FEMALE

REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
IKA MURTI H.
HISTOLOGY-FK UNSOED
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
 EXTERNAL GENITALIA

- MONS VENERIS
- LABIA MAJORA
- LABIA MINORA
- CLITORIS
- VULVA
- BULBUS VESTIBULE
- INTROITUS VAGINA
 INTERNAL GENITALIA

- OVARIUM
- UTERUS
- OVIDUCTS (FALLOPIAN TUBES)
- VAGINA
 ACESSORY

PLACENTA
MAMMARY GLANDS
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
 MAIN REFERENCES
MESCHER, A. JUNQUIERAS BASIC HISTOLOGY: TEXT AND
ATLAS THIRTEENTH EDITION. NEW YORK: MCGRAW-HILL
GARTNER & HIAT. COLOR TEXTBOOK OF HISTOLOGY. THIRD
EDITION.
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
 EXTERNAL GENITALIA : VULVA
LABIA MAJORA
SKIN FOLD, ADIPOSE TISSUE >>, SMOOTH MUSCLE <
SWEAT & SEBACEOUS GLANDS
HOMOLOGOUS OF SCROTUM

LABIA MINORA
SKIN FOLD, MEDIAL TO LABIA MAYORA
ELASTIC FIBERS >>
SEBACEOUS GLAND >>, VESSELS >>, NERVES >>
VESTIBULUM
COLLECTS BARTHOLINI & MINOR VESTIBULARIS GLANDS
ORIFICIUM URETHRA EXTERNA & INTROITUS VAGINA
HYMEN FIBROVASCULAR TISSUE
 EXTERNAL GENITALIA : VULVA

CLITORIS
TIPS OF BOTH LABIA MINORA GLANS CLITORIDIS

HOMOLOGOUS OF PENIS

ERECTILE TISSUE

BLOOD VESSELS >>

NERVES : CORPUSCULUM MEISSNER & PACCINI

INTERNAL GENITALIA
INTERNAL GENITALIA
 OVARIES
ALMOND SHAPED, 3 CM X 1.5 CM X 1 CM
GERMINAL EPITHELIUM; TUNICA ALBUGINEA
2 REGION:
CORTEX (ZONA PARENCHYMATOSA) : OVARIAN FOLICLES IN MANY
STADIA
MEDULLA (ZONA VASCULOSA) : BLOOD VESSELS, NERVES, LYMPH,
FIBROELASTIC CT
FUNCTION:
OOGENESIS
STEROIDOGENESIS ENDOCRINE (ESTROGEN, PROGESTERON)
 OVARIUM :
GERMINAL EPITHELIUM
- the surface epithelium covering the ovaries (modified peritoneum)
- low cuboidal epithelium derived from the mesothelial epithelium
CORTEX OVARII
Follicle development and changes within the ovary
 EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF THE OVARY
FIRST MONTH OF EMBRYONIC LIFE : PRIMORDIAL GERM CELLS
DIFFERENTIATE AS OOGONIA
TWO-MONTH EMBRYO : 600,000 OOGONIA
FIFTH MONTH : >7 MILLION
PRIMARY OOCYTES FOLLICULAR CELLS WITHIN AN OVARIAN FOLLICLE
SEVENTH MONTH : PRIMARY OOCYTES
MANY PRIMARY OOCYTES ARE ATRESIA
AT PUBERTY THE OVARIES CONTAIN ABOUT 300,000 OOCYTES
ONLY ONE OOCYTE RESUMES MEIOSIS WITH OVULATION DURING EACH
MENSTRUAL CYCLE (AVERAGE DURATION, 28 DAYS)
ALL OTHERS DEGENERATE THROUGH ATRESIA
 OVARIAN FOLLICLES

TA

PF
GE
S

Stages of ovarian follicles, from primordial to mature

 PRIMORDIAL FOLLICLES

MOST PRIMITIVE
CONSISTS OF :
PRIMARY OOCYTE
25 M
BIG, PALE NUCLEUS
FOLLICLE CELLS
SIMPLE SQUAMOUS CELLS
 PRIMARY FOLLICLES

PRIMARY OOSIT
CUBOIDAL FOLLICLE CELLS
1 LAYER : UNILAMINAR PRIMARY FOLLICLE
FOLLICLE CELL PROLIFERATION GRANULOSA CELLS
MULTILAMINAR PRIMARY FOLLICLE

