Female Reproductive System

Originally given by: Dr.M. Ahmed AltayebWritten by: Albara Marwa

Thanx for: Dr. Abdullah

The Ovary The surface is covered by low cuboidal

epithelium (germinal epithelium) Tunica albuginea is dens irregular CT

under the epithelium Outer cortex containing developing

ovarian follicles & fibroblast-like cells (stromal cells)

Inner medulla of loose CT & many blood vessel

The ovarian follicles Follicles present before & after

puberty: Primordial follicles

Follicles present only after puberty: Unilaminar primary follicles Multilaminar primary follicle Secondary Follicles Graffian Follices

The ovarian follicles Each follicle contains one female germ cell

called primary oocyte in the prophae of meiosis I

Each primary oocyte is surrounded by one or more layers of cells called follicular cells

The primary oocyte secretes a glycoprotein substance called zona pellucida to sperate it from the follicular cells

The follicular cells are seperated from the CT of the cortex (stroma) by a basal lamina

Theca Interna & theca externa

The stromal cells around the follicle differentiate into inner layer of steroid secreting cells called theca interna (endocrine gland secreting androgen)

The stromal cells of the outer layer form fibrous CT called theca externa

The corona radiata The follicular cells in contact with the

zona pellucida are called corona radiata

Corona radiata extend cytoplasmic processes into the zona pellucida to form gap junctions with the microvilli of the oocyte

The secondary oocyte Close to ovulation the primary oocyte

in the mature Graafian follicle completes meiosis I & produces the secondary oocyte which starts meiosis II to be completed only after fertilization.

Atresia The degeneration of follicles is called

atresia & the follicle is an atretic follicle

A follicle may degenerate during development at any stage: 1,000,000 primordial follicles at birth 400,000 at puberty Usually no follicles after 50 years

The medulla of the ovary Loose connective tissue Many blood vessels Interstitial cells (secrete estrogen Does not contain follicles

The corpus luteum After ovulation the remaining

granulosa cells form the corpus luteum (endocrine gland)

The granulosa cells differentiate into granulosa lutien cells (produce progesterone)

Cells of the theca interna enter the corpus luteum & differentiate into theca lutein cells (produce estrogen & progestrone)

The corpus luteum Granulosa lutein cells are large pale

staining cells They are more than the theca lutein cells

Theca lutein cells are small dark-staining cells found mostly at the periphery of corpus luteum

When the corpus luteum degenerates it is replaced by fibrous CT called corpus albicans

The oviduct (Fallopian tube) The mucosa is folded Simple columnar epithelium containing

ciliated & non-ciliated secretory cells called peg cells

Inner circular & outer longitudinal smooth muscle layres

Serosa

The uterus The uterine wall consists of:

Endometrium (mucosa) Myometrium Serosa & adventitia

Endometrium (mucosa) Consists of:

Simple columnar epithelium containing ciliated & non-ciliated cells

Lamina propria containing tubular glands & dense CT

Endometrium (mucosa) The thick superficial layer of the

endometrium is called the funtionalis & contains the body of the uterine tubular glands

The thin deep layer is called the basalis & contains the base of the glands

Endometrium The endometrium passes through 3

histological phases (stages) during the menstrual cycle: Menstrual phase (day 1-5) Proliferative phase (day 6-14) Secretoryphase (day 15-28)

These histological phases are due to the actions of the ovarian hormones (estrogen & progestrone)

Menstrual phase of the endometrium

The ovary is in the post lutueal phase Without fertilization the corpus luteum

degenerates 2 weeks after ovulation The functionalis degenerates &

seperates from the basalis leaving the basalis exposed to the uterine lumen without any surface epithelium

The basalis does not degenrate

The ovary is in the follicular phase The epithelial cells of the base of the

glands in the basalis divide to form new straight tubular glnads & new surface epithelium

The fibroblasts of the basalis produce CT for the new functionalis

Proliferative phase of the endometrium

Secretory Phase of the endometrium

The ovary is in the luteal phase The uterine glands are branched &

coiled with a wide lumen The gland cells contain glycogen The endometrium is thicker than in the

proliferative phase

The myometrium Inner longitudinal, middle circular &

outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers

The myometrium is covered anteriorly by adventitia & posteriorly by serosa

Uterine cervix Cervical canal has simple columnar

epithelium which secretes mucus Mucosal cervical glands also secrete

mucus Non-keratinzed stratified squamous

epithelium covers the part of the cervix which projects into the vagina

Dense CT with many elatic fibers & few smooth muscle cells

The vagina The mucosa has non-kertinized

stratified squamous epithelium containing glycogen

Fibroelastic lamina propria with many blood vessels & no glands

Inner circular & outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers

Adventitia forms the external layer

The mammary glands The lactating (active) glands:

Each mammary gland consists of 15-20 tubuloalveolar glands in lobules seperated by a small amount of CT

The gland in each lobule contains alveoli of cuboidal epitheilum surrounded by myoepithelial cells

The alveoli secrete milk proteins by a merocrine method & milk fat by apocrine method

In each gland small ducts drain the alveoli & join to form large ducts called lactiferous ducts lined by simple cuboidal epithelium

The mammary glands

The mammary glands Each gland has its own lactiferous duct

which leads to the nipple Near the nipple the lactiferous duct

dilates to form a lactiferous sinus

The mammary glands Non-lactating (resting mammary

glands): Before pregnancy the mammary gland

consist of the lactiferous ducts & their branches & no alveoli which are formed only during pregnancy

Abundant adipose tissue

The placenta The placental barrier consists of:

Synctiotrophoblast Cytotophoblast Basal lamina of Cytotophoblast Fetal CT (mesenchyme) Endothelial basal lamina Fetal EndotheliumThe placental barrier is formed only of fetal

tissue