 54

Ciliated, simple columnar

Front 55

Where is the usual site of fertilization?

Back 55

Ampulla

Front 56

What promotes milk formation?

Back 56

Prolactin

Front 57

What promotes milk ejection?

Back 57

Oxytocin (suckling reflex)

Front 58

What characteristics does the nipple share with the thin lip?

Back 58

Sebaceous glands (no hair follicles)
Dermal papillae
Melanin pigment

Front 59

Glands of Montgomery

Back 59

Sebaceous glands of the nipple (no hair follicle)