The female reproductive system Aleš Hampl November 2024 1. Oogenesis 2. Copulation – receives sperm from male 3. Hormone production 4. Provides sites for egg fertilization, implantation, and development 5. Acts as birth canal Functions of the female reproductive system Female genital organs – Gross anatomy 1 Female genital organs – Gross anatomy 2 Endometrium Myometrium Epimetrium Cervix of uterus Vagina Fundus of uterus Labia minora Labia majora Clitoris Uterine tube (fallopian) Ovary Ovary – Overall structure Length – 3 cm Width – 1.5 cm Thickness – 1 cm Medulla Cortex Hilum Cortex • Follicles • Highly vascularized stroma Medulla • Vessels • Loose connective tissue Ovary – Surface Cortex Surface epithelium (germinal) cuboidal cells Tunica albuginea (capsule) dense connective t. Oogenesis - Key periods G2/M block mitotic division growth (months) meiotic maturation (hours) PGC & oogonia MI MII Resumption of meiosis Block of meiosis in diplotene of the 1. meiotic division Fertilizable egg, capable of supporting early embryonal development Primary oocytes Secondary oocyte Meiosis – two divisions instead of one DNA replication establishment of bivalents „crossing over“ 1. meiotic division Independent segregation of chromosomes 2. meiotic division Separation of chromatids 2n 2C 2n 4C 1n 2C 1n 2C 1n 1C 1n 1C Fully functional germ cells Oogenesis - Lifetime summary At the time of birth max. 500 thousands of primary oocytes At the end of 6 month of fetal development ~ 6 – 7 millions of primary oocytes At the time of menopause max. 100 – 1000 remaining oocytes At the time of birth ~ 500 thousands of primary oocytes Atresia Atresia Ovulation (~ 500 oocytes) Oogenesis – Polar body production Ooogenesis – stages of the oocyte development DiploteneoftheMeiosisI Inside the ovary Preantral follicle (multilaminar) Recruited follicle (unilaminar) Secondary (antral) follicle (medium size) Tertiary (Graafian) follicle Primordial follicle30 mm 20 mm Selection of the Dominant follicle (the one most sensitive to FSH) ~14 days Growth Primary follicles Massive hormone production Androstendione Theca folliculi interna Estradiole Granulosa cell Oogenesis – Overall picture inside the ovary Oogenesis – Primordial follicles Primary oocyte • Organelles around nucleus • Abundant mitochondria • Abundant RER Oogenesis – Primary follicles Unilaminar Multilaminar Zona pellucida (5-10 mm) Granulosa cells 15 Oogenesis – Secondary (antral) follicles 16 Antrum Membrana granulosa Theca folliculi Cumulus oophorus Oogenesis – Tertiary (Graafian, preovulatory) follicle Oogenesis – Wall of tertiary follicle Membrana granulosa Theca externa Theca interna Basal membrane (Slavjanski) Theca interna • Vascularized • Androstendione to granulosa cells - estradiol Theca externa • Fibrous with smooth m. cells Antrum with follicular fluid 18 Chromosomes Oogenesis – MI phase oocyte surrounded by corona radiata Polar body Oogenesis – MII phase oocyte Oogenesis – Ovulation tigma • initiated by LH surge • no blood flow at stigma – ischemia • smooth muscle contractions - theca f. externa 21 Oogenesis – Ovulated oocyte Corpus luteum 1 Granulosa cells – Granulosa lutein cells • large (20-30 mm) • 80 % of CL • convert androstendione to progesterone and estradiol Theca interna cells – Theca lutein cells • smaller (10-15 mm) • production of steroids • vascularized – fenestrated caps. 23 Granulosalutein cells Thecalutein cells Corpus luteum 2 Corpus luteum 3 Granulosalutein cells Thecalutein cells Gartner, Hiatt, 2001 Corpus luteum 4 CL graviditatis • diameter 2 – 3 cm • maintains pregnancy • mantained by chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) • maximal at 2 months • changes to c. albicans at month 4-5 CL menstruationis • 10 – 12 days • changes to c. albicans (dense connective tissue – collagen + fibroblasts) Corpus albicans Corpus luteum Corpus luteum & albicans 27 Corpus albicans 28 • all types of follicles • apoptosis of follicular cells • autolysis (autophagy) oocytes • phagocytosis by macrophages • zona pellucida and basal lamina persist the longest time Mescher, 2010 Follicular atresia Mescher, 2010 Ovarian cycle – 28 days Preovulatory phase • days 1 to 14 • growth and maturation of follicles • production of steroid hormones Postovulatory phase • days 16 to 28 • corpus luteum • production of progesterone Ovulation • at day 15 • connect the ovaries to the uterus • 12 to 15 cm long x 0.7 to 5 cm in diameter • location of fertilization and early embryonic development Teachmeanatomy.info Uterine tubes = Fallopian tubes = Oviducts University of Leeds Histolgoy, histology.leeds.ac.uk Lumen Tunica mucosa T. muscularis T. serosa 31 Oviduct - Ampula • highly branched mucosa • longitudinal folds • labyrinth 32 Oviduct - Ampula 33 Oviduct - Isthmus • less branching 34 Oviduct Tunica mucosa ● lamina epithelialis – simple columnar epithelium 1.) CILIATED CELLS –possess many cilia- transport of the ovum and embryo 2.) SECRETORY CELLS (PEG) – secrete a nutrient rich medium ● lamina propria – loose connective tissue (is richly vascularized!) Uterus 1 • Mechanical protection and nutritional support to developing embryo • Bends anteriorly (anteflexion) • Stabilized by broad, uterosacral, round, and lateral ligaments Uterus 2 Uterine wall ~ 1.5 - 2 cm 1. Endometrium – T. Mucosa 2. Myometrium – T. muscularis 3. Perimetrium – T. Serosa ● consists of lamina epithelialis and lamina propria ● epithelial lining – simple columnar epithelium containing secretory and ciliated cells ● lamina propria – loose connective tissue with many stellate fibroblasts, contains abundant amorphous ground substance→ uterine glands – simple tubular glands (covered by simple columnar epithelial cells) 1. Stratum functionalis (~ 5 mm) ○ exhibit dramatic changes during menstrual cycle every month (hormone-driven) ○ shed during menstruation ! 