Male/Female Reproductive Microanatomy

Week 9

What are the 5 major functions of the female reproductive system

1. Production of female gametes

2. Production of sex hormones (endocrine function)

3. Reception of male gametes and providing suitable environment for fertilization

4. Providing suitable environment for fetal development

5. Nutrition to newborn

Mammalian ovaries have similar basic structure, separating it into two major parts:

Cortex and medulla

In the _____ of the ovary you can find follicles in various stages of development, and in the _____ of the ovary you can find connective tissue, nerves, blood and lymph vessels

Cortex - follicles

Medulla - CT, nerves, blood, lymph

The cortex is external to the medulla in all species EXCEPT:

Horse

Medulla is outer to the cortex in the horse

Because the medulla is ___ in the horse, where do they ovulate?

Ovulation fossa

What epithelium lines the cortex of the ovary, and what other names does it have

Low cuboidal epithelium, usually one layer (simple)

Germinal epithelium / surface epithelium

What layer is under the germinal epithelium of the ovary and what does it contain

Tunica albuginea

Connective tissue / fibrous tissue

What can be found under the tunica albuginea in the ovary

Follicles containing oocytes in various stages of development

T/F: most follicles degenerate and are resorbed

True

Most do not ovulate, degenerate, and get resorbed

T/F: it is possible to develop new follicles until reaching maturity

False

born with a set number of follicles

The oviduct is also called the ___ ____ and it runs from the ____ to the _____

Uterine tube / fallopian tube

From the ovary to the uterus

What are the 3 sections of the oviduct

Infundibulum with fimbriae

Ampulla

Isthmus

What are the 3 functions of the oviduct

1. Receive the ovum

2. Provide favorable environment for fertilization

3. Transport zygote to uterus for implantation

How do the fimbriae of the infundibulum of the oviduct participate in ovum movement

They pick up the ovum and direct it into the oviduct lumen

What structures help with transport of the zygote to the uterus in the oviduct

Cilia

T/F: epithelial secretions in the oviduct promote capacitation of sperm

True

Tunica muscularis has an inner ____ layer and outer _____ layer of smooth muscle in the oviduct

Inner circular layer

Outer longitudinal layer

Blood vessels and nerves are found in which layer of the oviduct

Serosa

describe the cells of the epithelium in the mucosa layer of the oviduct

ciliated columnar

non-ciliated cells in the mucosa layer of the oviduct contain

secretory granules in the cytoplasm

T/F: the secretion of secretory granules in the cytoplasm of non-ciliated mucosa cells in the oviduct provides nutrients to the ovum

true

what are the functions of the uterus

provide sterile/inert environment for development of conceptus

exchange nutrients, oxygen and waste via placenta

uterus muscles participate in birth of offspring

the names of the layers of what female reproductive organ are different, and what are those layers

uterus

endometrium, myometrium, perimetrium, mesometrium

the mesometrium of the uterus is equivalent to the __

mesentery

the endometrium contains what epithelium and what glands

columnar epithelium

tubular glands

the endometrium can be split into:

functional zone and basal zone

T/F: the functional zone of the endometrium grows from the basal zone

true

what happens to the functional zone after pregnancy or estrus

degeneration

what zone of the endometrium remains after pregnancy or estrus

basal zone

T/F: you can see a distinct switch from basal to functional zone on histology

false

functional zone grows from basal zone, so it is a gradual change

what layers are in the myometrium

two layers of smooth muscle: inner circular and outer longitudinal

what is the stratum vasculare

a layer of connective tissue carrying large blood vessels to the uterus

there are species differences in what the stratum vasculare separates: what does it divide in the cow? carnivores? sow?

cow - divides circular muscle into two layers

carnivores - divides inner and outer layers

cow - forms an indistinct layer

what is the function of the cervix

providing a seal that prevents organisms and substances from entering from the cranial vagina

gatekeeper, holds products of conception within uterus until parturition

cervix walls are thin or thick?

thick

cervix can be divided into endocervix and ectocervix - which faces the uterus and which faces the vagina

endocervix faces uterus

ectocervix faces vagina

describe the epithelium of the endocervix

simple columnar with mucus-secreting cells

describe the epithelium of the ectocervix

stratified squamous epithelium

what are rugae and where are they found

folds separated by channels of variable depth

found in the mucosa layer of the vagina

what epithelium does the mucosa of the vagina have

mostly stratified squamous epithelium

patches of simple columnar epithelium and mucus-producing cells

the muscularis layer of the vagina has an inner ______ and outer _______ smooth muscle layer

inner circular

outer longitudinal

what is anestrus

period of sexual arrest, when uterus involution is produced

what is proestrus

period of high follicular activity

if looking at cytology of the proestrus period, what cells might you see

RBCs, parabasal small and large intermediate vaginal cells, neutrophils, bacteria

what is estrus

period after proestrus but before diestrus

if looking at cytology of the estrus period, what cells would you see or notably not see

will see: superficial cells and anuclear squamous cells (Squames) are 80-100% of cells seen

not seen: neutrophils, RBCs

if looking at cytology of the diestrus period, what cells would you see

80-100% parabasal and intermediate cells, neutrophils, metestrus cells

what animals form placenta

viviparous

what are some of the functions of the placenta and fetal membranes

nutrient storage/supply

respiratory exchange

excretion

mechanical protection

transfer of IgG/passive immunity

hormone production (mammals)

passive immunity transfer is greatest in ____, less so in _____ and least in _____