ZONA PELLUCIDA : SEPARATING THE OOCYTE FROM THE

SURROUNDING FOLLICULAR CELLS
THECA INTERNA
RECEPTOR FOR LH
PRODUCE ESTRADIOL
 PRIMARY FOLLICLES

TI
FC

GE
PO

ZP
 SECONDARY (ANTRAL) FOLLICLES

200 M
LIQUOR FOLLIKULI IN CALL-EXNER
BODIES ANTRUM FOLIKULLI TE

THECA INTERNA-EXTERNA

LF TI
 FOLIKEL DE GRAAF
MATURE OR PREOVULATORY
FOLLICLE
ANTRUM
2, 5 CM (OVULATION)
CUMULUS OOPHORUS
CORONA RADIATA
MEMBRANA GRANULOSA
FOLIKEL DE GRAAF : CUMULUS OOPHORUS
WALL OF ANTRAL FOLLICLE
 FOLLICULAR ATRESIA

FOLLICULAR CELLS AND

OOCYTES DIE
DISPOSED OF BY PHAGOCYTIC
CELLS
APOPTOSIS AND DETACHMENT
OF THE GRANULOSA CELLS,
AUTOLYSIS OF THE OOCYTE
AND COLLAPSE OF THE ZONA
PELLUCIDA
 OVULATION
14 DAYS BEFORE NEXT MENSTRUATION
1 OOCYTE/OVULATION
CORPUS RUBRUM CORPUS LUTEUM (PRODUCE
PROGESTERON)
NO FERTILIZATION CORPUS ALBICANS
FERTILIZATION CORPUS LUTEUM GRAVIDARUM
 CORPUS LUTEUM

formed from the remnants of

the graafian follicle
A temporary endocrine
gland that manufactures
and releases hormones that
support the uterine
endometrium
 CORPUS ALBICANS

DEGENERATION OF
CORPUS LUTEUM
PHAGOCYTOSED BY
MACROPHAGES,
FIBROBLASTS ENTER,
MANUFACTURE TYPE I
COLLAGEN
FORM A FIBROUS
STRUCTURE
OVIDUCTS (FALLOPIAN TUBES)
 OVIDUCTS (FALLOPIAN TUBES)
PAIRED DUCTS THAT CATCH THE OVULATED SECONDARY
OOCYTE
NOURISH BOTH THE OOCYTE AND SPERM, PROVIDE THE
MICROENVIRONMENT FOR FERTILIZATION
TRANSPORT THE EMBRYO UNDERGOING CLEAVAGE TO THE
UTERUS
OVIDUCTS (FALLOPIAN TUBES)
 LAYERS OF THE WALL
MUCOSA
o SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM : CILIATED CELL, SECRETORY
CELL (PEG CELL)
o LAMINA PROPRIA
MUSCULARIS :
A THICK MUSCULARIS WITH SOMEWHAT INTERWOVEN
CIRCULAR (OR SPIRAL) AND LONGITUDINAL LAYERS OF
SMOOTH MUSCLE
SEROSA :
THIN SEROSA COVERED BY VISCERAL PERITONEUM WITH
MESOTHELIUM (SIMPLE SQUAMOUS EPITHEL)
 OVIDUCTS
(FALLOPIAN TUBES)

A cross-section of the uterine tube at the

antrum shows the interwoven circular (C)
and longitudinal (L) layers of smooth
muscle in the muscularis and in the
complex of folded mucosa, the lamina
propria (LP) underlying a simple columnar
epithelium (arrows). X140. H&E.
 OVIDUCTS
(FALLOPIAN TUBES)
The epithelium (E) contains primarily two
columnar cell types, ciliated and nonciliated,
with the latter showing darker staining apical
pegs bulging into the lumen (L). X200. PT.
 MUCOSA OF THE
UTERINE TUBE WALL
Higher magnification of the epithelium
shows the ciliated cells (CC) interspersed
with the secretory cells (SC), which
produce the nutritive fluid covering the
epithelium
OVIDUCTS (FALLOPIAN TUBES)
 UTERUS

