GENERAL FEATURES

Components of the System

Internal Genitalia
Ovaries
Uterine tubes (oviducts)
Uterus
Vagina

External genitalia
Mammary glands

Female Reproductive System

Structure of The Breast

OVARIES
General Organization
Paired in the pelvic cavity
Almond-shaped organs (3x1.5x1cm)
Outermost covering:
Germinal epithelium: simple cuboidal epithelium

Inner covering:
Tunica albuginea:dense connective tissue

Cortex:
Ovarian follicle, oocyte, stroma

Medulla:
Stroma containing a rich vascular bed

Ovarian Follicles
Primordial
follicles
Growing follicles

Growing
(secondary follicle)
Atretic follicle

Primary
follicle

Cortex
Medulla

Tunica
albuginea

Primary follicles
Secondary
follicles

Mature (Graafian)
follicles
Atretic follicles

Mature (Graafian)
follicle
Primordial follicle

Atretic follicle
Corpus luteum

Secondary (vesicular follicle)

Graafian (mature) follicle

Atretic follicle

Ovulation
Appearance of the surface of the follicle of the stigma

Increased activity of protease

(collagenase and plasmin), which
causes dissolution of connective
tissue around the follicle

A mid cycle surge of luteinizing

hormone (LH) concentration
appears to be indispensable for
ovulation

Rupture of the mature follicle

Liberation of the ovum with the corona radiata
Caught by dilates end the oviduct

Corpus Luteum
Temporary endocrine gland
Secreting steroid
Granulosa lutein cells: large,
pale-staining, form
progesterone-secreting cells
Theca lutein cells: secrete
estrogen, smaller, darkerstaining cells, derived from
the cells of the theca interna

CORPUS
CORPUSLUTEUM
LUTEUM
OVULATION
Release of the follicular fluid, collapse of
the follicles wall, remnant of blood clots

CORPUS LUTEUM
Granulose lutein cells
Theca lutein cells

CORPUS LUTEUM OF
MENSTRUATION

CORPUS LUTEUM OF
PREGNANCY

10 14 Days

6 Months

Progesterone
Estrogen

Progesterone
Estrogen
Relaxin

CORPUS ALBICANS
(Remains for a variable period)
ABSORBED BY MACROPHAG

Hormones
and Ovarian
Function

UTERINE TUBES
(OVIDUCTS, FALLOVIAN TUBES)
Oviduct

Fundus of
Isthmus of uterus
oviduct

Mesovarium
Ampulla
Ovarian
ligament

Fimbriae
Infundibulum

Paired, 12 cm long muscular tubes

Function: fertilization and transports the
zygote
4 segment:
Isthmus
Ampula

- Infundibulum
- Fimbriae

Wall structure3
layers:
Mucosa (ciliated
simple columner
epithelium+peg
cells+lamina
propria)
Muscularis (inner
circular+outer
longitudinal smooth
muscle)
Serosa
(Left)
(Left) ::cross
cross section
section of
of the
the ampulla
ampulla of
of an
an oviduct
oviduct of
of aa mature
mature woman.
woman.
(Right) : cross section of the isthmus of an oviduct.

UTERUS
A pear shaped muscular organ
Grossly divided into 3 region:
Fundus
Corpus
Cervix

Uterine wall consists of 3 layers:

Endometrium
Myometrium
Serosa/adventitia

Oviduct

Infundibulum

Fundus of
Isthmus of uterus
oviduct

Mesovarium
Ampulla
Ovarian
ligament

Myometrium
Endometrium
Cervical canal

Fimbriae
Broad ligament

External cervical os
Ovary (cross section)
Vagina

External vaginal os

1. Columnar epithelium
2. Superficial lamina
propria

3. Interglandular
lamina propria

8. Uterine glands

9. Coiled artery
10. Uterine glands

4. Basal lamina propria

Myometrium

5. Smooth muscle fibers

6. Smooth muscle fibers

11. Interglandular
smooth muscle
fibers
12. Interstitial
connective tissue

7. Arteries
13. Smooth
muscle fibers

14.
Functionalist 15. Basalis

Endometrium

UTERUS
UTERUS::FOLLICULAR
FOLLICULAR(PROLIFERATIVE)
(PROLIFERATIVE)PHASE
PHASE

Endometrium
Consists of epithelium and lamina propria
Epithelial cells are simple columnar and are a
mixture of ciliated and secretory cells
Lamina propria (connective tissue) divided into 2
zones :
The functionalism
Sloughed off at menstruation
The Basalis
Retained after menstruation

