Introduction to Histology: Reproductive System

Pre-laboratory Questions

1. What is specific about gametes when compared to other cells of the body?

The gametes differ from the other body organs in that they undergo meiosis while the body organs undergo only meiosis. Also, the body cells contain a complete number of chromosomes, the diploid cell conversely to gametes that have haploid chromosomes, meaning half the number in the parent cell.

2. Name the three layers of the uterus and what are the main tissue types present?

1. Endometrium which is the innermost layer made up of connective tissues that join the three layers of the endometrium.
2. Myometrium, the middle layer made of muscle tissue, specifically the smooth muscle tissues.
3. Perimetrium, which is the outermost layer made up of the smooth connective tissues.

1. What are the three main areas of the uterus and where are they located?
2. The fundus located between in the upper portion of the uterus, specifically in midline and palpable halfway between the symphysis and the umbilicus.
3. Body located in the woman’s lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum.
4. Cervix and it the lower part of the uterus situated between the external orifice and the internal orifice. It has a cervical canal that connects the interior of the vagina and the activity of the uterus.

Where are the spermatozoa produced in the scrotum?

1. Where are they stored?

• Spermatozoa are produced in the testes and stored in the epididymis.

1. Name the stages of egg maturation and how can we distinguish them? and how can we distinguish them?

• are two main stages of egg maturation which take place within 14 days. The initial stage there are many eggs in the process of development, as many as 1000 and end up maturing. In the second stage of maturation, gonadal hormone is required to stimulate further development.

1. What is the name of the cells which make female sex hormones in the ovary? What are those hormones? How is their production regulated?

• Hilus cells produce female sex hormones in the ovary. The primary hormones produces are estrogen and progesterone. The regulation of estrogen and progesterone occurs during the menstrual cycle. Progesterone is regulated by the formation of corpus luteum which increases the amount of progesterone in the body. Estrogen is regulated by the Follicle Stimulating Hormone produced by the pituitary gland. The FSH causes development of follicle and thus production of estrogen.

1. In which cells are the male sex hormones produced? What are those hormones? How is their production regulated?

• Leydig cells of the testes produce the male sex hormones. The main hormone produced is the testosterone. The amount of testosterone produced in the is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular. In case of low testosterone level, the gonadotrophic hormone is released by the hypothalamus that stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete FSH and LH to coordinate the increased secretion of testosterone.

1. What is the name of the tubes transporting mature sperm out of the testis?

In which layer in the ovary can the hilus cells be found?

1. What is the function of the hilus cells?

• hilus cells are found in the ovarian hilum. The hilus cells are used in the production of steroid hormone. The cells are also useful in the in vitro incubation to give rise to androstenedione in which small amounts of estradiol and progesterone are produced.

1. Which ligaments hold the ovaries in place? Describe the location of each ligament. Aside from holding the ovaries in place, identify another function of those ligaments?

• two main ligaments that hold ovary in place are; ovarian ligament attached to the ovary inferiorly, anchoring the ovarian to the walls of pelvis. The suspensory ligament of the ovary located posteriorly to the ovary and attached to the upper pole of ovary and infundibulum of the oviduct by the continuous tissue called the broad ligament. The other function of the ovarian ligaments is to stop the intersection between the uterus and the uterine tube.