Lab 17 Female Reproductive System: 1) Index 2) Introduction 3) Things to Identify 4) Ovary 5)Ovary 2 6)Corpus Luteum 7) Corpus Albicans 8) Oviducts 9) Uterus (proliferative) 10) Uterus (secretory) 11)Uterus (menstral) 12) Cervix 13) Vagina 14) Pregnant Uterus 15) Mammory Glands (resting) 16)Mammory Glands (active) 17) Comparison of Structures 18) Practical

 

The Ovary

 

# 174 - Ovarian follicles, monkey, h.-e., follicles at various stages of development

# 175 and # 224 - Ovary, rabbit, 1.5 mm, h.-e.

# 225 - Ovary, cat, sec., h.-e.

# 226 - Ovary, graafian follicles, h.-e.

 

The ovary is both a cytogenic and an endocrine organ. Identify the following areas or structures:

1. cortex and medulla of the ovary

2. germinal epithelium (a misnomer, since primordial germ cells, the germ cell precursors, arise in the yolk sac and migrate to the ovaries by the blood)

3. stroma

4. primordial follicles

5. primary follicles (unilamellar and multilamellar)

6. secondary or antral follicles and the component parts (i.e., stratum granulosum, cumulus oophorus, zona pellucida, oocyte, theca interna, theca externa)

7. atretic follicles

8. tunica albuginea (capsule) under germinal epithelium Note the rich vascularity of the stromal tissue.

REFERENCES: Gartner, pp. 342, 344 - 347Ross, pp. 680 - 681, 714 - 717 DiFiore, pp. 296 - 299 Wheater, pp. 336 - 340

 

This is a low power image of the Ovary. The red arrow is outlining the Cortex of the Ovary. The blue arrow is showing the Medulla of the ovary. The green arrows are showing some of the many Primordial follicles found in the Cortex of the Ovary. The black arrow is pointing to an Atretic Follicle which is in the process of degenerating. The cells in between the primordial cells make up the Stroma of the ovary.

Red arrow - Cortex

Blue arrow - Medulla

Green arrows - Primordial Follicles

Black arrow - Atretic Follicle

 

Here is a close up of the very edge of the cortex of the ovary. It is here you find the Germinal Epithelium indicated by the white arrows. REMEMBER, THE GERMINAL EPITHELIUM DOESN'T GIVE RISE TO ANYTHING!!! It is just an epithelium located right above the capsule of the ovary. In this vies you also get a closer look at Primordial Follicles indicated by the red arrows.

 

White arrows - Germinal Epithelium

Red arrows - Primordial Follicles

 

 

 

This is an image of a Primary Unillamenar Follicle which can be found in the cortex of the ovary. This is the next stage in development for the primordial follicle. The unillamenar follicle is made up of a single layer of Follicular Cells (yellow arrows) surrounding the Oocyte (blue arrow). The red arrows are pointing to the Zona Pellucida, which is the bright red band that surrounds the entire oocyte.

Yellow arrows - Single Layer of Follicular Cells

Red arrows - Zona Pellucida

Blue arrow - Oocyte

 

 

This is an image of a Multillamenar Primary follicle which is the one marked with all the arrows. This is the next stage in developement after the unillamenar primary follicle. In this stage you now get 2 layers of cells around the Oocyte in the middle. The inner most layer (red arrows) is formed out of the follicular cells called the Membrane Granulosa. This layer is now made out of Granulosa Cells. The stromal cells the surround the follicle form the second layer of cells (white arrows) called the Theca Folliculi. The blue arrows are pointing to the Zona Pellucida. The yellow arrow is pointing to a unillamenar primary follicle that is located near by.

White arrow - Theca Folliculi (thecal layer)

Red arrows - Membrane Granulosa

Blue arrows - Zona Pellucida

Yellow arrow - Unillamenar Primary Follicle

Here is an image of a Secondary Follicle. The presence of an Antrum makes it secondary follicle. The antrum is what the green arrow is pointing to, and is the cavity filled with fluid. Once you see an antrum you can call it a secondary follicle. This the the stage in developement following the primary multillamenar follicle. The blue arrow is pointing to the Oocyte surrounded by the Zona Pellucida (red arrows). The black arrows are pointing to the granulosa cells layer which has thickened. The inner most cells in the granulosa layer are responsible for making the fluid in the antrum. The white arrow is pointing the Outer Thecal layer which is now made up of two layers, a Theca Interna and Theca Externa. Additionally you can see some more Primordial follicles, indicated by the yellow arrows and an Atretic Follicle indicated by the white arrow.

Blue arrow - Oocyte

Red arrows - Zona Pellucida

Black arrows-Membrane Granulosa (Granulosa Cell layer)

White double headed arrows - Thecal Layer of Cells

Yellow arrows - Primordial Follicles

White single headed arrow - Atretic Follicle

 

Ovary

Germinal Epithelium

Unillamenar Primary Follicle

Multilamenar Primary Follicle

Secondary Follicle