Myometrium
The thickest tunic
Consists of 4 poorly defined smooth
muscle layers,arcuate arteries
Prenancy: hyperthropy & hyperplasia

Serosa or Adventitia
Fundus: serosa
Corpus: Adventitia

Uterine Cervix
External surface of the
servix of the uterus
bulges into vagina,
covered by stratified
squamous epithelium
Wall: mucosa (simple
columnar
epithelium+servical
glands lining the
servical canal),dense
connective tissue with
smooth muscle

Menstrual Cycle
PHASE OF CYCLE

ENDOMETRIAL CHANGES

CORRELATED OVARIAN
CHANGES

Menstrual Phase:
First day of
menstrual bleeding
through day 3-5 of
the cycle

Ovarian progesterone,
degeneration of corpus luteum,
shedding of
functionalisdischarge trough
vagina, basale intact

Absence of the gonadotropin

from an implanted embryo,
corpus luteum degeneate and
progesterone production ceases

Proliferative phase/
follicular phase:
Days 4-6 to day 14
of the cycle

Influence of increasing estrogen

levels(and preparation for possible
implantation, endometrium
regenerates from basale, the
glands lengthen, remaining
relatively straight

Influence of pituitary FSH, the

follicles grow and produces
estrogen. LH surge on day 14
induces ovulation & support
formation of the corpus luteum

Secretory phase/
luteal phase:
Days 14-28 of the
cycle

Progesterone from corpus luteum

causes edema of the lamina
propria & endometrial
thickening.Glands are highly
coiled&lumen dilate,Coiled
arteries elongate,Without
implantation, the cycle begins
anew

LH supports corpus luteum.

Granulosa lutein cells begin
producing progesterone, theca
lutein cells produce
estrogen.Elevated progesterone
inhibits LH production.Without
chorionic gonadotropin corpus
luteum degenerates

The Hormonal
Integration of the
Ovarian and
Menstrual Cycles

UTERUS
UTERUS::FOLLICULAR
FOLLICULAR(PROLIFERATIVE)
(PROLIFERATIVE)PHASE
PHASE

Endometrium

3. Interglandular
lamina propria

8. Uterine glands

9. Coiled artery
10. Uterine glands

4. Basal lamina propria

11. Interglandular
smooth muscle
fibers

Myometrium

5. Smooth muscle fibers

6. Smooth muscle fibers

12. Interstitial
connective tissue

7. Arteries
13. Smooth
muscle fibers

14. Functionalist 15. Basalis

1. Columnar epithelium
2. Superficial lamina
propria

1. Columnar epithelium
2. Uterine gland :
straight portion
3. Uterine glands :
tortuous portions

7. Coiled arteries

8. Interglandular
lamina propria
(stroma)

4. Hypertrophied
glandular epithelium

11. Basal lamina

propria
(stroma)

14. Basalis

6. Myometrium

10. Dilated
uterine
glands with
secretion

13. Spongiosa

9. Tortuous
uterine glands

5. Fundi of uterine
glands filled with
secretion

12. Compacta

UTERUS
UTERUS PROGRAVID
PROGRAVID (SECRETORY)
(SECRETORY) PHASE
PHASE

UTERUS
UTERUS :: MENSTRUAL
MENSTRUAL PHASE
PHASE
1. Superficial
endometrium
without epithelium
2. Glandular lumen
filled with blood

