FEMALE

REPRODUCTIVE Wednesday November 19

SYSTEM HISTOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
2 major processes occur within the ovaries
1. Oogenesis – transformation of female germ cells (oogonia) into mature ova
2. Folliculogenesis – maturation of an ovarian follicle
After puberty, oogenesis and folliculogenesis occur
simultaneously
The ovary consists of an outer cortex and inner medulla
 Cortex – contains ovarian follicles at various stages of maturation
 Medulla – heavily vascularized, fibroelastic CT
The surface of the ovary is covered with simple squamous to
cuboidal epithelium called the germinal epithelium
Thick, white capsular layer surrounding ovary is called the tunica
albuginea
OVARY
Within the ovaries, follicles are
concentrically arranged in cortex
 Differing stages of follicular Primordial follicles located in cortex of ovary
development throughout
 As oocytes mature, they expand in
cortex and push through tunica
albuginea
 There is a layer of germative cells
(cuboidal epithelium) that surround
the tunica albuginea
OVARY
Oocytes are centrally placed in primordial follicle
Women are born with 500,000 follicles
Ideally, only one follicle is selected per ovulation
 Primordial  Primary  Secondary  Graafian

OVARY
Follicle Maturation:
Simple squamous cells surround primordial follicle, then granulosa cells
become cuboidal in appearance when follicle matures to the primary follicle
Starting to become
primary Primordial
Primary follicle follicles
(squamous)

Primary
follicles
(cuboidal)
 Primordial  Primary  Secondary  Graafian

OVARY
Follicle Maturation:
The primary follicle becomes the secondary follicle
 “Egg cloud” or cumulus oophorous = mound of granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte
 Antrum forms - can see colloid inside (fluid produced by granulosa and thecal cells)

Colloid pool
(antrum)
 Primordial  Primary  Secondary  Graafian

OVARY
Follicle Maturation:
Secondary follicle
 Cumulus oophorus = “egg cloud”
 Extra protection for oocyte during travel of the oocyte through fallopian tube

Cumulus
oopherus

Oocyte
Granulosa cells
 Primordial  Primary  Secondary  Graafian

OVARY
Tertiary follicle = Graafian follicle
 This is the follicle that will ovulate
 Only one (or maybe two)!

The only difference between a large

secondary follicle and a Graafian follicle
is that the granulosa cells stop dividing in
the Graafian follicle.
The Graafian follicle contains the primary
oocyte.
OVARY
Degenerating secondary follicle (atretic follicle) – never ovulated
 Remnants of zona pellucida
 Look like intensely stained fibrous rings
 Stick around for a while and make ovary less effective

Atretic
follicles
OVARY
Normal cell death (NOT necrosis)
Degeneration of granulosa cells
OVARY
After fertilization and implantation,
follicle becomes corpus luteum
Production of additional hormones
– progesterone – to support
growth of fetus
Placenta will eventually take over
role of hormone production
OVARY
Corpus luteum
OVARY
More pregnancies  more corpus luteum  more scarring (corpus albicans)
OVARY
Summary:
Development of the follicle
 UTERINE TUBE
2 types of epithelial cells
 Ciliated columnar cells – primary,
helps move oocytes toward body of
uterus
 Non-ciliated “peg” cells

Layers of uterine tube

 Loose CT of serosa
 Simple squamous mesothelium
 Muscularis – disorganized
 Mucosa
UTERINE TUBE
Watch out! Uterine tube can be confused with other structures, including the vas
deferens!
Vas
Uterine tube Deferens
UTERUS
This is the layer that
sloughs off during
Endometrium – epithelial layer and menses
underlying lamina propria
 This is the only layer that changes based S.
functionalis
on hormone secretion
 Phases: S. basale
 Functional layer engorged with blood (ideal location
for embryo)
 Stratum functionalis is maintained and placenta
grows into this
 If implantation is not successful, larger blood
vessels in stratum functionalis, cells undergo
necrosis and slough off
 Exposed arteries in stratum basal
 Stratum functionalis starts growing again

Myometrium and Serosa do NOT

change
UTERUS

Glands
Lacuna – blood cavities that
develop, provide nutrients to
embryo
UTERUS
3 phases:
1. Menstrual phase – endrometrium sloughs off
2. Proliferative phase – increasing space and
vasculature to prepare for implantation
3. Secretory phase – columnar appearance of uterine
glands, embryo needs nutrients provided by
endometrium

1 2 3
CERVIX
Epithelium and muscular wall changes
 Stratified squamous epithelium – protection
from abrasive forces (i.e. penis during
intercourse)
 Thicker smooth muscle
 Smaller endometrium

Barrier prevents fetus from leaving too

early and keeps fetus held in place
Nabothian cysts – blocked glands, full
of colloid; critical once amniotic sac
breaks to provide lubrication to help
baby come out
CERVIX
Uterus
epithelium
Endocervix – closer to (columnar)
baby (uterus), columnar
epithelium
Ectocervix – closer to
vagina, stratified Glands
squamous of
uterus
Vagina epithelium
(stratified squamous)
Nabothian
cyst
VAGINA
Layers
 Surrounded by
adventitia (non-moving
organ)
 Separates from rectum and
urinary bladder
 Muscularis layer
 Lamina propria
MAMMILLARY GLANDS
Fatty with lots of ducts = lactating

Not those
kind of ducks!