By Mr. Hanan Kumar

1. CLINICAL LABORATORY
CYTOPATHOLOGY
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
BY
HANAN

2. INTRODUCTION
• OVARIES
• OVIDUCTS
• UTERUS
• VAGINA

3. Ovaries
Suspended by ovarian
ligament & suspensory
ligament
Functions:
1. Ova production
2. Hormone production

4. Oogenesis (= ovum production)
takes place inside
ovarian follicles in ovaries as part
of ovarian cycle
Oogonia (= stem cells) complete mitotic
divisions before birth

5. Histology of ovary
– Germinal epithelium – covers surface of ovary
• Does not give rise to ova – cells that arise form yolk sac and migrate to ovaries
do
– Tunica albuginea
– Ovarian cortex
• Ovarian follicles and stromal cells
– Ovarian medulla
• Contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves
– Ovarian follicles – in cortex and consist of oocytes in various stages of
development
• Surrounding cells nourish developing oocyte and secrete estrogens as follicle
grows
– Mature (graafian) follicle – large, fluid-filled follicle ready to expel
secondary oocyte during ovulation
– Corpus luteum – remnants of mature follicle after ovulation
• Produces progesterone, estrogens, relaxin and inhibin until it degenerates into
corpus albicans

6. Histology of the ovary

9. Oogenesis and follicular development
– Formation of gametes in ovary
– Oogenesis begins before females are born
– Essentially same steps of meiosis as spermatogenesis
– During early fetal development, primordial (primitive) germ cells
migrate from yolk sac to ovaries
– Germ cells then differentiate into oogonia – diploid (2n) stem cells
– Before birth, most germ cells degenerate – atresia
– A few develop into primary oocytes that enter meiosis I during fetal
development
• Each covered by single layer of flat follicular cells – primordial follicle
• About 200,000 to 2,000,000 at birth, 40,00 remain at puberty, and around
400 will mature during a lifetime

10. Follicular development
– Each month from puberty to menopause, FSH and LH stimulate
the development of several primordial follicles
• Usually, only one reaches ovulation
– Primordial follicles develop into primary follicles
• Primary oocyte surrounded by granulosa cells
• Forms zona pellucida between granulosa cells and primary oocyte
• Stromal cells begin to form theca folliculi
– Primary follicles develop into secondary follicles
• Theca differentiates into theca interna secreting estrogens and
theca externa
• Granulosa cells secrete follicular fluid in antrum
• Innermost layer of granulosa cells attaches to zona pellucida
forming corona radiata

11. Ovarian follicles

13. Primordial Follicle or Egg Nests
Present at birth
(simple squamous layer)
in
cortex

14. Follicles enlarge in
Primary Follicle response to FSH and
produce estrogens
Follicle cells Oocytes

15. Secondary Follicle
Few relative to
number of
primary follicles
Produce
follicular fluid
Rapid
enlargement
= Clear glycoprotein layer

16. Tertiary or Graafian
Follicle
Spans entire width of cortex
First meiotic division being
completed: 1 oocyte divides into one
2 oocyte and one polar body

17. Ovulation
Oocyte and follicular cells shed into abdominal cavity then
1. Empty follicle forms corpus luteum which produces progesterone
2. Corpus luteum degenerates and becomes corpus albicans
3. GnRH increases under low estrogen and progesterone levels

18. Summary of oogenesis and follicular development

19. Uterine (fallopian) tubes or oviducts
– Provide a route for sperm to reach an ovum
– Transport secondary oocytes and fertilized ova from ovaries to
uterus
– Infundibulum ends in finger-like fimbriae
• Produce currents to sweep secondary oocyte in
– Ampulla – widest longest portion
– Isthmus – joins uterus
– 3 layers
• Mucosa – ciliary conveyor belt, peg cells provide
nutrition to ovum
• Muscularis – peristaltic contractions
• Serosa – outer layer

21. Uterine Tube
= Fallopian tube = oviduct
Fig 27-14
Two muscular tubes
– infundibulum with fimbriae
– Ampulla (place of fertilization)
– Isthmus
– intramural portion

22. Histology of the uterine (fallopian) tube

23. Uterine Tube Histology
Ciliated and non-ciliated
simple columnar
epithelium
Ciliary movement and
periodic peristaltic
contractions move ova
Secretion of nutrient
substances

24. • TWO CELL TYPES
• CILIATED
• NON CILIATED (PEG CELLS)

25. Uterus
• Pear-shaped structure attached to oviducts at
upper end and to vagina at lower end
• Uterine wall has 3 layers
– Endometrium
– Myometrium
– Adventitia/Serosa

27. Adventitia/Serosa
• Dense irregular connective tissue with
attached mesothelium (serosa)
• Dense irregular connective tissue
(adventitia)
• Blood vessels

28. Myometrium
• Thickest layer
• Four poorly defined layers of smooth
muscle separated by connective tissue
• Inner and outer layers are mostly
longitudinal in orientation
• Middle layers are more circular
• Middle layer thickens in pregnancy with
more smooth muscle cells and increased
collagen

29. Endometrium
• Simple columnar epithelium invaginated
into simple tubular glands
• Ciliated columnar cells and secretory
columnar cells
• Lamina propria of highly cellular connective
tissue and vessels
• 2 zones in endometrium
– functional layer
– basal layer

30. Endometrial Layers
• Functional layer
– surface layer sloughed off during menstruation
– replaced during each menstrual cycle
• Basal layer
– deeper layer retained after menstruation
– gland cells give rise to new epithelium

31. Histology of the uterus

32. Functions of Uterus
• Protection of embryo/fetus
• Nutritional support
• Waste removal
• Ejection of fetus at birth

33. Uterine Cervix
• Lower part of uterus
• Lined by mucous secreting simple columnar
epithelium
• Some smooth muscle and much connective
tissue in lamina propria
• Part of cervix in upper vagina has stratified
squamous nonkeratinized epithelium

34. Uterine Cervix
• Cervical mucosa has mucous glands
• Cervical mucosa remains intact during
menstrual cycle
• Cervical gland secretions vary during
menstrual cycle
– at ovulation mucous is watery so sperm can
penetrate easily
– in luteal phase or pregnancy mucous more
viscous to block sperm or microbes

35. Vagina
• Epithelium is stratified squamous partly keratinized
• No glands in epithelium
• Underlying lamina propria of loose connective
tissue, highly vascularized with many elastic fibers
• Muscular layer of circular and longitudinal smooth
muscle
• Adventitia of dense irregular connective tissue with
elastic fibers, many vessels and nerves

37. HOME WORK
• MAMARY GLANDS