6. Fragments of
disintegrated
mucosa
7. Blood clots

3. Coiled arteries
8. Erythrocytes in
lamina propria
4. Interglandular
lamina propria of
basal region

5. Smooth muscle
fibers
(myometrium)

9. Intact fundi of
uterine glands

Pregnanc
y

After
menopaus
e

Hypothalamu
Vaginal
s
Hypophysi Vaginasmear Endometriu
m
s

O
a
fov
llicrian
le

Newbor Infancy
n

Vaginal
Endometriu smear
Ovary
Vagina
m
a
Matern
l
oge
r
t
s
e
n

Me
n
p h s tr u
as al
e

a
tru
ns s e
Mepha
d
Mi

cl e
y
c

y
or
t
e
c r a se
e
S ph

Pr
ol
phifera
as te
e

Menstrual
cycle

Functional
Functionalchanges
changesrelating
relatingto
tothe
thehypothalamus,
hypothalamus,pituitary,
pituitary,
ovary,
ovary,vaginal
vaginalepithelium,
epithelium,and
andendometrium.
endometrium.
EE==Estrogen
PP==Progesterone
Estrogen(gray);
(gray);
Progesterone(dark
(darkgray).
gray).

FERTILIZATION & PREIMPLANTATION

DEVELOPMENT
Fertilization occurs at the ampulla in the
uterine tube
Sperm penetrates corona radiata&zona
pellucidaone sperm head fuses with the
membran plasma of ovumcompletion of
the second meiotic division of ovum
haploid male & female pronuclei
fusezygote

Zygote

Morula

Blastocyst
(trophoblast&inner cell
mass,floats 2-3 days
before implantation)

IMPLANTATION
= Penetration of the uterine epithelium by blastocyst

Blastocyst Activity
Trophoblast
Syncytiotrophoblast
Cytotrophoblast

Inner cell mass

Bilaminar disk (blastodisc)

Extraembryonic mesoderm
Extraembryonic coelom

Chorion
Derivatives of trophoblast and inner cell mass
Chorion Frondosum
Chorion laeve

Diagram A, B, C
and D illustrate
the stage in the
formation of the
blastocyst and
the embedding of
the blastocyts in
the uterine wall.
The relationships
of the growing
embryo to the
uterus are shown
in diagrams E
and F.

Decidual Reaction
Upon implantation,
endometrium undergoes
changes reffered to the
decidual reaction
(endometrium=desidua)
Endometrium thickens, its
stromal cells
enlargedecidual cells
(secrete prolactin)
3 named parts of decidua:
Decidua basalis
Decidua capsularis
Decidua parietalis

Amnioti
Uterin
c
e
cavity
cavity

Extraembryonic
coelom

Decidua
capsularis

Decidua basalis
Charionic
villus

Allantois

Mesoderm of
umbilicial cord
Yolk sac
Decidua
parietalis
Trophoblast

embryo

Cervical
plug

Decidua basalis
Trophoblast cells penetrating
the endometrium
Lacunae
Amniotic cavity
Ectoderm
Endoderm
Vitelline sac

Extraembryonic mesenchyme

Uterine gland

Cytotrophoblast
Regenerating epithelial lining

Syncytiotrophoblast
Decidua capsularis

Schematic
Schematicdrawing
drawingof
ofaahuman
humanembryo
embryoat
atthe
theend
endof
ofimplantation
implantation(12
(12days),
days),showing
showingthe
the
relationships
between
the
embryo
and
the
endometrium
(called
the
decidua)
after
relationships between the embryo and the endometrium (called the decidua) after
implantation.
implantation.UV,
UV,uterine
uterinevessels,
vessels,one
oneof
ofwhich
whichopens
opensinto
intoaalacuna,
lacuna,filling
fillingits
itsspaces
spaceswith
with
blood.
Darker
color
shows
the
cytotrophoblast;
lighter
color
highlights
the
ectoderm
and
blood. Darker color shows the cytotrophoblast; lighter color highlights the ectoderm and
amnion.
amnion.

PLACENTA
Temporary organ,begins during implantation
2 components:
Embryonic (chorion frondosum)
Maternal (decidua basalis)

Steps in Placental Development (Placentation)

Syncytiotrophoblast surrounds small islands
of endomerium lacunae rupturing
blood vessel fill lacunae with maternal blood
chorionic villi grow into lacunae
placental barrier
Chorionic villi:
Primary villi
Secondary villi
Tertiary villi

Epithelium of omnion

Cytotrophoblast

Connective tissue of
amnion
Connective tissue of
chorion
Floating villus
Intervillous space

Anchoring villus

Syncytio trophoblast

Peripheral syncytium
Uterine gland
Maternal blood sinus

Placental Functions
Placental hormones
Chorionic gonadotropin, chorionic thyrotropin,
chorionic corticotropin, estrogene,
progesterone, prolactin, placental lactogen

