2010

2010
The female reproductive system
consists of

• Two ovaries,
• Two oviducts (uterine tubes),
• The uterus,
• The vagina, and
• The external genitalia.
Internal organs of the female reproductive system
 The Female Genital Tract

Schematic drawing of 1. Ovary 7. Uterine mucosa

the female sexual 2. Infundibulum 8. Cervix
organs. Frontal view: 3. Fimbriae 9. Portio
4. Fallopian or uterine tube 10. Vagina
vagina, uterus; right 5. Ampullary part of the tube 11. Ligamentum ovarii proprium
tube and right ovary are 6. Uterine musculature 12. Suspensory ligament of the ovary
cut open. 13. Ovary cut open (follicles in various stages)
Ovaries
Simple squamous or cuboidal epitheli
Ovarian Follicles

Follicular Growth
 Hormonal changes At puberty
& Ovarian cycle
• Hypothalamus produces hormone
• - gonadotropin releasing ( GnRH. )
• GnRH. Acts on Ant. Pituitary
• Ant.Pit. --- Secretes FSH.& LH.
• -these hormones stimulate & control cyclical changes
in ovary
• the Ovarian cycle started
• -cyclical changes in ovary starting from the onset of
puberty

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 11
LH
 Hormones ( produced by Ant.Pituitary & Ovary)
at Puberty
Hypothalamus produces
Gonadotropin-releasing
hormone
(GnRH)…

Anterior Pituitary
produces
FSH.
& LH.

Ovary produces
Fr.Follicular/ Theca cells
Oestrogen
Corpus luteum
Progesterone

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 Ant.Pit. --- Secretes FSH.& LH.

(FSH) (LH)
stimulates the serves as the "trigger" for
development of ovarian ovulation (release of
follicles and the secondary oocyte) and
production of estrogen stimulates the follicular
by the follicular cells. cells and
corpus luteum to produce
progesterone.

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 OVARIAN CYCLE
• FSH and LH produce cyclic changes in the
ovaries-the ovarian cycle
Which include
A. development of follicles,
B. ovulation and
C. corpus luteum formation.

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 A. Follicular Development
Development of an ovarian follicle is characterized by:
- Growth and differentiation of primary oocyte
- Proliferation of follicular cells
- Formation of zona pellucida
- Development of the theca folliculi

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 A. Follicular Development
1. primordial follicles—
consist of a primary
oocyte enveloped by a
single layer of flattened
follicular cells

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 A. Follicular Development
2. primary follicle
Follicular cells divide by
mitosis and form a
single layer of cuboidal
cells; the follicle is then
called a unilaminar
primary follicle
Early primary follicle

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 A. Follicular Development
• Follicular cells continue
to proliferate and form a
multilaminar primary
or preantral follicle

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 A. Follicular Development
• A thick amorphous layer,
the zona pellucida,
surrounds the oocyte.

• Filopodia of follicular
cells and microvilli of the
oocyte penetrate the zona
pellucida and make
contact with one another
via gap junctions.

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 A. Follicular Development

3. secondary or antral
follicles
Liquid (liquor folliculi) begins to
accumulate between the follicular
cells. The small spaces that contain
this fluid coalesce, and the granulosa
cells reorganize themselves to form a
larger cavity, the antrum .
• The follicles are then called
secondary or antral follicles.
Glycosaminoglycans,
progesterone,
androgens, and
estrogens

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 A. Follicular Development
• Cells concentrated at a certain
point on the follicular wall
forms a small hillock of cells,
the cumulus oophorus, that
protrudes toward the interior
of the antrum and contains
the oocyte .
• A group of granulosa cells
concentrates around the
oocyte and forms the corona
radiata. These granulosa cells
accompany the oocyte when it
leaves the ovary.

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 A. Follicular Development
• the fibroblasts of the
stroma immediately
around the follicle
differentiate to form
the theca folliculi
(theca from Greek,
meaning box).
• This layer subsequently
differentiates into the
theca interna and the
theca externa

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 A. Follicular Development

• The theca soon differentiates into two layers,

an internal vascular and glandular layer, the
theca interna, and a capsule-like layer, the
theca externa.

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 A. Follicular Development
• Thecal cells are thought to produce an
angiogenesis factor that promotes growth of
blood vessels in the theca interna, which
provide nutritive support for follicular
development.