PEAR SHAPED, 7 X 4 X 2,5 CM3

3 PARTS:
CORPUS
FUNDUS
CERVIX
CORPUS & FUNDUS:
MUCOSA : ENDOMETRIUM
MUSCULARIS : MYOMETRIUM
SEROSA/ADVENTITIA : PERIMETRIUM
UTERUS
Kelenjar endometrium

perimetrium
 ADVENTITIA/SEROSA
DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE WITH ATTACHED MESOTHELIUM (SEROSA)
DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE (ADVENTITIA)
BLOOD VESSELS
 MYOMETRIUM

THICKEST LAYER
INNER AND OUTER LAYERS ARE MOSTLY LONGITUDINAL IN ORIENTATION
MIDDLE LAYERS ARE MORE CIRCULAR
MIDDLE LAYER THICKENS IN PREGNANCY WITH MORE SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS
AND INCREASED COLLAGEN
The myometrium is composed
of inner longitudinal, middle
circular, and outer longitudinal
layers of smooth muscle
 ENDOMETRIUM

SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM INVAGINATED INTO SIMPLE

TUBULAR GLANDS
CILIATED COLUMNAR CELLS AND SECRETORY COLUMNAR CELLS
LAMINA PROPRIA OF HIGHLY CELLULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE AND
VESSELS
2 ZONES IN ENDOMETRIUM
FUNCTIONAL LAYER
BASAL LAYER
 ENDOMETRIAL LAYERS

FUNCTIONAL LAYER
o SURFACE LAYER SLOUGHED OFF DURING MENSTRUATION
o REPLACED DURING EACH MENSTRUAL CYCLE

BASAL LAYER
o DEEPER LAYER RETAINED AFTER MENSTRUATION
o GLAND CELLS GIVE RISE TO NEW EPITHELIUM
 Endometrial Layers
The endometrium can be subdivided
into two zones :
(1) The basal layer adjacent to the
myometrium, contains highly
cellular lamina propria and the
deep basal ends of the uterine
glands
(2) The superficial functional layer
(or functionalis) contains more
spongy and less cellular lamina
propria, richer in ground
substance, most of the length of
the glands, as well as the surface
epithelium
ENDOMETRIUM VASCULATURE
The functionalis is vascularized by
numerous coiled helical arteries,
which originate from the arcuate
arteries of the stratum vasculare,
located in the middle layer of the
myometrium.
The coiled arteries give rise to a
rich capillary network that supplies
the glands and connective tissue of
the functionalis
Another set of arteries, the straight
arteries, also originate from the
arcuate arteries but are much
shorter and supply only the basalis
 MENSTRUAL CYCLE

ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE FROM OVARY

STIMULATE CHANGES IN THE ENDOMETRIUM
28 DAY CYCLE ON AVERAGE
BEGINS AGE 12-15 AND ENDS AGE 45-50
3 MAIN PHASES OF CYCLE :
o MENSTRUAL PHASE : DAYS 1-4
o PROLIFERATIVE (FOLLICULAR) PHASE : DAYS 5-14
o OVULATION AROUND DAY 14
o SECRETORY (LUTEAL) PHASE : DAYS 15-28
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
 PROLIFERATIVE (FOLLICULAR)
PHASE
DAYS 5-14 LEADING UP TO OVULATION
ENDOMETRIUM CONSISTS OF JUST GLAND BASES
CELLS OF GLAND BASES PROLIFERATE FORMING SIMPLE COLUMNAR
EPITHELIUM
2-3 MM OF ENDOMETRIUM FORM WITH GLANDS OF STRAIGHT TUBES
WITH NARROW LUMENS
COILED ARTERIES GROW INTO REGENERATED LAMINA PROPRIA
Proliferative (Follicular) Phase
 SECRETORY (LUTEAL) PHASE

BEGINS AFTER OVULATION, DAYS 15-28

CORPUS LUTEUM FORMS AND PRODUCES PROGESTERONE
GLANDS DEVELOP FURTHER, BECOME COILED AND BEGIN TO
SECRETE GLYCOGEN
STROMAL EDEMA, GLYCOGEN >>
ENDOMETRIUM REACHES 5 MM THICK
Secretory (Luteal) Phase
 MENSTRUAL PHASE

