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Histology NOTES BY RED
THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
FEMALE REPRODUCTION
Unlike males, who are able to produce sperm cells
throughout their reproductive lives, females produce
a finite number of egg cells.
During early fetal development germ cells migrate
into the ovaries and differentiate into oogonia
OOGONIA
• Those that remain will be surrounded by a single
layer of squamous epithelial cells (follicle cells)
called a primordial follicle.
• Degeneration of primary oocytes continues.
• At birth =1million primordial follicles
• At puberty 400,000 remain
• Only 400-500 will reach maturity
THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE
SYSTEM
UTERINE TUBES
(FALLOPIAN TUBES)
• Receive the ovulated oocyte and provide a site
for fertilization
• Empty into the superolateral region of the uterus
via the isthmus
• Expand distally around the ovary forming the
ampulla
• The ampulla ends in the funnel-shaped, ciliated
infundibulum containing fingerlike projections
called fimbriae
Function: events occurring in the uterine tube
• Fimbriae sweep oocyte into tube, cilia & peristalsis
move it along, sperm reaches oocyte in ampulla,
fertilization occurs within 24 hours after ovulation &
zygote reaches uterus about 7 days after ovulation
FALLOPIAN TUBE HISTOLOGY
Cilia sweep egg/zygote toward the uterus
UTERUS
• Hollow, thick-walled organ located in the pelvis
anterior to the rectum and posterosuperior to the
bladder
• Body: Major portion of the uterus
• Fundus: Rounded region superior to the entrance of
the uterine tubes
• Isthmus: Narrowed region between the body and
cervix
UTERINE HISTOLOGY
Endometrium
• Simple columnar epithelium
• Stroma of connective tissue and endometrial glands
• Stratum functionalis: Shed during menstruation
• Stratum basalis: Replaces stratum functionalis each
month
Myometrium
• 3 layers of smooth muscle
Perimetrium
• Visceral peritoneum
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VAGINA
• Thin-walled tube lying between the bladder and the
rectum, extending from the cervix to the exterior of the
body
• Wall consists of three coats: fibroelastic adventitia,
smooth muscle muscularis, and a stratified squamous
mucosa
• Mucosa near the vaginal orifice forms an incomplete
partition called the hymen
• Vaginal fornix: upper end of the vagina
surrounding the cervix
ENDOMETRIUM
FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALIA
• Mons pubis: fatty pad over the pubic symphysis
• Labia majora & minora: folds of skin encircling
vestibule where find urethral and vaginal
openings
• Clitoris: small mass of erectile tissue
• Bulb of vestibule: masses of erectile tissue just
deep to the labia on either side of the vaginal
orifice
• Perineum: Area between the vagina and anus

ENDOMETRIUM
• Proliferative phase: glands and blood vessels
scattered throughout the functional zone with little or
no branching.
• New glands form and endometrium thickens.
• Secretory phase: glands are enlarged and have
branches. Preparing the endometrium for
implantation
• If no implantation then endometrium breaks down
and menstruation begins.

BARTHOLIN’S GLANDS
(AKA: VESTIBULAR GLANDS)
• The Bartholin's glands are located on each side
of the vaginal opening.
• They secrete fluid that helps lubricate the vagina.
• Sometimes the ducts of these glands become
obstructed.
o Fluid backs up into the gland and causes
CERVIX swelling (Bartholin's cyst)
• Narrow lower neck of the uterus which projects into
the vagina inferiorly
• Cervical canal – cavity of the cervix that
communicates with:
— The vagina via the external os
— The uterine body via the internal os
• Cervical glands secrete mucus that covers the
external os and blocks sperm entry except during
midcycle
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OVARY HISTOLOGY

MAMMARY GLANDS
• Modified sweat glands that produce milk (lactation) OVARY HISTOLOGY
— Amount of adipose determines size of breast
— Milk-secreting glands open by lactiferous
ducts at the nipple
— Areola is pigmented area around nipple
— Suspensory ligaments suspend breast from
deep fascia of pectoral muscles (aging &
Cooper’s droop)
— Mammary line is a thickened ridge of
embryonic tissue that extends from the axilla
to the groin.

BREAST

Primary Follicle

• Prolactin from the pituitary gland stimulates the

synthesis of milk
• Oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland stimulates
milk ejection

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
• Lymph nodes draining the breast are located in the
axilla.