2. Stratum basale (~ 1 mm) ○ undergoes little changes during the menstrual cycle ○ not shed during menstruation ! ○ provides a new epithelium and lamina propria for the renewal of the endometrium! Dartmouth Medical School, Virtual Histology http://www.dartmouth.edu/~anatomy/Histo Uterus – Endometrium 1 Simple columnar epithelium Endometrial glands Uterus – Endometrium 2 39 Gartner, Hiatt, 2001 Uterus – Endometrium - Blood supply (Spiral) arterioles – lacunae - venules Uterus – Menstrual cycle (28 days) Menstrual phase (days 1 – 4) Proliferative phase (days 5 – 15) (driven by estrogens) Secretory phase (days 16 – 27) (driven by progesteron) Ischemic phase (day 28) Endometrium – Proliferative phase • rising estrogen from the developing follicles • the stratum basalis is regrowing the stratum functionalis – new glands form • long and straight uterine glands which are not yet functional Sobotta, 1995 Endometrium – Secretory phase • under the control of estrogen and progesterone from the corpus luteum • the uterine glands of the stratum functionalis begin to function, producing glycogen • the curvy and dilated glands and elongated spiral arteries • lack of estrogen and progesterone from the dead corpus luteum • the stratum functionalis dies and loses its anatomical integrity, breaking lose and shedding from the stratum basalis Sobotta, 1995 uterine cavity myometrium shedding stratum functionalis Endometrium – Menstrual phase • three interwoven layers of smooth muscle • during pregnancy – smooth muscle cell hyperplasia + hypertrophy • contract in response to oxytocin during labor to expel the fetus from the uterus Uterus – Myometrium Dartmouth Pathology, http://www.dartmouth.edu/~anatomy/Histo • 2-3 cm in length • cylindrical shape • cervical canal connects lumen of uterus to lumen of vagina • numerous mucous glands • changes thickness throughout ovulation cycle • important for pregnancy and childbirth • contributes to capacitation The Cervix + Orificium externum uteri uvahealth.com Stratified squamous ep. Columnar ep. Abrupt junction of epithelia Cervical canal The Cervix Junction - collumnar to stratified squamous ep. Simple collumnar ep. Stratified squamous ep. Cervical glands (tubular, branched, mucus secreting) VAGINA Mescher, 2016 Vagina 1 • receives sperm during copulation • serves as birth canal 3 tissue layers a) mucosal layer – inner layer; non-keratinizing stratified squamous b) muscular layer – middle layer; smooth muscle in two layers c) advetitia – outer layer; areolar connective tissue 150-200 mm NO glands ! Vagina 2 Epithelial cells sythesize and accumulate glycogen (upon stimulation by estrogens) H+E Best´s carmine Vagina 3 Preovulatory state (all four layers) Released after ovulation • glycogen • Lactobacillus • acidification Cervical smear – Giemsa staining Contain glycogen Superficial Inermediate Parabasal Basal 50 Labia minora Sebaceous glands Nerves Veins Covered by hairless skin Placenta 1 Syncytiotrophoblast invades the sorrounding stroma Functions 1) transport (water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, antibodies, drugs, waste, …) 2) metabolism (synthesis of glycogen, cholesterol, fatty acids) 3) hormonal production steroids: progesteron, estrogen – maintenance of pregnancy peptides: human chorionic gonadotropin, human placentar lactogen, relaxin, leptin, growth factors) Temporary organ Implantation Placenta 2 Chorionic villi - finger like projection of embryonic tissue that come in contact with bleeding endometrium Decidual cells – fibroblast of endometrium (large, cuboidal, very active proteosynthesis) Placenta – thick disk made by decidua and chorionic villi (formed at the start of month 4) Placenta 3 Decidua basalis – between embryo and myometrium Decidua capsularis – between embryo and the uterine lumen (thins as the embryo grow) Placenta 4 • pars fetalis – chorion plate, chorion villi (anchored, free = terminal) • pars materna – decidua basalis • intervilous spaces – develop from lacunes discoid 15 – 20 cm 400 – 600 g Chorion plateFree villi Ancored villi Intervillous space Discoidalis + Hemochorialis Basal plate Placenta 5 Umbilical arteries – deoxygenated blood Umbilical vein – oxygenated blood Placenta 6 Pars fetalis Anchored villi Pars materna Chorion plate Free villi Ambiotic epithelium (ectoderm) Placenta 7 57 Chorion plate Anchored villus Free (terminal) villi (crossections) 58 Mescher, 2010 Placenta 8 – Free villi Maternal blood Syncytiotrophoblast Extraembryonic vasculature 59 Placental barrier Until mid pregnancy • capillary endothelium • basal lamina of endothelium • mucous connective tissue • cytotrophoblast • basal lamina of syncytiotrophoblast • syncytiotrophoblast Since month 5 • capillary endothelium • basal lamina of endothelium • basal lamina of syncytiotrophoblast • syncytiotrophoblast Umbilical cord • links foetus to placenta • about 55 cm in legth Umbilical arteries Umbilical vein Wharton's jelly (mucous connective tissue) Amniotic epithelium (ectoderm) Thank you for your attention ! Questions and comments at: ahampl@med.muni.cz