HISTOLOGY OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS – UTERUS, FALLOPIAN TUBE, CERVIX, VAGINA, OVARY

HISTOLOGY OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS – UTERUS, FALLOPIAN TUBE, CERVIX, VAGINA, OVARY

• The female reproductive system consists of internal genital organs: uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, vagina, and ovaries.

• Histologically, these organs exhibit cyclical changes governed by hormones.

• They are derived from Mullerian ducts (except ovaries) and develop embryologically from the intermediate mesoderm.

SANSKRIT REFERENCE
अर्थववहिनी स्त्रीणां योनिः स्थानं गर्भधारणे ।
बीजाशयस्तु गर्भस्य बीजसंचयनं स्मृतम् ॥
(As per Ayurvedic texts, Yoni, Garbhashaya, and Beejashaya correspond to vagina, uterus, and ovary respectively.)

HISTOLOGY OF UTERUS
LAYERS

• Perimetrium: Outer serosal layer, part of visceral peritoneum.

• Myometrium: Thick smooth muscle layer; contains 3 layers – inner longitudinal, middle circular (rich in blood vessels), outer longitudinal.

• Endometrium: Inner mucosal lining, shows cyclical changes. Two zones:

  • Stratum functionalis – shed during menstruation

  • Stratum basalis – regenerates functional layer

EPITHELIUM

• Lined by simple columnar epithelium with both ciliated and secretory cells.

• Endometrial glands are tubular and embedded in lamina propria.

CYCLICAL CHANGES (as per BD Chaurasia)

• Proliferative phase – Glands are straight and narrow.

• Secretory phase – Glands become coiled and tortuous, stromal edema increases.

• Menstrual phase – Functional layer sheds with bleeding.

HISTOLOGY OF FALLOPIAN TUBE
LAYERS

• Mucosa: Highly folded, with simple columnar ciliated and secretory (peg) cells.

• Muscularis: Inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle.

• Serosa: Peritoneal covering.

MUCOSAL REGIONS

• Infundibulum and Ampulla – Highly folded mucosa, numerous ciliated cells for ovum transport.

• Isthmus – Less folded, thicker muscular wall.

• Intramural part – Passes through uterine wall, narrow lumen.

FUNCTION

• Ciliary movement and peristalsis aid in ovum transport and sperm movement.

SANSKRIT VIEWPOINT
अर्थववाहिन्यः स्रोतांसि तत्र सङ्गच्छते शुक्रं च बीजं च
– Fallopian tube is the anatomical basis of artavavaha srotas.

HISTOLOGY OF CERVIX
EPITHELIUM

• Ectocervix (Portio vaginalis) – Stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium.

• Endocervix (Canal) – Simple columnar epithelium forming deep crypts.

TRANSFORMATION ZONE

• Area between squamous and columnar epithelium (important for pathology – cervical carcinoma develops here).

GLANDS

• Endocervical mucosa contains mucus-secreting tubular glands (produce cervical mucus).

• No shedding of endometrial lining – no cyclical bleeding.

HISTOLOGY OF VAGINA
LAYERS

• Mucosa: Non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium; no glands.

• Lamina propria: Elastic fibers and lymphocytes.

• Muscularis: Inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle.

• Adventitia: Dense connective tissue.

FEATURES

• Epithelium rich in glycogen – metabolized by lactobacilli to lactic acid, maintaining acidic pH.

• Rugae are present in mucosa, especially in reproductive age.

SANSKRIT CORRELATION
योनिः स्त्रीणां गर्भमार्गः स एव सुखदुःखयोः ।
– Vagina is referred to as yoni, the passage for menstruation, intercourse, and childbirth.

HISTOLOGY OF OVARY
COVERING

• Germinal epithelium: Simple cuboidal cells.

• Tunica albuginea: Dense connective tissue under epithelium.

TWO REGIONS

• Cortex: Contains ovarian follicles (primordial, primary, secondary, Graafian), corpus luteum, corpus albicans.

• Medulla: Loose connective tissue with blood vessels, lymphatics, nerves.

FOLLICULAR DEVELOPMENT

• Primordial follicle – Single layer of squamous cells.

• Primary follicle – Cuboidal granulosa cells appear.

• Secondary follicle – Antrum formation.

• Graafian follicle – Large antral follicle with oocyte, zona pellucida, corona radiata.

CORPUS LUTEUM

• Formed after ovulation; secretes progesterone and estrogen.

• If no pregnancy, degenerates to corpus albicans.

SANSKRIT VIEWPOINT
बीजाशयः सञ्जातीनां कारणं बीजसंभवः ।
– Ovary is the Beejashaya, the source of female germ cells (ova).

MODERN CLINICAL ANATOMY (BD CHAURASIA)

• Endometrial biopsy – Assesses hormonal response and uterine health.

• Pap smear – Cervical epithelium screening for dysplasia.

• Laparoscopic view – Used to visualize tubes and ovaries.

• PCOS, Endometriosis – Linked to abnormal ovarian and endometrial histology.

• Tubal block – Detected by histological abnormalities or hysterosalpingography.

• Cancer sites – Cervix (transformation zone), endometrium (hyperplasia), ovary (surface epithelium origin).