Histology of

Female Reproductive System-1

Dr. Deepak N. Khedekar.Assistant Professor.

Dept. of Anatomy; LTMMC &GHMumbai

2015

Female Reproductive Tract.

Female Reproductive Tract.

• Ovary

• Uterine tube

• Uterus

• Placenta

• Mammary Gland (related to the hormonal activity of the female reproductive system).

• Placenta (included because of its functional and physical relationship to the uterus in pregnancy)

Ovary…• Two interrelated functions:

Gametogenesis (the production of gametes) steroidogenesis (the production of steroids).

The production of gametes is called oogenesis.

• Developing gametes are called oocytes

• Mature gametes are called ova.

Ovarian cycle…

Ovary…• composed of a cortex and a medulla.

Medulla

• located in the central portion of the ovary

• contains loose connective tissue, a mass of relatively large blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves.

Cortex

• is in the peripheral portion.

• contains the ovarian follicles embedded in a richly

cellular connective tissue .

• Scattered smooth muscle fibres are present in the stroma around the follicles.

Germinal Layer…

• surface of the ovary is covered by a single layer of

cuboidal and almost squamous cells

• is continuous with the mesothelium that covers the mesovarium. thought to be the site of germ cell formation during embryonic development.(primordial germ cells (both M&F) are of extragonadal origin)

• A dense connective tissue layer, the tunica albuginea, lies between the germinal epithelium and the underlying cortex.

Ovarian follicles …

Ovarian follicles of various sizes , shapes & different stages each containing a single oocyte

• size of a follicle indicates the developmental state of the oocyte.

• 3 types of ovarian follicles

• Primordial follicles;

• Growing follicles subcategorized as

Primary

secondary (or antral) follicles;

• Mature follicle or Graafian follicles.

Primordial follicle…

• shows the oocyte arrested in prophase of the first meiotic division.

• oocyte is closely surrounded by a single layer of squamous follicle cells. The outer surface of these cells is separated from the CT by a basal lamina.

• The ooplasm contains characteristic organelles, as seen with the electron microscope, including a Balbiani body, annulate lamellae, and small spherical mitochondria.

Primordial follicle…

Primary follicle…

• Primary follicle :distinct layer of follicle cells (FC) surrounding the oocyte.

• 1.formation of the zonapellucida between the oocyte and follicle cells.

• 2.A single layer of cuboidal follicle cells surrounds the growing oocyte..

Late primary follicle…• a multilayered mass of

granulosa cells (differ. from follicle cells) surrounding the oocyte.

• innermost layer of granulosa cells is adjacent to the zonapellucida,

• the outermost layer of these cells rests on the basal lamina, which

is adjacent to the stromalcells (theca folliculi)

Late primary follicle…

• Numerous microvillifrom the oocyte and slender processes from the granulosa cells extend into the zona pellucida

• Processes of the granulosa cells (GC) contact the plasma membrane of the oocyte. Multiple layers of (GC) can be seen surrounding the primary oocyte.

• The zona pellucida (ZP) is present between the oocyte and follicle cells.

Secondary follicle…• The antrum (A), filled

with follicular fluid, is visible within the stratum granulosum(GC).

• Multiple layers of theca interna cells (TI) and theca externa cells (TE) can be seen outside the basal lamina of the secondary follicle.

Secondary follicle…• Theca interna is a more

cellular layer, and the cells are epithelioid. When seen with the E/M they display the characteristics of endocrine cells, particularly steroid-secreting cells.

• In contrast, the theca externa is a connective tissue layer. Its cells are more or less spindle shaped.

late stagesecondary follicle…

• The antrum (FA) is larger, and the oocyte is off to one side, surrounded

by a mound of follicular cells called the cumulus oophorus.

• follicular cells that surround the antral cavity are referred to as the membrana granulosa(MG), or simply granulosa cells.

Atretic follicles…

• Atretic follicles can be identified by virtue of the retained (ZP). The two larger, more advanced follicles do not display the remains of a zona pellucida, but they do display other features of follicular atresia.

Atreticfollicles…

• The follicular cells tend to degenerate more rapidly than the cells of the theca interna, and the (BM) separating the two becomes thickened to form a hyalinized membrane, the glassy membrane.

Atretic follicles…

• Glassy membrane separates an outer layer of remaining theca interna cells from the degenerating inner follicular cells.

• The remaining theca internacells may show cytologicintegrity these intact theca cells remain temporarily functional in steroid secretion.

Corpus luteum

Corpus luteum• The granulosa lutein

cells contain a large spherical nucleus and a large amount of cytoplasm. The cytoplasm containsyellow pigment, hence the name, corpus luteum.

• Theca lutein cellscontain a spherical nucleus, but the cells are smaller than the granulosa lutein cells.

Uterine tube…

• Mucosa

• Muscularis

• Serosa

Uterine tube…

• Mucosa exhibit extensive folds

• Irregular lumen with deep grooves within folds

• Lining epithelium – simple columnar ciliated and non ciliated (peg cells) with Basement membrane

• Cilliated cells are more numerous in infundibulumand ampulla

• Lamina propria - cellular, loose CT, collagen and reticular fibers.

Muscularis…

consist of 2 muscle cell layers…

Inner circular

outer longitudinal

Interstitial connective tissue between 2 layers

With abundant of venules and arterioles

Uterus…

• Wall of uterus consist of …

• 1.Endometrium

• 2.Myometrium

• 3.Perimetrium

Endometrium…

• Consist of lining epithelium i.e. simple columnar epithelium and lamina propria(Consist of collagen fibers)

Lining epithelium extends downwards into the CT of lamina propria and forms the tubular, long uterine glands

• can be divided into the 2 layers…

1.Functionalis layer

2.basalis layer

Myometrium…

• Consist of smooth muscle layers cut in various planes

• Compact bundles of smooth muscles are separated by interstitial connective tissue

Serosa or epimetrium…

Proliferative or follicular phase…

Uterine glands-

• straight in the superficial portion

• Branching in the deeper region

• Stratum functionalis layer increases in the thickness

• Coiled arteries are seen in deeper layer

• Lamina propria become more cellular

• Basalis CT is more compact and darker

Secretory (luteal) phase

• Phase starts after ovulation

Changes in functionalis layer(thick and light stained)

• Increase glandular secretion (rich in carbohydrate)

• Edema in lamina propria

• Endometrium becomes thicker

• Hypertrophy and increase tortuousity of uterine glands. Lumina full of secretory products.

Coiled arteries extends up to the upper portion

And become prominent.

Minimal changes in basalis layer.(deep and dark)

The End

Histology of Female Reproductive

System-1