1. Female Reproductive System
Li Jinxin, associate professor No
Department of Histology and Embryology

2. objectives 1.general structure of the follicle at the successive
stages of maturation of the ovarian follicule.
2.formation, structure and function of the corpus
luteum.
3.structure of the uterus and histological changes
in the endometrium during a normal menstrual
cycle.

3. 1. Components
ovary:
produce ovum
secrete female sex hormones
oviduct
uterus: organ where the fetus grow up
vagina

4. 2. Ovary located on either sides of uterus in pelvic cavity
2.1 General structure:
Capsule:
superficial epithelium:a layer of squamous or cuboidal cell
tunica albuginea: DCT
Cortex: different stage of follicles and stroma cells.
Medulla: LCT with BV, LV
Hilus:hilus cell

5. cortex medulla primordial follicle mature follicle primary follicle
secondary follicle
cortex
medulla

6. 2.2 Development and maturation of follicles
childhood: before development- all follicle are primordial follicle(1000,000-2,000,000).
puberty: the ability for reproduce begin to develop(40,000 primordial follicle).
sexual maturity: ( are released)
different stage of follicles can be seen
have a cyclic change(menstrual cycle)
climacteric: the ability of reproduce decrease
senescence: all follicle disappear, replaced by CT

7. Consist of two type of cells: primary oocyte: large,40µm in diameter,
2.2.1 primordial follicle
Consist of two type of cells:
primary oocyte: large,40µm in diameter,
slight eosinophilic cytoplasm.
follicular cell: a layer of flattened cell
primordial follicle

8. 2.2.2 primary follicle
primordial follicle begin to grow
primary oocyte : become large,rich in organelles.
follicular cell: become a layer of cuboidal or more layers.
Corona radiata
zona pellucida
Theca folliculi
Theca folliculi
Corona radiata
primordial follicle
zona pellucida
primary follicle

9. primary oocyte :continuous to develop. follicular cell: more layers
2.2.3 secondary follicle
primary oocyte :continuous to develop.
follicular cell: more layers
follicular antrum: space between follicular cells and filled with follicular fluid.
follicular antrum
cumulus oophorus
stratum granulosum
theca folliculi

10. cumulus oophorus: follicular fluid increase to force the oocyte and some follicular cells move to one side to form a hillock-liked structure.
corona radiata: follicular cell near oocyte arranged radiately.
stratum granulosum: follicular cell which constitute the wall of follicle,termed granulosa cells.
theca folliculi: derived form surrounding stroma cell which proliferate and differentiate.
theca interna: rich in cells( theca cell).
theca externa: CT, fiber

11. 2.2.4 mature follicle
a follicle require about days to reach a mature stage, 2 cm in diameter.
follicular fluid: increase
follicular cavity: enlarge
stratum granulosum: thinner
The first meiosis division is completed, primary oocyte divides into secondary oocyte and first polar body(will disappear), then secondary oocyte begin the second meiosis and rest at middle stage of division.

12. Development and maturation of follicles

13. 2.3 Ovulation
the process by which secondary oocyte, zona pellucide, corona radiate and follicular fluid are released into the pelvic cavity, then captured by oviduct fimbriated funnel.

14. processes: (self-study)
follicle projects from surface of ovaries→the area lack of blood →follicular stigma→tissue is dissolved by proteiolytase and collegenase, SM contract→follicle rupture→force the cumulus oophorus go out of the follicle.
time: fourteenth day of menstruation.
ovum maintain the capacity for fertilization for 24 hours.

15. components and functions: granulose lutein cell theca lutein cell
2.4 formation of corpus luteum
definition: after ovulation, the ruptured follicle collapse, CT and blood vessel enter the follicle to form a yellow-colored, gland-liked structure.
components and functions:
granulose lutein cell
theca lutein cell

16. granulose lutein cell:
come from stratum granulosum cell
LM: large, pale weakly eosinophilic, and centrally distributed
EM: steroid-hormone secreting cell’s feature
function: secrete progesterone

17. theca lutein cell:
come from theca interna
LM: small, deep stained, and peripherally distributed
EM: steroid-hormone secreting cell’s feature
function: secrete oestrogen

18. theca lutein cell
granulose lutein cell
corpus luteum

19. development:
corpus luteum of menstruation:
not fertilized
exist for days, then become corpus albicans
corpus luteum of pregnance:
fertilized
exist for 6 months, then become corpus albicans

20. 2.5 Atretic follicle and interstial gland
(self-study)
atretic follicle: follicle degenerate and perish.
interstitial gland: during the degenerating processes of secondary follicle, cells of theca interna exist and active for a certain time to form a gland, and produce oestrogen.

21. 3. Uterus or womb
pear-shaped, muscular organ

22. 3.1 the structure of uterine wall
3.1.1 perimetrium: serosa and fibrosa
3.1.2 myometrium:
---SM: increase in number and size (from 30-50µm ~ µm)
---CT

23. 3.1.3 endometrium: mucosa
simple columnar epithelium.
lamina propria:
thick, CT(stroma of endometrium)
stroma cell:
-spindle of fusiform-shaped
-produce collagen
spiral artery: coiled
uterine gland: single-tubed gland

24. the structure of uterine wall
uterine gland
spiral artery
stroma cell
myometrium
the structure of uterine wall

25. proliferation and repairing functional layer: thick
According to the function:
basal layer:
not shed
proliferation and repairing
functional layer:
thick
shed (cyclic change-menstruation)

26. 3.2 menstrual cycle
definition: under the regulation of ovarian hormones, the cyclic change of endometrium (functional layer)

27. 3.2.1 The proliferative phase (follicular phase)
5th-14th days of cycle
Proliferation and repairing
 epi and gland repair
stroma cell: synthesis fiber and stroma
 spiral A grow
 2-4mm thick
Oestrogen

28. 3.2.2 The secretory phase
(luteal phase)
15th –28th days of cycle
gland start to secrete
stroma cells:→predecidual cell:
synthesize glycogen and lipid droplet
 spiral A reach the superficial layer
 5-7 mm thick
Oestrogen and progesterone 

29. 3.2.3 The menstrual phase
1st-4th days of cycle
 vasconstriction of spiral A→ necrosis
 vasodilation of spiral A→bleeding and shedding (menstruation)
none

30. endometrium

31. questions 1.How many stages do the follicles undergo
during their development? describe the
structure of the secondary follicle.
2.What is the corpus luteum? describe the
formation, structure,function and
evolution of corpus luteum.
3.What is menstrual cycle? describe the
cyclic changes of endometrium and its
hormonal regulation.