1.

Ovary
• F-10, F17, F-12, F-16, F18
2. Uterine tube
• F-21, F-22
3. Uterus
• F-30, F-31, F-37, F-34, F-36
4. Cervix and vagina
• F-35, F43
5. Mammary gland & Placenta
• I-43, I-44, F-38, F39

The Female reproductive system

School of medicine
Fu Jen Catholic University
 Primordial follicles frequently
appear in clusters near the
surface of the ovarian cortex.
These follicles develop in fetal
ovaries during gestation and are
seen in this position throughout
the reproductive life of the female.
Primordial follicles consist of
follicular cells, composed of a
simple squamous epithelium and
its basement membrane,
surrounding a oocyte. 400x

 A primary multilaminar follicle is

formed when follicular cells, now
termed granulosa cells, increase in
volume and number, forming a
stratified epithelial
layer. Zona pellucida, a highly
refractile, glycoproteinaceous layer,
is prominent around the oocyte
at this stage. Stromal cells
surrounding the follicle
differentiate into the theca. 400x
 The secondary follicle continues to grow, the multiple antral spaces coalescing into
a single antrum. The primary oocyte remains arrested in prophase of the first
meiotic division. It is surrounded by a ring of granulosa cells, the cumulus
oophorus, that protrude into the antral space. 400x
 A higher magnification of the
periphery of a human corpus
luteum demonstrates both types
of luteal cells. Granulosa lutein
cells are large, frothy, steroid-
producing cells that comprise the
main mass of the corpus luteum.
Theca lutein cells are smaller,
steroid-secreting cells present
around the periphery and in the
infoldings of the corpus luteum.
200x

 The differences between the size

of the granulosa lutein and theca
lutein cells is well demonstrated in
this section, that includes one of
the infoldings of the corpus luteum.
The corpus luteum is responsible
for the production of both
progesterone and estrogen during
the second half of the ovarian
cycle. 400x
 A corpus albicans is the scar tissue remains of the corpus luteum. The
corpus albicans is composed of inactive fibroblasts and scar tissue,
which gives the corpus albicans, its distinctive white appearance in
fresh tissue and eosinophilic staining in typical slide preparations. 100x
 Atretic follicles are the degenerating remains of follicles. The primordial follicles,
containing primary oocytes, are present at birth, but only 400-450 secondary
oocytes are ovulated from Graafian follicles during the reproductive life of a woman:
the remaining follicles undergo atresia. The process of atresia can occur at all stages
of follicular development. 100x
F-10, mature ovary, HE, sec

Corpus luteun
Medulla
Cortex

Ovarian follicle
 Primary follicle Primordial follicle

Tunica albuginea

mesothelium

Membrana granulosa

Theca folliculi Antrum

Mature follicle Secondary follicle

 F17, Ovary, cat, HE Graafian follicle

Corona
Theca
interna radiata
Theca
externa
Cumulus
oophorus
F-12, Corpus luteum, HE, sec
F18, corpus lutein of pregnancy

Granulosa lutein cell

Theca lutein cell

Theca interna
F16, corpus albicans, HE, sec

Mature follicle
Corpus albicans Corpus luteun
 Atretia
 Degeneration of ovum and
follicular cells; granulosa lining
breaks up, shed cells into
antrum
 Zona pellucida folds in or
disappears
 Follicle’s wall collapses; cnt. and
blood invade; glassy membrane
thickens
 If theca interna present, it
forms interstitial glands
(corpus atreticum)
 Atretic follicles will be replaced
by cortical stromal tissue
 Oviduct: ampulla - The ampullary wall
has a highly infolded mucosa. Because
a muscularis mucosae is lacking,
lamina propria forms a single
connective tissue layer. Muscularis
externa consists of inner circular and
outer longitudinal layers that
intermingle. The oviduct is
surrounded by a serosa and
suspended by a mesosalpinx from the
broad ligament. 400x

 Oviduct: ampulla - The oviductal

mucosa is lined by simple columnar
epithelium with cilia and unicellular
glands. Ciliated cells and their basal
bodies are well demonstrated.
Secretory cells (peg cells) lack cilia:
their nutritive secretory product
frequently protrudes into the lumen
prior to release. Lamina propria is the
connective tissue layer of the mucosa,
underlying the epithelium. l000x
 Oviduct: isthmus - The isthmus
is a narrow portion of the
oviduct between ampulla and
uterus. Folds and cilia decrease
in the oviduct nearer the
uterus, as secretory cells and
smooth muscle increase.
Therefore, the isthmus can be
differentiated from the
ampulla by the presence of
fewer folds and thicker
smooth muscle. 100x

 Oviduct: intramural portion -

The intramural oviduct lies
within the uterine wall,
surrounded by the uterine
musculature. In the intramural
oviduct, the folds of the
mucosa are reduced to just a
few ridges: secretory cells
outnumber ciliated cells, and
the muscularis externa is thick.
40x
F-21, Fallopian tube (ampulla), HE, sec