OVARIES
• Each follicle consists of an immature egg called
an oocyte
• Cells around the oocyte are called:
— Follicle cells (one cell layer thick)
o Stimulated to mature by FSH from the
pituitary gland GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE
— Granulosa cells (when more than one layer
is present)
— Thecal cells: Cells in the ovarian stroma
• Thecal & granulosa cells work together to produce
estrogen
• A protective layer of glycoprotein forms around the
egg called the zona pellucida

FOLLICLE DEVELOPMENT
1. Primordial follicle: one layer of squamous- like
follicle cells surrounds the oocyte
2. Primary follicle: two or more layers of cuboidal
granulosa cells enclose the oocyte
3. Secondary follicle: has a fluid-filled space
between granulosa cells that coalesces to form a
central antrum
4. Graafian follicle: secondary follicle at its most CORPUS LUTEUM
mature stage that bulges from the surface of the ovary � After ovulation, the remains of the follicle are
5. Corpus luteum : ruptured follicle after ovulation transformed into a structure called the corpus
luteum.
� If a pregnancy occurs, it produces progesterone to
maintain the wall of the uterus during the early period
of development.
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CORPUS ALBICANS
� If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum will
begin to break down about 2 weeks after ovulation.
� Degeneration occurs when fibroblasts enter the
corpus luteum and a clump of scar tissue forms called
the corpus albicans.

MAMMARY GLAND
• At puberty they enlarge by accumulation of fat, but
contain only a duct system.
• Secretory units appear only during pregnancy and are
functioning only during lactation.

Resting (Non-Pregnant)

Lactating (Low Power)

I- Resting Mammary Gland:

• It is divided into lobes and lobules.

• The interlobular C.T. is dense and contains numerous
fat cells.
• The intralobular C.T. is loose and contains no fat
cells.
• Within the lobules, there are widely separated ducts
lined by simple cuboidal epithelium. Lactating (High Power)
• Ducts collect to form lactiferous ducts lined by
stratified columnar epithelium and open at the top of
the nipple.

II-Lactating Mammary Gland:

• Interlobular and intralobular C.T. become reduced.

• Lobules are made of ducts and alveoli.
• Alveoli are distended with milk and lined by cuboidal
or flat cells surrounded by myoepithelial cells.
• Milk a.ppears acidophilic with vacuoles of dissolved
fat
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� A fibrous capsule covers each testis called the tunica
MALE REPRODUCTION albuginea.

DESCENT OF THE TESTES

• Ovoid structures about 5 cm long and 3 cm wide.
• Located within the
scrotal sac (scrotum)

• During fetal development they are near the kidneys

and slowly move inferiorly in the abdominal cavity.

• During the 7th month they descend through the TESTICLE

inguinal canals � The tunica albuginea gives rise to septa (partitions)
that divide the testis into lobules (about 250)
� Each lobule contains 3 or 4 highly coiled
seminiferous tubules
� These converge to become rete testis which
transport sperm to the epididymis

SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES

SCROTUM
� Sac of skin and superficial fascia that hangs outside
the abdominopelvic cavity at the root of the penis
� Contains paired testicles separated by a midline
septum
� Its external positioning keeps the testes 3°C lower
than core body temperature

EPIDIDYMIS
WALL OF THE SCROTUM
� In the dermis, there is a thin layer of smooth muscle
known as the dartos muscle. Contractions of this
muscle causes wrinkling of the skin.
� The cremaster muscle is a thicker layer of skeletal
muscle that lowers and raises the testes based on
temperature.
� Epididymis: Storage and maturation area for sperm
� Its head joins the efferent ductules and caps the
superior aspect of the testis
� The duct of the epididymis has stereocilia that:
— Absorb testicular fluid
— Pass nutrients to the sperm
� Nonmotile sperm enter, pass through its tubes and
become motile (propelled by peristalsis)
� Upon ejaculation the epididymis contracts, expelling
sperm into the ductus deferens

INSIDE THE SCROTUM

� Each testes is enclosed by the tunica vaginalis, a
continuation of the peritoneum that lines the
abdominopelvic cavity.
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EPIDIDYMIS HISTOLOGY ACCESSORY GLANDS: PROSTATE
GLAND
� Doughnut-shaped gland that encircles part of the
urethra inferior to the bladder
� Plays a role in the activation of sperm
� Enters the prostatic urethra during ejaculation
� Prostatic secretions includ:
o Citrate: is a food source (TCA cycle)
o Proteolytic enzymes: acts to "decoagulate"
the semen that was coagulated by seminal
vesicle secretions, which helps the sperm
begin their journey once inside the vagina

BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS
(COWPER’S GLANDS)
SPERMATIC CORD � Pea-sized glands inferior to the prostate
� Contains the structures running from the testicles to � Produce alkaline mucus prior to ejaculation that
the pelvic cavity. neutralizes traces of acidic urine in the urethra
— Passes through the inguinal canal
� Contents:
— Vas Deferens
— Nerves
— Blood Vessels

ACCESSORY GLANDS: SEMINAL

VESICLES
� Lie on the posterior wall of the bladder and secrete
60% of the volume of semen
— Seminal fluid:
o Fructose: provides energy for the sperm.
o Fibrinogen: helps turn semen into a bolus
that can be readily propelled into the vagina.
o Prostaglandins: decrease cervical mucus
viscosity and stimulate reverse peristalsis of
the uterus.
� Join the ductus deferens to form the ejaculatory duct

POSTERIOR BLADDER