The document provides information on the female reproductive system. It begins by describing the development of the ovaries and their coverings in the third week of intrauterine life. It then discusses the structure and layers of the ovaries, including the germinal epithelium, tunica albuginea, medulla, cortex, and ovarian follicles. Various stages of follicle development are also outlined, from primordial follicles to Graafian follicles. The structure and layers of the fallopian tubes and uterus are then described. Finally, it discusses the external genitalia including the mons pubis, labia, clitoris, and perineum.

1. Female Reproductive System

2. 
By 3By 3rdrd
week of intra-uterine life oogonia appearweek of intra-uterine life oogonia appear..
Ovarian covering :Ovarian covering :
By peritoneum “ visceral , parietal “By peritoneum “ visceral , parietal “
428HISTICS

3. 1. Epithelium
2. Tunica Albuginea
3. Medulla
4. Cortex

4.  Surface: germinal
epithelium
(tunica vaginalis)
 Low cuboidal
epithelium
428HISTICS4

5.  Tunica
Albuginea: dense
fibrous C.T.
 Poorly vascularized
428HISTICS

6. Medulla: loose vascular C.T.
 Hilus cell:
 Like leydig cell in males
 Secrete Androgen like substance
 No follicles, no ova, no oocytes in medulla
 (all follicles and ova are found in the cortex)
428HISTICS6

7.  Two types of cells
1. Ovarian follicles (next slide)
2. Interstitial cells between follicles
 Fibroblast like
 Also known as (stromal cell)
428HISTICS7

8.  Before the onset of puberty all the
follicles are primordial follicles
(so it is present before & after
puberty)  non-growing – flat layer of
cells
 Follicles present only after puberty
(growing) :
 Unilaminar primary follicles
 Multilaminar primary follicle
 Secondary Follicles
 Graffian Follices
 Then it ruptures, releasing the oocyte to
become corpus luteum
428

9.  Contain primary oocyte in the
prophase of meiosis I
 Except in the last stage in
the mature (graafian folliicle) then it becomes a secondary
oocyte
 Each primary oocyte is surrounded by one or more
layers of cells called follicular cells
 Primary oocyte is separated from follicular cells by
zona reticularis, made by the primary oocyte and the 1st
layer
of follicular cells
 The follicular cells are seperated from the CT of the
cortex (stroma) by a basal lamina

10.  Abundant before birth
 Its primary oocytes:
 Spherical cell
 Nucleus: large, vesicular, 1 prominent nucleolus
 Follicular cells:
 squamous,
 attached by desmosomes,
 has basal lamina.
428

11. Growth of oocyteGrowth of oocyte
 It increases in size(120µm).It increases in size(120µm).
 Increase of nuclear size.Increase of nuclear size.
 Increase number of mitochondria.Increase number of mitochondria.
 Increase RER.Increase RER.
 Increase Golgi apparatus which becomesIncrease Golgi apparatus which becomes
peripheral in position.peripheral in position.

12. 428HISTICS

13.  Primary oocyte enlarges.
 Follicular cells become cuboidal .
 Subdivided into:
 Unilaminar primary follicle: follicular cells
arranged in 1 layer
 multilaminar primary follicle: More than one
layer
 Zona pellucida starts to be made in the
unilaminar primary follicle, follicular(granulosa)
cells and oocyte secrete glycoproteins that
surround the oocyte

14.  Stromal cells arranged around follicular cells forming:
 Theca interna (vascular)
 Theca externa (fibroblast)
 Stromal cells: characteristics of steroid producing cells
numerous lipid droplets “ lipid in nature “
 Separated from follicular (granulosa) cells by basal
lamina.
 Theca interna: vascularized, more cellular, less fibrous,
SER, mitochondria, pale cytoplasm
 androstendion estrogen.androstendion estrogen.
 theca externa: less vascularized, less cellular,
more fibrous
granulosa cellsgranulosa cells

15.  Intercellular space filled with liquor folliculi (liquid)
 Oocyte surrounded by of granulose cells project into the
fluid filled antrum known as cumulus oophorus
 Single layer of granulose cells immediately surround
oocyte known as corona radiata.
 A- The oocyte is fixed in zona pellucida by microvilli.
 B-The layer of granulosa cells adherent to zona pellucida
is fixed into to it by filopodia.
NB-follicular fluid is formed of plasma, glycosaminoglycans,
steroid-binding protein and steroid hormones (estrogen-
progesterone-androgen)