DAY 1-4 MENSES

PROGESTERONE AND ESTROGEN DECREASE COILED ARTERIES TO CONSTRICT
CUTTING OFF BLOOD FLOW TO THE FUNCTIONAL LAYER OF ENDOMETRIUM
ENDOMETRIAL CELLS DIE; FUNCTIONAL LAYER SLOUGHED OFF
VESSELS DISTAL TO CONSTRICTIONS SHED WITH THE FUNCTIONAL LAYER
BLEEDING
PREMENSTRUAL PHASE
 UTERINE CERVIX
THE TERMINAL END OF THE UTERUS THAT PROTRUDES
INTO THE VAGINA
 UTERINE CERVIX

LINED BY MUCOUS SECRETING

SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
PART OF CERVIX IN UPPER VAGINA
HAS STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
NONKERATINIZED EPITHELIUM
SQUAMO-COLUMNAR JUNCTION
SOME SMOOTH MUSCLE AND MUCH
CONNECTIVE TISSUE IN LAMINA
PROPRIA
 UTERINE CERVIX

CERVICAL MUCOSA HAS MUCOUS GLANDS

CERVICAL MUCOSA REMAINS INTACT DURING MENSTRUAL
CYCLE
CERVICAL GLAND SECRETIONS VARY DURING MENSTRUAL CYCLE
o AT OVULATION : MUCOUS IS WATERY SPERM CAN PENETRATE EASILY
o IN LUTEAL PHASE/PREGNANCY: VISCOUS MUCOUS BLOCK SPERM OR
MICROBES
 VAGINA
THE WALL OF THE VAGINA CONSISTS OF THREE LAYERS: A
MUCOSA, A MUSCULAR LAYER, AND AN ADVENTITIA
EPITHELIUM IS STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS PARTLY KERATINIZED
NO GLANDS IN EPITHELIUM
UNDERLYING LAMINA PROPRIA OF LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE,
HIGHLY VASCULARIZED WITH MANY ELASTIC FIBERS
MUSCULAR LAYER OF CIRCULAR AND LONGITUDINAL SMOOTH
MUSCLE
ADVENTITIA OF DENSE IRREGULAR CONNECTIVE TISSUE WITH
ELASTIC FIBERS, MANY VESSELS AND NERVES
 MAMMARY GLANDS

DEVELOP EMBRYOLOGICALLY AS INVAGINATIONS OF SURFACE

ECTODERM
EACH MAMMARY GLAND CONSISTS OF 1525 LOBES OF THE
COMPOUND TUBULOALVEOLAR TYPE
SECRETE MILK TO NOURISH NEWBORNS
EACH LOBE IS A SEPARATE GLAND WITH ITS OWN EXCRETORY
LACTIFEROUS DUCT
LACTIFEROUS DUCT : EACH 24.5 CM LONG, EMERGE INDEPENDENTLY
IN THE NIPPLE
THE HISTOLOGIC STRUCTURE OF THE MAMMARY GLANDS VARIES
ACCORDING TO SEX, AGE, AND PHYSIOLOGIC STATUS
MAMMARY GLAND
 RESTING (NONSECRETING) MAMMARY GLANDS

HAVE THE SAME BASIC ARCHITECTURE AS THE LACTATING (ACTIVE)

MAMMARY GLAND
SMALLER AND WITHOUT DEVELOPED ALVEOLI
LACTIFEROUS DUCTS ARE LINED BY :
- STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS (KERATINIZED) EPITHELIUM
- STRATIFIED CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM
- SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM.
LACTIFEROUS SINUS : SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
STELLATE MYOEPITHELIAL CELLS LOCATED BETWEEN THE EPITHELIUM
AND THE BASAL LAMINA
RESTING (NONSECRETING) MAMMARY GLANDS
 LACTATING (ACTIVE) MAMMARY GLANDS
GROWTH DURING PREGNANCY
SYNERGISTIC ACTION OF SEVERAL HORMONES, MAINLY
ESTROGEN, PROGESTERONE, PROLACTIN, AND HUMAN
PLACENTAL LACTOGEN
PROLIFERATION OF SECRETORY ALVEOLI AT THE ENDS OF THE
INTRALOBULAR DUCTS
THE SPHERICAL ALVEOLI ARE COMPOSED OF CUBOIDAL
EPITHELIUM
WITH STELLATE MYOEPITHELIAL CELLS BETWEEN THE SECRETORY
CELLS AND THE BASAL LAMINA
LACTATING (ACTIVE) MAMMARY
GLANDS
ALVEOLAR DEVELOPMENT IN THE BREAST DURING
PREGNANCY
ACTIVE VERSUS LACTATING ALVEOLI
PLACENTA
 PLACENTA