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 A. Follicular Development
• The dominant follicle
may reach the most
developed stage of
follicular growth—the
mature, preovulatory,
or graafian follicle— Preovulatory
Graafian follicle
and may ovulate.

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 3. Pre-ovulatory stage
i. formation of Graffian follicle
about 37 hours b/f ovulation
Antrum
- enlarges considerably

Oocyte
-pushed to one side &
embeded in a mound of
cumulus oophorus

Graffian Follicle
-with antrum
&-cumulus oophoricus
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ovary, cumulus oophorus ovary, membrana granulosa
 B Ovulation
• Defination
• -process in which
secondary oocyte is
released from the
ovary
• Time of Ovulation
• -14 day before next
menstruation
• (for woman with regular
• 28 days cycle)

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 B Ovulation
• Around midcycle, the ovarian
follicle, under the influence of
FSH and LH, undergoes a sudden
growth spurt, producing a cystic
swelling or bulge on the surface
of the ovary.

• A small avascular spot, the

stigma, soon appears on this
swelling.

• Before ovulation, the secondary

oocyte and some cells of the
cumulus oophorus detach from
the interior of the distended
follicle.

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 Ovulation
Ovulation is triggered by a surge of LH
production.
Ovulation usually follows the LH peak
by 12 to 24 hours. The LH surge, 1.High level of
elicited by the high estrogen level in estrogen to -
the blood, appears to cause the hypothalamus &
Ant.pituitary
stigma to balloon out, forming
a vesicle.
The stigma soon ruptures, expelling LH. surge
the secondary oocyte with the
follicular fluid. Ovary

Surface bulge
stigma

Ovulation occurs
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 B Ovulation
• The expelled secondary
oocyte is surrounded by
the zona pellucida and
one or more layers of
follicular cells, which
are radially arranged as
the corona radiata,
forming the oocyte-
cumulus complex.

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 B Ovulation
• The LH surge also seems to induce resumption of the
first meiotic division of the primary oocyte.
• Hence, mature ovarian follicles contain secondary
oocytes

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 C Corpus Luteum
• Shortly after ovulation, Under LH influence, the
walls of the ovarian follicle and theca folliculi
collapse and are thrown into folds they develop into a
glandular structure, the corpus luteum

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 corpus luteum

• causing the endometrial

 secretes progesterone glands to secrete and
and prepare the
 some estrogen, endometrium for
implantation of the
blastocyst.

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 Type of corpus luteum
1. corpus luteum of 2 corpus luteum of
pregnancy : menstruation

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 corpus luteum of pregnancy :

1. If the oocyte is fertilized, the corpus

luteum enlarges to form a corpus
luteum of pregnancy and increases
its hormone production.
• Degeneration is prevented by
human chorionic gonadotropin.
• 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• the placenta

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 2. corpus luteum of menstruation

no fertilization, the corpus

luteum involutes and
degenerates 10 to 12 days
after ovulation.
transformed into white scar
tissue in the ovary, a
corpus albicans.

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Oviducts
The wall of the oviduct is composed of three
layers:

1. A mucosa,
2. muscularis
3. a serosa
 The mucosa
characterized by many longitudinal folds

a simple columnar epithelium

The epithelium contains two types of cells

Cilia cell - beat toward the uterus

Secretory cell - viscous liquid film that covers
its surface
 Nonciliated peg cells
have a secretory function

Providing a nutritive and protective environment

for maintaining spermatozoa facilitate
capacitation
 Columnar ciliated cells

Beat in unison toward the uterus.

 A lamina propria
is unremarkable

(loose connective tissue).

 The muscularis

Poorly defined inner circular and outer

longitudinal layers of smooth muscle
 Serora

Simple squamous epithelium

 Serosa

composed of visceral peritoneum.

Uterus
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The wall of the uterus

The endometrium,
The myometrium,
Serosa /adventitia
 The endometrium

Is a mucosa of the uterus.