16.  Follicular cells of the wall of the follicles
composed of membrana granulose
 at ovulation the oocyte will be secondary

17.  remaining of graffian follicle
 ruptured blood vessels form clot known as
corpus hemorrhagicum
 clot removed by phagocytosis
 LH converts hemorrhagicum into corpus
luteum
 Function as endocrine gland
 Composed of :
 Granulosa lutein cells
 Theca lutein cells
No pregnancy –> corpus of
menstruation
There’s pregnancy ->corpus of pregnancy

18. Granulosa lutein cells
 80%
 Derived from granulosa cells
 Granulosa cells increase in size ( not in
number) giving granulosa lutein cells
 Microvilli, has the organelles of steroid
producing cells
 Some lipid droplets
 Produce progesterone

19.  20%
 Derived from theca interna cells (estrogen
precursors)
 Organelles of steroid producing cells ( rich in lipid
droplets )
 Produce progesterone , estrogen and
androgens

20.  Corpus luteum invaded by fibroblasts
becomes fibrotic and is converted into
corpus albicans ( degenerated corpus
luteum )
 So it is derived ONLY from corpus
luteum

21.  Most follicles degenerate before reaching
mature stage
 Forming atretic follicles
 Theca interna Interstitial cellsTheca interna Interstitial cells (secrete steroid(secrete steroid
hormone)hormone)
 Eventually phagocytosed by macrophage

22.  Continuous with the wall of the uterus
 Divided into four regions:
1. Infundibulum has fimbriae
2. Ampulla where fertilization occur
3. Isthmus
4. Intramural
region

23.  Has three layers:
1. Mucosa
2. Muscularis
3. Serosa
 Mucosa: longitudinal folds, simple columnar
epithelium, has two cells:
 Peg cells: have no cilia secretory function
 Columnar ciliated cells beat toward the uterus

24.  longitudinal folds (infudibulum & ampulla),
 simple columnar epithelium, has two cells:
 Peg cells: have no cilia secretory function
 Columnar ciliated cells beat toward the uterus
 Lamina propria: loose connective tissue
contains fibroblasts mast cells
lymphocytes and collagen . Highly
vascular

25. 2. Muscularis: inner circular outer longitudinal
and connective tissue fills spaces between
them (thick in isthmus)
3. Serosa: simple squamous epithelium, loose
connective tissue has blood vessels and
autonomic nerve fibers

26. 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

28.  Divided into three regions:
 Fundus
 Body
 Cervix

29. Early proliferativeEarly proliferative
phase of endometriumphase of endometrium
Late proliferative phaseLate proliferative phase
of endometriumof endometrium
Proliferation of glands,
stroma &vessels.(very
thick & rich in glands(
Gland is large

30. Early secretory phaseEarly secretory phase
of endometriumof endometrium
Late secretory phase ofLate secretory phase of
endometrium.endometrium.
Increase the size and
coiling of the glands.
Glycogen accumulates in
glandular epithelial cells
The glands are tortuous
and full of glycogen and
glycoprotein.
The stroma is highly
vascular.

31. menstruationmenstruation
 Vasoconstriction in the spiral arterioles of the
functionalis layer,leads to ischemia and
degeneration of functionalis.
 Leakage of blood.
 Degeneration of stroma cells leads to collapse
of the glands.
 Shedding of the functionalis menses

33. PITUITARY HORMONES

34. FOLLICLE DEVELOPMENT

35. OVULATION

36. OVARIAN HORMONES

37. Low magnification of the entire uterus
Endometrium
Myometrium

38.  Simple columnar epithelium composed of
nonciliated secretory columnar cells and ciliated
cells
 Lamina propria:
 dense irregular collagenous connective tissue highly
cellular and contains star shaped cells , macrophages
leukocytes and reticular fibers. Houses branched
tubular glands
 Consist of 2 layers:
 Functionalis thick superficial layer
 Basalis: deep narrow layer where glands and
connective tissue regenerate the functionalis

39.  Layer of smooth muscle cells
 Inner and outer longitudinal muscle layers
 Middle circular
 Highly vascularized region (stratum vasculare)
houses arcuate arteries
 When covered by serosa it will be squamous
mesothelial cells resting on areolar connective
tissue.