humans

canine/feline

equine/bovine

in the placenta, what layer contacts the mother

chorion

in most speies, the choroin is fused with the _____

allantois

chorion allows for what to exchange between mother and fetus

blood, gases

chorion develops into the fetal aspect of the _____

placenta

what of the placenta contains fetal urine and other fluids coming from the membrane

allantois

allantois function

collect liquid waste from embryo and exchange gases used by embryo

function of the amnion

provides cushion against mechanical injury, as it is a smooth translucent membrane that surrounds the fetus and holds amniotic fluid

diffuse placenta found in what two species, describe distribution of chorionic villi on fetal membranes and the placenta barrier

horse, pig

diffusely distributed

epitheliochoreal

cotyledonary placenta found in what species? describe its distribution of chorionic villi on fetal membranes and the placenta barrier

ruminant

localized to cotyledones

epitheliochoreal

zonary placenta found in what species? Describe the distribution of chorionic villi on fetal membranes and the placenta barrier

canine

localized to a belt

endotheliochoreal

discoid placenta found in what species? Describe the distribution of chorionic villi on fetal membranes and the placenta barrier

human, rodent

localized to a disk

hemochoreal

what are the four overall functions of the male reproductive organs

production of male gametes

production of male sex hormone (testosterone)

introduction of male gametes into the female reproductive organs

production of other hormones such as AMH in male embryo and ABP and inhibin in adult

what does the testes produce

sperm, hormones

function of epididymis

store spermatozoa during maturation before they pass to the deferent duct and the urethra

accessory sex glands like the vesicular glands, prostate, and bulbourethral glands drain into the _______ and contribute to the volume of _______

drain into urethra

volume of semen

what forms the combined path for the passage of both urine and semen

distal part of urethra

function of penis

deposits semen within female reproductive tract

what surrounds the surface of the testis and what is it made of

dense fibrous capsule 1-2mm thick called the albugineous tunic / tunica albuginea

made of collagenous fibers and contains larger blood vessels

T/F: testis surrounded by only tunica albuginea

false

parietal vaginal tunic, visceral vaginal tunic, and tunica albuginea surround the testis

what is the vaginal tunic of the testis composed of

mesothelium and a connective tissue layer, which is an outpouching of peritoneum

when a testis is removed, what happens to the visceral vs parietal vaginal tunics

visceral layer surrounds testis and epididymis and gets removed with the testis

parietal layer blends and is attached to the connective tissue of the scrotum, so it stays in the animal after testis removal

where is the tunica albuginea of the testis found

under the visceral vaginal tunic

tunica albuginea separates _____ and _____, and is continuous with:

separates seminiferous tubules and mediastinum

continuous with connective tissue septa

what lines seminiferous tubules

spermatogenic epithelium

what cells are found between seminiferous tubules

interstitial cells / Leydig cells

the spermatogenic epithelium is located in the _____ and is surrounded by _____ made of _____

located in seminiferous tubules / testis

lamina propria

collagen and elastic fibers

where in the seminiferous tubules can you find spermatozoa and are they motile or immotile

lumen, immotile

sertoli cells line ______ and support ______

line the seminiferous tubules

support spermatogenic cells (epithelium)

where are myoid cells located and what is their function

outside basement membrane of each seminiferous tubule

function: move spermatozoa out of the seminiferous tubules

what cells extend from the basement membrane to the lumen of the seminiferous tubules

sertoli cells

how does the nuclei and cell borders of sertoli cells appear on cytology

pale oval to triangular nuclei

indistinct cell borders

sertoli cells secrete:

semin tubular fluid

functions of sertoli cells

1. support, protect, nourish spermatogenic cells

2. secrete semin tubular fluid

3. protect spermatids from immune system via tight junctions

4. hormone production

what do sertoli cells release in response to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increasing testosterone concentration in the seminiferous tubules

androgen binding protein (ABP)

what hormone do sertoli cells produce to prevent formation of female genitalia

anti-paranephric duct hormone (APMD)

what do Sertoli cells release which suppresses FSH secretion, therefore providing pituitary negative feedback on FSH

inhibin

how do the nuclei of interstitial/Leydig cells appear on cytology

small, round,dark, eccentric

the cytoplasm of Leydig cells is very ______ due to sER, mitochondria, and few ribosomes

eosinophilic

due to the presence of ______, to cytoplasm of Leydig cells appears foamy on cytology

lipids

Leydig cells secrete

testosterone

what controls Leydig cell secretion of testosterone

interstitial cell stimulating hormone (ICSH)

in boars, Leydig cells secrete

estrogen

high concentrations of testosterone are necessary to maintain what process

spermatogenesis

testosterone effects

anabolic effect - stimulates growth of skeletal muscles/bones

secondary male sex characteristics / libido

stimulates development and secretion activity of male accessory glands

name all components of the spermatic pathway

1. seminiferous tubule

2. straight tubule

3. rete testis in mediastinum testis

4. efferent ductules

5. head of epididymis / epididymal duct

6. body of epididymis

7. tail of epididymis

8. ductus deferens

9. urethra

what structures comprise the intratesticular ducts

straight tubules, rete testis, and efferent ductules

what epithelium lines intratesticular ducts

variable from squamous to cuboidal to columnar

sperm empties into the sponge-like _______

rete testis

what structure of the intratesticular ducts have a distinctive undulating profile

efferent ductules

what are the 4 components of the epididymis

head

body

tail

vas deferens