Transfer of nutrients and wastes

Placental barrier: syncytiotrophoblast,
cytotrophoblast, basal lamina of trophoblast,
extraembryonic mesenchyme, basal lamina of
the vessels in tertiary villi, fetal vascular
endothelial cells

Structure of Placental Villi

VAGINA
Muscular tube extends from cervix to
external genitalia
Mucosa
Stratified squamous epithelium, rich in
glycogen & supported by an elastic fiber-rich
lamina propria
Lamina provide fluid during sexual arousal

Muscularis
Longitudinal smooth muscle, circular fibers
near mucosa

Adventitia
Dense connective tissue rich in elastic fibers
Extensive venous plexus, bundles of nerve
fibers & clusters of neuron

EXTERNAL GENITALIA (VULVA)

Clitoris
Homologous to the dorsal part of the penis
Two erectile corpora cavernosa, ending in
glans clitoridis.
Surrounded by a prepuce and covered
with stratified squamous epithelium

Vestibule
Receives the ovenings of the vagina and
the urethra
Covered by stratified squamous
epithelium
2 types of gands:

Bartholin glands (glandulae vestibulares majores)

Tubuloalveolar mucous glands on opposite sides
Vestibular glands (glandulae vestibulares minores)
More numerous
Scattered
Most lie near around the urethra and clitoris

Labia Minora
Skin folds with a core of spongy (erectile)
connective tissue, thin keratinized, no hair

Labia Majora
Folds of skin have a core of subcutaneous
fat and thin layer of muscle, outer surface
has more keratin and contains coarse
hairs

MAMMARY GLANDS
Accessory glands of
the skin are specialized
to secrete milk
Compound
tubuloalveolar glands
contains 15-25 lobes
separated by adipose
and dense connective
tissue

Duct
system
(inactive
)
Terminal
interlob
ular
duct
Lactife
rous
sinus

Opening
s of
lactifero
Lactife
us ducts
Adipo rous
Ribs and
duct
se
Tubulo
muscle tissue
alveolar
Lobule
secretory
units
(active)

Embryonic Development
Paired ventral epidermal thickenings
running from forelimb to hindlimb, the milk
lines, appear at 6 weeks.
In the second trimester, 15-25 epithelial
invaginations develop along these lines
along on each side of thorax future
lactiferous ducts

Prepubertal Mammary Glands

Composed lactiferous ducts and sinuses
Lightly pigmented areola

Changes During Puberty

Breast enlarge, accumulation of adipose
tissue and collagenous connective tissue
Nipple enlarge and become more
prominent

Resting Adult Gland

Lobules are separated by loose connective
tissue and few secretory alveoli are present
Intralobular ducts: lined by cuboidal
epithelium, surrounded by a discontinous
layer of myoepithelial cells
Interlobular ducts
Lactiferous ducts: Cuboidal to collumnar
epithelium
Lactiferous sinuses: Stratified squamous

Pregnant Adult Gland

Intense proliferation of the ducts and
growth of alveoli at their ends, enlarging
the breasts
Terminal epithelium of the intralobular
ducts proliferates and differentiates into
milk-secreting cells
Late in pregnancy, the number of plasma
cells in the interlobular connective tissue
increasessecrete IgA

Lactating Adult Glands

Prolactin increases
Accumulation of milk in the alveolar
lumens and their accompanying dilation
The secretory cells reduce in height from
low columnar to low cuboidal

The mammary gland is the only

structure in the body that undergoes
such a striking structural and
physiologic change during the hormonal
cycle of pregnancy.
Diagram illustrating changes in the mammary
glands.
A : In nonpregnant women, the gland has an
inactive duct system.
B : during pregnancy, alveoli proliferate at the
end of the ducts and prepare for the
secretion of milk.

: during lactation, alveoli are fully

differentiated and milk secretion is
abundant.
Once lactation is completed, the gland
reverts to the nonpregnant condition. The
gland is normally quiescent and
undifferentiated,
undergoing
this
differentiation and secretion only during
each cycle of pregnancy and lactation.

Senile Involution
After menopause, the secretory portions,
ducts, and adipose and interlobular
connective tissues in the breasts atrophy