FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

1. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM Kristina C. Erasmo, M.D.

2. Female reproductive system • External genitalia • Clitoris • Labia majora • Labia minora • Vestibular glands • Internal genitalia • Ovaries • Oviducts • Uterus • Vagina

4. OVARY • Paired, slightly flattened, ovoid organs • Produce ova and hormones • Simple squamous or cuboidal epithelium (“germinal epithelium”) • Tunica albuginea– layer of dense CT beneath the epithelium

5. OVARY • Cortex • Thick peripheral zone • Stroma – CT substance of cortex, • Fibroblasts, collagenous fibers surrounded by amorphous intercellular substance • Ovarian follicles • Medulla • Vascular inner zone, pale-staining • Loose CT, abundant blood vessels

7. Ovarian cycle • Refers to structural and physiological changes that the ovarian follicles and the stroma that surrounds them undergo during the menstrual cycle • Hormonal control: • FSH • LH

11. Oviduct (fallopian tubes) • Pair of muscular tubes • Passageway for ovum on its way to the uterus and the sperms on their way to fertilizing the ovum • 4 parts: • Infundibulum • Ampulla • Isthmus • Pars interstitialis

12. Oviduct (fallopian tubes) • Infundibulum • Funnel-shaped area related to the ovary and opens into peritoneal cavity • Fimbriae • Ampulla • Expanded intermediate portion (2/3 of length) • Isthmus • Narrow, slender part w/c connects the FT to uterus • Pars interstitialis • Part of the tube within the uterine wall

13. Oviduct: layers • Mucosa • Forms numerous folds • Simple columnar epithelium • Ciliated cells • Non-ciliated cells • Lamina propria • Muscular layer (OLIC) • Serosa

14. OVIDUCT • Thickness and specific characteristics of histologic layers vary with the segments • Infundibulum and ampulla: • Tunica mucosa: thick, highly developed. • Isthmus: • Tunica mucosa: thinner • Tunica muscularis: thicker

15. uterus • Pear-shaped, hollow pelvic organ • Receives fertilized ovum and nourishes the embryo throughout its dev’t • 2 parts: • Corpus uteri (body) • Fundus • Cervix • Portiovaginalis

16. UTERUS: LAYERS • Endometrium • Innermost (mucosa) • Myometrium • Middle, thickest • Smooth muscles • Serosa/Adventitia • Serosa: over fundus, posterior aspect of uterus

17. endometrium • Simple columnar epithelium • Lamina propria: CT, endometrial glands • Functional layer – superficial 2/3 • Basal layer – deeper 1/3

18. MYOMETRIUM • Thickest layer of the corpus uteri • Smooth muscle cells arranged in bundles separated by CT

19. UTERINE CYCLE • a.k.a. endometrial cycle, menstrual cycle • Refers to continuous sequence of morphological and physiological changes that the endometrium undergoes in response to ovarian hormones • Proliferative (follicular) phase • Secretory (luteal) phase • Menstrual phase

21. Proliferative phase • Governed by estrogen (ovarian follicles) • Coincides with ovarian follicle growth (under the influence of FSH in first ½ of menstrual cycle) • Epithelial and stromal cells undergo mitosis • Glands in lamina propria • Blood vessels • Ground substance • Thickness

23. Secretory phase • Governed by progesterone (from corpus luteum, under LH influence) • Occurs during the 15th day of menstrual cycle • Glands become tortuous and secretory • Blood vessels • Thickest endometrium (due to glandular secretion and edema of stroma)

25. Menstrual phase • 2 weeks after ovulation (no fertilization) • Decrease in ovarian hormones • No glandular secretion • Blood vessels constrict → close → open • Functional layer exfoliates • Basal layer intact

27. CERVIX • Cylindrical inferior portion of uterus • Parts: • Cervical canal • Internal os • External os • Portiovaginalis (ectocervix)

28. CERVIX: LAYERS • Histologically different from uterus • Mucosa: • Forms folds • Simple columnar epithelium (external os: stratified squamous) • Lamina propria: cervical glands • Wall contains very few smooth muscle • Abundant collagenous and elastic fibers

30. vagina • Fibromuscular tube • Extends from vestibule of external genitalia to the cervix • Normally, collapsed (anterior and posterior walls are in contact with each other)

31. Vagina: layers • Mucosa • Thrown into folds (rugae) • Stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium • Lamina propria: dense CT, no glands • Muscularis (OLIC) • Adventitia • Thin CT • Nerve bundles, venous plexus

32. External genitalia • Clitoris • Labia minora • Labia majora • Vestibular glands • Major vestibular glands (Bartholin’s glands) • Minor vestibular glands

34. EXTERNAL GENITALIA

35. EXTERNAL GENITALIA

36. Mammary gland • Modified sweat gland • Provide nourishment for offspring • Enlarge markedly in females during puberty • Attain highest degree of development during and immediately after parturition

37. Mammary gland: lobes • 15-20 lobes/mammary gland divided by interlobar CT • Intralobular ducts → interlobular ducts → lactiferous duct and sinus • Stratified cuboidal epithelium

38. Mammary gland: areola and nipple • Lactiferous ducts open into nipple • Skin of nipple: highly pigmented, dermis contains many smooth muscle • Areola – surrounds nipple, contains sweat and sebaceous glands, hair, glands of Montgomery