Ciliated cells
Non-ciliated cells
F-22, Fallopian tube (isthmus), HE, sec
 Uterus: menstrual phase (Days
1-5) - When the ischemic tissue
in the functional zone loses its
integrity, it is sloughed as
menstruation. This image, taken
from early in the menstrual
phase, shows an intact surface
epithelium on the right half of
the image, while tissue has
already begun to slough (left half)
in other areas. 100x

 Uterus: proliferative phase

(Days 6-14) - The uterus is
composed of an endometrium, a
myometrium, and a perimetrium,
that is either a serosa or an
adventitia depending on the
location. Endometrium,
influenced by ovarian hormones,
changes during the menstrual
cycle, preparing for implantation
of the blastocyst. 10x, 10x
 Uterus: secretory phase (Days 14-26)
- During the early part of the
secretory phase. The endometrium is
thicker and the glands are more
sacculated than during the
proliferative portion of the cycle.
Secretory product, just beginning to
accumulate in the lumens of some
glands, will become more abundant
by the time of implantation, about
day 21. 100x

 Uterus: secretory phase - Late in the

secretory phase, the functional zone
is thick with widely sacculated, saw-
toothed glands.These glands are
quite distended, with secretory
product in their lumens. Even at this
magnification, coils of a spiral artery
can readily be seen zigzagging
through the endometrium at the
junction of the basal and functional
zones. 200x
Menstrual cycle of uterus

F30, early F37, late F34, F36, secretory F31, early

proliferative proliferative menstrual
F-30, early proliferative uterus, HE, sec

Stratum

endometrium
Uterine gland
functionalis

Endometral
stroma Stratum
basalis

myometrium
Spiral arteries
F-37, late proliferative phase, HE, sec
F34, Early secretory
phase, HE, sec

Basal vacuolation

progravid phase
F36, late secretory
phase, HE, sec

Apical vacuolation
F-31, menstrual phase, HE, sec
menstruation
extravasated blood
 Cervix – This longitudinal
section of cervix demonstrates
the external os that marks the
transition from epithelium
lining the endocervical canal to
the epithelium covering the
ectocervix. The cervix does
not participate in menstruation.
40x

 Cervix - The external os is the

junction of the epithelium lining
the endocervical canal with
that lining the ectocervix. The
position of the external os
migrates with the reproductive
status of the female 40x. 100x
 Vagina - The mucosa of the vagina is composed of a stratified squamous moist
epithelium that accumulates glycogen (under the influence of high estrogen at
the time of ovulation) and a well-vascularized lamina propria. The thin-walled veins
in the connective tissue simulate erectile tissue during arousal. No glands
are present in the vagina. 100x
 F-35, cervix, HE, sec
ectocervix
(portio vaginalis) endocervix

Cervical
gland

Nabothian cyst
 F-43, vagina, HE, sec
stratified squamous epithelium w/glycogen

Venous sinuses
 Breast: inactive - breast consists
almost entirely branching ducts
surrounded by connective tissue
proper and adipose tissue.
Intralobular connective tissue is
loose; interlobular connective
tissue is dense irregular. 100x

 Breast: pregnancy - In a higher

magnification of a lobule, acini, as
well as the well-developed
intralobular and interlobular ducts,
are seen. Secretory product
begins to accumulate in the
lumens during late pregnancy. The
intralobular connective tissue
contains numerous mast cells and
plasma cells. Plasma cells secrete
antibodies into the milk. 100x
I-43, mammary gland (inactive), HE, sec
I-44, mammary gland (active), HE, sec

Plasma cells
 Placenta: 1st trimester - The placenta, a union of maternal and fetal tissues,
exchanges nutrients with wastes and oxygen with carbon dioxide for the
embryo/fetus and maintains pregnancy through the production of hormones.
The placenta is formed from the fetal chorion (extraembryonic tissue) and
decidua (maternal tissue derived from decidual cells of the uterine
endometrium). 4x
 Placenta: 3rd trimester - Villi appear similar to those in early placenta except that
fetal connective tissue is more condensed, cytotrophoblast cells form a
discontinuous layer beneath the syncytiotrophoblast, fibrinoid is seen in villi, and
syncytiotrophoblastic nuclei tend to clump. Fetal capillaries are more numerous and
are frequently located immediately beneath the syncytial layer. 400x
 F38, Placenta, mammal, HE
codyledon

Chorionic plate

Chorionic villi

Decidual plate

Uterine gland

Myometrium
A A syncytiotrophoblast C
Fetal vessel
B
cytotrophoblast

B D

Decidual cells

Intervillous space

D
myometrium
F39 placenta, HE

Tertiary villi

Decidual cells