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

41.  Lined by mucous secreting
simple columnar epithelium
 External surface covered by stratified
squamous nonkeratinized epithelium “ similar to
wall of vagina “
 Wall of the cervix dense collagenous
connective tissue with many elastic fibers and
few smooth muscle fibers
 Cervix mucosa will not sloughed off during
menses.
Non – muscular

42. Endocervical mucus glands – tubular glands in the lamina propria continuous
with the surface mucus secreting epithelium
Mucus Glands

43. Vagina with a mucus membrane of Stratified Squamous non-Keratinized
Epithelium and a fibrous lamina propria

44. placentaplacenta
early late
The placenta barrier is formed ofThe placenta barrier is formed of::
1-Syncytiotrophoblasts.
2-Cytotrophoblasts
.3-Basment membrane of cytotrphoblasts.
4-CT. core
5-basment membrane capillary endothelial cells
6-Capillary endothelial cells
The placenta barrier is formed of 5 layersThe placenta barrier is formed of 5 layers:
1-Syncytiotrophoblasts
2-Basment membrane of trophoblasts
3-CT core.
4-Basment membrane of endothelial cells
of the capillary of villi.
5-Capillary endothelial cells.
*Synctyiotrophoblast erodes
maternal blood vessels
*from the remainder of
trophoblasts chorion
developes and gives rise to
chorionic villi
at full term the placenta will not have
cytotrophoblast

45.  lumen is lined by stratified squamous
nonkeratinized epithelium
 the cells store large deposits of glycogen
 lamina propria: loose fibroelastic connective
tissue with lymphocytes and neutrophill ,no
glands, pale cytoplasm , acidic , no goblet cell
 It’ kept wet by endometrium
 muscularis: outer longitudinal inner circular “
not continous , interrupted by C.T “
 adventitia: dense fibroelastic connective tissue

46. EXTERNAL GENTILIA
 The vulva refers to those parts
that are outwardly visible
 The vulva includes:
 Mons pubis
 Labia majora
 Labia minora
 Clitoris
 Urethral opening
 Vaginal opening
 Perineum
 Individual differences in:
 Size
 Coloration
 Shape
 Of external gentalia are
common

48. MONS PUBIS
 The triangular mound of fatty tissue that
covers the pubic bone
 It protects the pubic symphysis
 During adolescence sex hormones trigger the
growth of pubic hair on the mons pubis
 Hair varies in coarseness curliness, amount,
color and thickness

49. LABIA MAJORA
 Referred to as the outer lips
 They have a darker pigmentation
 The Labia Majora:
 Protect the introitus and urethral openings
 Are covered with hair and sebaceous glands
 Tend to be smooth, moist, and hairless
 Become flaccid with age and after childbirth

50. LABIA MINORA
 Referred to as the “inner lips”
 Made up of erectile, connective tissue that
darkens and swells during sexual arousal
 Located inside the labia majora
 They are more sensitive and responsive to
touch than the labia majora
 The labia minora tightens during intercourse

51. CLITORIS
 Highly sensitive organ composed of nerves, blood
vessels, and erectile tissue
 Located under the prepuce
 It is made up of a shaft and a glans
 Becomes engorged with blood during sexual
stimulation
 Key to sexual pleasure for most women
 Urethral opening is located directly below clitoris

52. VAGINAL OPENING
INTROITUS
 Opening may be covered by a thin sheath
called the hymen
 Using the presence of an intact hymen for
determining virginity is erroneous
 Some women are born without hymens
 The hymen can be perforated by many
different events

53. PERINEUM
 The muscle and tissue located between the vaginal
opening and anal canal
 It supports and surrounds the lower parts of the
urinary and digestive tracts
 The perinium contains an abundance of nerve
endings that make it sensitive to touch
 An episiotomy is an incision of the perinium used
during childbirth for widening the vaginal opening

54.  at puberty there is an increase in connective
and adipose tissue , C.T
 the glands within the breast are classified as
compound tubuloalveolar glands,

55.  lactiferous sinus and duct lined by stratified cuboidal
epithelium
 smaller ducts are lined by simple columnar
epithelium
 myoepithelial cells are present
 Terminal ends of the ducts show dilated acini
 Each lobule will be enlarged
while the inter and
intra-lobular
tissues are decreased.

56.  alveoli composed of cuboidal cells
 secretion have two kinds : lipids and proteins
 lipids secreted by apocrine mode
 proteins secreted by merocrine mode
 reduction of interlobular tissue. reduction of
intralobular CT.distended acini (alveoli) with
milk.Acini are lined with flat epith.
 NB.Suckling stimulate prolactin
and oxytocin hormones secretion
LactatingLactating

57. Mechanism of milk secretion
 Contain protein , lipid , water , myoepithelial
cell “ contractile “