www.medskool.com
 

Google
 
Web www.MedSkool.Net
 
http://www.medskool.net/index.html
http://www.medskool.net/circulatory/index.html
http://www.medskool.net/excretory/index.html
http://www.medskool.net/integumentary/index.html
http://www.medskool.net/reproductive/index.html
http://www.medskool.net/respiratory/index.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

An Overview of the Ovaries and Fallopian Tubes

 

Ovaries 

-          Functions:

o        Gametogenesis – production of eggs

o        Sex hormone production – estrogen and progesterone

-          Control of ovarian function is under the pituitary gland – via FSH and LH

-          Structure:

o        Surface epithelium – derived from mesothelium

§         Ovarian cancer arises from this epithelium

o        Germinal inclusion cysts (AKA Surface inclusion cysts) – these occur when, during ovulation, the surface epithelium breaks

§         may/may not give rise to tumors

o        Nonspecialized Stroma – composed of plump spindle cells. Can become luteinized (meaning hormonally active).

o        Specialized stroma – composed of granulosa and theca cells

§         Surround the eggs and secrete hormones

§         Granulosa and theca cells become histologically prominent once the primordial follicle is activated (see below). Once they are luteunized (hormone secreting), they become fat pink cells.

o        Germ cells – Are named differently depending on their stage of maturation: Primordial follicles (before they are activated) becomes the preantral follicle which becomes the antral follicle (antral meaning “containing a cavity with fluid”). One follicle is picked to ovulate, this follicle that is picked becomes the corpus luteus. If there is no fertilization, then the corpus luteus atrophies and becomes the corpus albicans (the older a woman is, the more of these she’ll have).

§         Primordial Follicles -  in the cortex and surrounded by a single cell layer

·         Females in their teens and twenties will have many in their cortex, while those in their 40s and 50s will have few.

§         The corpus luteum produces progesterone and estrogen

§         Theca interna – this is the layer of cells that surrounds the antrum (the cavity); has a lot of vessels in it.

§         Theca externa – surrounds the theca interna and histologically its appearance blends in with the surrounding nonspecific stroma.

§         Corpus lutuem – Has a cerebriform appearance – meaning it resembles the outer surface of the brain , lot’s of in’s and out’s. Rarely, a woman can hemorrhage from the corpus luteum – this mimics a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

o        Hilus cells – in the hilus (big surprise, I know)

§         Occasionally hormonally active

o        Rete ovarii – an embryological structure that you may encounter occasionally – Dr. Heller said not to get too excited about this…thought I’d mention it in case anyone was gonna.

-          Disease Manifestations

o        Infertility

o        Menstrual irregularity – hormones are all screwed up.

o        Masses

o        Benign conditions

o        Malignant conditions

 

 

Non-neoplastic lesions of the Ovaries 

-          GICS – germinal inclusion cysts

-          Follicle cysts

-          Corpus luteum cysts

-          Endometriomas

-          Miscellaneous

Let’s look at these in more detail…

Ovarian Cysts 

-          Common, usually benign, but should always be evaluated

-          Follicle Cysts and Corpus Luteum Cysts – most commonly related to the menstrual cycle.

o        These can be watched and can go away or they can be treated with OCPs (Oral Contraceptive Pills).

o        Surgery is uncommon.

-          Benign non-functional (meaning non-hormonal) cysts often come to cystectomy. Sometimes laparoscopic – not really addressed. All that was said was that these ovarian cysts sometimes need surgery.

-          May have no symptoms or may cause pain/pressure.

-          Looks much like an antral follicle only bigger. If the cysts is just a big balloon with nothing in it, then great. But if it’s multi-loculated or has solid areas, that’s not as great.

 

Endometriomas 

-          mass in the ovaries

-          Can be asymptomatic

-          Can cause pain

-          Can result in infertility

-          Chocolate cyst – contains brown blood 

 

Polycystic Ovary Disease 

-          Stein & Leventhal described it in 1935 so it’s also called Stein & Leventhal Disease…for some reason, I can’t care about this fact too much.

-          No one knows what causes this.

-          Sclerocystic ovaries – “sclerocystic” meaning the ovaries have a thick capsule and lots of cysts. These don’t ovulate.

-          Some effects:

o        Inappropriate gonadotropin secretion (steady LH level, instead of the cycling), hyperandrogenemia (b/c the ovaries produce androstenediol which is a weak androgen), insulin resistance.

§         The hyperandrogenemia causes masculinity

o        Patients are obese, oligoamenorrheic (few or no menstruations), hirsute (hairy), infertile

§         The obesity causes hyperestrogenism b/c of increased estrone in the peripheral fat

o        Risk of endometrial cancer – the endometrial cancers that occur in premenopausal women are often associated with this condition.

-          Surgery isn’t really done on these anymore, medical treatment is preferred.

 

Fallopian tubes 

-          Epithelium: a combo of ciliated columnar, noncialiated columnar, and intercalated

o        The role of intercalated epithelium is unknown

-          Muscular wall: The inner wall is circular, the outer wall is longitudinal

-          The lumen is made of delicate folds

o        These function in fertilization which happens at day 6.5 after the sperm enter the tube.

-          Disease

o        PID – most are treated with antibiotics

o        Ectopic pregnancy – most happen in tubes

o        Neoplasia – rare

o        Follicular salpingitis – the delicate folds are fused together forming blind sacs.

§         Can lead to a tubal ectopic pregnancy

·         This can rupture

o        TB salpingitis – leads to granulomas; didn’t really talk about this too much.

o        P.S. Salpingitis means inflammation of the fallopian tube.

 

Ectopic Pregnancy

-          Classic presentation – early suggestion of pregnancy with amenorrhea, other symptoms, then bleeding, then pain.

-          Most cases are atypical in presentation; so this is a diagnostic challenge.

-          It is critical to suspect this – always think of this when the patient is showing any symptoms.

-          Therapy – salpingostomy vs salpingectomy

-          It detected via ultrasound

-          Histological appearance – tube with blood clots and folds

-          Rupturing and hemorrhage (into the peritoneal cavity for example) can occur.

 

Cancer of the Fallopian Tubes 

-          Uncommon

-          Histologically, looks like ovarian cancer

-          Treated in a similar fashion to ovarian cancer.

-          Staging system is different from the staging of ovarian cancer


Back to the Reproductive System Index

 

 


Navigation:

MedSkool.Net Home - Circulatory - Excretory - Integumentary - Respiratory
MedSkool.Net Sitemap
 

 

All Content provided on or through MedSkool.Net (i) is provided for informational purposes only, (ii) is not a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis or treatment, and (iii) is not designed to promote or endorse any medical practice, program or agenda or any medical tests, products or procedures. The Site does not contain information about all diseases, nor does this Site contain all information that may be relevant to a particular medical or health condition. You should not use any Content for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. You should carefully read all information provided by the manufacturers of any products advertised or promoted on or through the Site and displayed on or in the associated product packaging and labels before purchasing and/or using such products. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, you should contact your professional healthcare provider through appropriate means. You agree that you will not under any circumstances disregard any professional medical advice or delay in seeking such advice in reliance on any Content provided on or through the Site. Reliance on any such Content is solely at your own risk.    Full Disclaimer

Copyright © 2006 www.MedSkool.Net - All Rights Reserved - Trademarks used herein are property of their respective owners