 Endometrium

Consists of
epithelium and
a lamina propria containing simple tubular
gland
The epithelium

Simple columnar
The connective tissue of the lamina propria

Is rich in fibroblasts and contains abundant

ground substance.
Connective tissue fibers are mostly made
of collagen type III.
The endometrial layer

Divided in to
 The basalis
Is the deepest one, adjacent to the
myometrium;
it contains lamina propria and the closed tips of
the uterine glands.
 The functionalis

Contains the remainder of the lamina

propria and the glands, as well as the surface
epithelium.
 During pregnancy, the myometrium goes through a period of great
growth as a result of both
hyperplasia (an increase in the number of smooth muscle cells) and
hypertrophy (an increase in cell size).

Myometrium

The thickest tunic of the uterus, is composed of

bundles of smooth muscle fibers separated by
connective tissue.
 Myometrium

The bundles of smooth muscle form four poorly

defined layers.
The first and fourth layers are composed
mainly of fibers disposed longitudinally.
The middle layers contain the larger blood
vessels.
aa
endometrium

functionalis
Changes in the uterine glands

in the gland cells during the

menstrual cycle
 Uterine Cervix

The lining consists of a

mucus-secreting simple columnar epithelium.
It has few smooth muscle fibers and
consists mainly (85%) of dense connective
tissue.
 .

Uterine Cervix

The mucosa contains the mucous cervical

glands, which are extensively branched.
 Uterine Cervix

Its external aspect that bulges into the lumen of

the vagina is covered with stratified squamous
epithelium
Vagina
Consists of three layers

A mucosa,
A muscular layer, and
An adventitia.
 A mucosa

Is stratified squamous and has a

thickness of 150–200 um
 Among the cells present are lymphocytes and
neutrophils in relatively large quantities

The lamina propria

loose connective tissue that is very rich in

elastic fibers.
 A sphincter muscle, composed of skeletal
muscle fibers, encircles the vagina at its
external opening

The muscular layer

Mainly of longitudinal bundles of smooth muscle

fiberse externally with
Intermingle with the more circularly arranged
bundles near the lumen
 The adventitia

A coat of dense connective tissue,, rich in

thick elastic fibers, unites the vagina with
the surrounding tissues
External Genitalia/ vulva

Clitoris,
Labia minora,
Labia majora, and
Some glands that open into the vestibulum
 The clitoris

two erectile bodies ending in a rudimentary

glans clitoridis and a prepuce.
Stratified squamous epithelium.
 The labia minora
• Are folds of skin with a core of spongy connective tissue
permeated by elastic fibers.
• The stratified squamous epithelium - thin layer of
keratinized cells on the surface.
• Sebaceous and sweat glands are present on the inner and outer
surfaces of the labia minora.
 The labia majora
• are folds of skin
• large quantity of adipose tissue and a thin layer of smooth
muscle.
• Their inner surface has a histological structure similar to
that of the labia minora.
• The external surface is covered by skin and coarse, curly
hair.
• Sebaceous and sweat glands are numerous on both
surfaces.
• The external genitalia are abundantly supplied with sensory
tactile nerve endings, including Meissner's and Pacinian
corpuscles, which contribute to the physiology of sexual
arousal.
Human vulva showing opening of the
vagina
Photograph of
the vulva.
1. Pubic bone,
2.Clitoral hood,
3. Clitoris,
4. Labia majora,
5.Labia minora 
(enclosing the 
Vaginal Opening),
6. Perineum.
 Mammary Glands

Consists of 15–25 lobes of the compound

tubuloalveolar type
 Changes in the
mammary gland.
A: In nonpregnant
women, the gland is
quiescent and
undifferentiated,
and its duct system
is inactive.
B: During
pregnancy, alveoli
proliferate at the
ends of the ducts
and prepare for the
secretion of milk.
C: During lactation,
alveoli are fully
differentiated, and
milk secretion is
abundant.
Once lactation is
completed, the
gland reverts to the
nonpregnant
Schematic drawing of the female
breast showing inactive and active
condition.
mammary glands. Each lactiferous
duct with its accompanying smaller
ducts is a gland in itself and
constitutes the lobes of the gland.
 Secreting cells from the mammary gland. From
left to right, note the accumulation and
extrusion of lipids and proteins. The proteins
are released through exocytosis.
Photomicrograph of a lactating mammary gland.
Several alveoli are filled with milk, visible as granular
material. The vacuoles in the lumen and in the alveolar
cell cytoplasm represent the lipid portion of milk. PT
stain. Medium magnification.