1. Female Reproductive System Originally given by: Dr.M. Ahmed Altayeb Written by: Albara Marwa Thanx for: Dr. Abdullah

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

9. 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

11. 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

13. 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.

14. 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

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

16. 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)

18. 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

19. 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

20. The uterus  The uterine wall consists of: Endometrium (mucosa) Myometrium Serosa & adventitia

21. Endometrium (mucosa)  Consists of: Simple columnar epithelium containing ciliated & non-ciliated cells Lamina propria containing tubular glands & dense CT

23. 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

24. 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)

25. 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

26.  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

27. 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

29. The myometrium  Inner longitudinal, middle circular & outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers  The myometrium is covered anteriorly by adventitia & posteriorly by serosa

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33.  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

34.  Each gland has its own lactiferous duct which leads to the nipple  Near the nipple the lactiferous duct dilates to form a lactiferous sinus

36. 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

37. The placenta  The placental barrier consists of: Synctiotrophoblast Cytotophoblast Basal lamina of Cytotophoblast Fetal CT (mesenchyme) Endothelial basal lamina Fetal Endothelium The placental barrier is formed only of fetal tissue