R9 - Histology Of The Female Reproductive Tract

Front 1

What are the 2 parts of the ovary?

Back 1

Medulla
Cortex

Front 2

What is the granulosa cell layer?

Back 2

Cell layer found closest to oocyte

Front 3

What is the Theca cell layer?

Back 3

Cell layer found in outer layer

Front 4

What is the structure of a primordial follicle?

Back 4

Oocyte surrounded by squamous epithelium - pregranulosal cells

Front 5

What is the structure of a primary follicle?

Back 5

Larger oocyte surrounded by single layer of cuboidal granulosal cells - separated by zona pellucida

Front 6

Describe the structure of a secondary follicle

Back 6

Oocyte surrounded by stratified granulosal cells
Theca interna and externa forming

Front 7

What is in the zona pellucida?

Back 7

Glycoproteins

Front 8

Describe the structure of a Graafian follicle

Back 8

Fluid-filled antrum develops
Innermost layer of granulosal cells becomes firmly attached to zona pellucida -> corona radiata
Outermost layer becomes firmly attached to BM -> theca folliculi

Front 9

Describe the cortical zone in the mare

Back 9

It has invaginated into medulla
Ovulation fossa - where ovulation occurs

Front 10

What produces the follicular fluid?

Back 10

Corona radiata and cumulus oophorus

Front 11

What does the follicular fluid consist of?

Back 11

Secretions and plasma transudate: enzymes, steroids, hyaluronidase, mucopolysaccharides, folliculostatin

Front 12

What is the function of the zona pellucida?

Back 12

Prevents ova from implanting in wrong place before uterus

Front 13

What are 4 characteristics of follicular atresia

Back 13

Pyknotic nuclei
Cessation of mitosis in granulosa layer
Glassy membrane/ZP
Death of oocyte

Front 14

When does atresia occur?

Back 14

Any point in developmental sequence

Front 15

What do the interstitial glands consist of?

Back 15

Epitheloid cells and stroma of ovary

Front 16

What steroids do they secrete?

Back 16

Oestrogen in prepubertal animals
Oestrogen in ovarian cycle

Front 17

Along with oocyte, what else is expelled from ovary?

Back 17

Corona radiata

Front 18

What are the 2 layers of muscularis propria?

Back 18

Inner circular
Outer longitudinal

Front 19

Describe the mucosal lumen in the uterine tube

Back 19

Large in infundibulum, decreases in ampulla and isthmus

Front 20

What type of epithelium is found in uterine tube?

Back 20

Simple columnar - pseudostratified in sow and cow
Ciliated - found numerous in infundibulum esp. at oestrus
Non-ciliated secretory - numerous in isthmus esp. at metoestrus

Front 21

Where is the muscularis propria most developed?

Back 21

Isthmus

Front 22

What is significant about the endometrium?

Back 22

This is where implantation of the egg occurs

Front 23

What are the 2 layers of endometrium?

Back 23

Zona functionalis
Zona basalis

Front 24

What does the endometrium consist of?

Back 24

Zona functionalis - Epithelium and connective tissue
Simple cuboidal (pseudostratified patches in sow and cow)
Zona basalis - Simple coiled and branched tubular glands - oestrogen increases growth and branching - progesterone increases secretion of histiotrophe/uterine milk

Front 25

What are the 2 more external layers after the endometrium?

Back 25

Myometrium
Perimetrium

Front 26

Describe the caruncles in ewes and cows

Back 26

Highly vascularised and devoid of glands
Concave in sheep
Convex in cows

Front 27

What happens at oestrus to endometrium?

Back 27

Large extracellular spaces form with intercellular fluid -> endometrial oedema

Front 28

Describe the mucosa and submucosa of the cervix

Back 28

Simple columnar ciliated epithelium with goblet cells
Muscular with elastic fibres
Lamina propria - elastic fibres and dense irregular connective tissue
Muscularis propria - IC and OL - mingled with prominent elastic fibres

Front 29

How does the epithelium change at the cervico-vaginal junction?

Back 29

From simple columnar ciliated to stratified squamous epithelium

Front 30

Describe the mucosa and submucosa of the vagina

Back 30

Epithelium - keratinised stratified squamous, cow has goblet cells
Lamina propria - dense CT with elastic fibres

Front 31

What is contained within the submucosa of the vestibule?

Back 31

Major and minor vestibular glands
(small, branched and tubular glands)

Front 32

What tissue is contained within the clitoris?

Back 32

Erectile fibroelastic tissue

Front 33

How does the influence of hormones affect the reproductive organs?

Back 33

Uterine tube -> ciliogenesis
Oestrogen increases growth of epithelial cells
Progesterone increases secretory activity
Increase blood supply and elasticity of CT

Front 34

Describe the hormone changes during the oestrus cycle

Back 34

Anoestrus - low hormones, low epithelium, low glands
Proestrus - mucosal growth, gland proliferation, vascularisation, endometrial oedema
Oestrus - cell proliferation, hyperplasic and microscopic haemorrhage
Dioestrus - progesterone causes secretory activity of endometrium -> histiotrophe

Front 35

What changes occur in the vagina during proestrus and oestrus in the bitch?

Back 35

Proestrus - many erythrocytes, many cornified cells
Oestrus - few erythrocytes, extensive cornification

Cow - more goblet cells during oestrus, less cornified epithelium in cow