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 2

 

This is an image of the final stage of development called the Graaphian or Mature Follicle (white dotted lines). These are huge compared to the rest of the follicular stages and usually bulge all the way to the edge of the ovary as seen here. For reference the green arrow is pointing to a multillamenar follicle. Notice how much larger the mature follicle is. In a mature follicle the granulosa cells form two special structures of note. First is the Cumulus Oophorus which is a large "hill" of granulosa cells which the Oocyte (red arrow) sits on (black arrows). The next is the Corona Radiata which is a layer of granulosa cells that surrounds the oocyte around the zona pellucida (blue arrows).

White dotted line - Graaphian or Mature Follicle

Black arrows - Cumulus Oopherus

Blue arrows - Corona Radiata

Red arrow - Oocyte

Green arrow - Multillamenar follicle

 

This is a close up of the Oocyte of a Graaphian follicle, indicated by the blue arrow. The red arrows are showing the granulosa cells that make up the Corona Radiata.

Blue arrow - Oocyte

Red arrow - Corona Radiata

 

 

 

This is an image of the outer cell layers of the mature follicle. In a mature follicle the three cell layers become better defined and thicker. The inner most layer located adjacent to the Antrum (green arrow) is the Granulosa Cell Layer or Stratum Granulosum or Membrane Granulosa. Either one is fine, as long as you know that it is made up of granulosa cells. This is in the same layer of cells that make up the cumulus oopherus and corona radiata. These cells remember originated from the follicular cells. The next layer is Theca Interna indicated by the red arrow. This contains steroid producing cuboidal cells which secrete androgens that will be converted to estrogen by the granulosa cells. The outer layer is the Theca Externa (yellow arrow). This layer is simple a fibrous sheath covering the entire follicle.Notice how the cells in the Theca externa have their nuclei very elongate shaped.

Blue arrow - Granulosa Cell layer

Red arrow - Theca Interna

Yellow arrow - Theca Externa

 

 

Graaphian (Mature) Follicle

 

 

Oocyte (Corona Radiata)

Outer Cell Layers of the Matur Follicle