FUNCTIONS
ATTACH THE FETUS TO THE
UTERINE WALL
PROVIDE NUTRIENTS TO THE
FETUS
ALLOW THE FETUS TO TRANSFER
WASTE PRODUCTS TO THE
MOTHER'S BLOOD
 PLACENTA
SURFACE :
1. BASAL PLATE (MATERNAL SURFACE) :
ANCHORED TO THE UTERUS BY THE DECIDUA BASALIS CELLS
INSERTION SITE OF THE ANCHORING VILLI INTO MATERNAL
ENDOMETRIUM
GASES AND METABOLITES ARE EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE FETAL AND
MATERNAL CIRCULATION THROUGH THE CHORIONIC VILLI
INVASIVE INTERMEDIATE TROPHOBLASTS (+)
2. CHORIONIC PLATE (FETAL SURFACE) :
STEM VILLI ARISING FROM UMBILICAL VESSELS SURROUNDED BY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE AND FIBRIN
COVERED BY A LAYER OF AMNION AND CHORION
 The surface of the placenta closest to the developing fetus is the amnion
(arrowhead). The single layer of cuboidal cells is bathed by the amniotic fluid and
rests on a basement membrane that separates it from the underlying connective
tissue of the chorionic plate (arrow)
Embedded within the tissue of the uterus are anchoring villi (arrow) that attach the
placenta to the uterine wall. In this image, the maternal tissue is located at the top of
the screen, and the cellular connective tissue of the villus extends from that area
STRUCTURE OF PLACENTA AND
CHORIONIC VILLI
 Primary villi

Secondary villi
Tertiary villi
CHORIONIC VILLI
 TROPHOBLAST
CYTOTROPHOBLAST
- PRESENT IN EARLY GESTATION
- DIFFERENTIATES INTO VILLOUS OR EXTRAVILLOUS TROPHOBLAST
- FORMS SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLASTS BY FUSING ON VILLOUS SURFACE
- SMALL, ROUND MONONUCLEAR CELLS WITH DISTINCT CELL BORDER,
MINIMAL CLEAR OR EOSINOPHILIC CYTOPLASM AND SINGLE VESICULAR
NUCLEI
SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLAST
- FORM THE OUTER LAYER OF THE VILLOUS TROPHOBLASTIC MANTLE
- SYNTHESIZE AND SECRETE HCG, HPL
- MULTINUCLEATED GIANT CELLS WITH ABUNDANT EOSINOPHILIC OR
BASOPHILIC CYTOPLASM, OFTEN WITH MULTIPLE INTRACYTOPLASMIC
VACUOLES AND DENSE PYKNOTIC NUCLEI
 The basal lamina (arrow) separates the two types of epithelial cells from the underlying
connective tissue in the chorionic villi. The most numerous cells in the epithelial layer at
this stage of development are the syncytiotrophoblasts, which are smaller and more darkly
stained than the cytotrophoblasts (arrowheads). External to the villi are erythrocytes from
the maternal circulation.
 CHORIONIC VILLI

DB

AV
FV

IS
 DECIDUA
THE FUNCTIONAL LAYER OF THE ENDOMETRIUM
IN A PREGNANT WOMAN THAT SEPARATES
FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE UTERUS AFTER
PARTURITION (CHILDBIRTH)
3 REGIONS :
o THE DECIDUA BASALIS : THE PART OF THE
DECIDUA DEEP TO THE CONCEPTUS THAT
FORMS THE MATERNAL PART OF THE
PLACENTA
o THE DECIDUA CAPSULARIS : THE
SUPERFICIAL PART OF THE DECIDUA
OVERLYING THE CONCEPTUS
o THE DECIDUA PARIETALIS : ALL THE
REMAINING PARTS OF THE DECIDUA
PLACENTA & DECIDUA BASALIS

DB

AV
IS
FV
DEVELOPMENT
OF PLACENTA
DEVELOPMENT OF PLACENTA
PLACENTA
 THE CIRCULATION OF BLOOD
IN THE PLACENTA

The mother's blood is delivered to the spaces between the chorionic villi in the placenta.
The fetal blood is brought to the blood vessels within the villi from the umbilical cord
TERIMAKASIH