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MODULE 16: FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

WARNING: ALL THE MATERIALS (i.e., TEXT DOCUMENTS, DIGITAL
SLIDES, PHOTOMICROGRAPHS, PICTURES, VIDEOS, ETC.) THAT YOU WILL USE IN THIS LABORATORY COURSE IN HISTOLOGY ARE COPYRIGHTED. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DOWNLOAD, UPLOAD, SHARE, COPY, OR EDIT ANY PART OF ANY MATERIAL, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY GIVEN PERMISSION TO DO SO. YOU ARE HOWEVER ALLOWED TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE MATERIALS AS THEY APPEAR ON THE MONITOR, BUT ONLY FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE. YOU CANNOT POST THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN ANY SITE ON THE INTERNET, SEND THEM TO ANYONE BY E-MAIL OR ANY ELECTRONIC MEANS, OR MASS PRODUCE THEM. THIS LABORATORY IS MONITORED BY A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT CAN DETECT VIOLATORS OF THE ABOVE RULE. VIOLATORS WILL BE SUBJECTED TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
In the female, the reproductive system consists of organs that are grouped into the internal and external genitalia. The paired ovaries and oviducts, and the unpaired uterus, and vagina comprise the internal genitalia while the the clitoris, labia majora and minora, and the minor and major vestibular glands whose ducts open into the vestibule (i.e., the space into which the orifices of the urethra and vagina open) comprise the external genitalia or vulva. The mammary gland, which, although a modified sweat gland, is also generally considered part of the female reproductive system will also be studied in this laboratory session.

COMPETENCIES

At the end of the module on the Female Reproductive System, given an LM histologic section, the student can: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Name the organ where the histologic section was taken from. Delineate the germinal epithelium, capsule, cortex and medulla of the ovary. Distinguish the various types of ovarian follicles. Pinpoint the components or parts of the various types of ovarian follicles. Locate corpora lutea, corpora albicans and atretic follicles in sections of the ovary. Delimit the histologic layers and sublayers of the fallopian tube, uterus, cervix and vagina. 7. Point out distinguishing features of the fallopian tube, uterus, cervix and vagina. 8. Determine the stage or phase of the endometrium in light microscopic specimens. 9. Delimit the lobules of the mammary gland. 10. Distinguish the ducts from the alveoli in the mammary gland. 11. Identify myoepithelial cells in the lobules of the mammary gland. 12. Distinguish among inactive, pregnant, lactating and menopausal mammary gland, histologically.

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE
Esteban and Gonzales Textbook of Histology, Fourth Edition Chapter XVII Female Reproductive System, pages 233 252

LABORATORY SESSION ON THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

In this laboratory session, you will be studying digital slides only. You may have to consult your textbook and atlas in the course of the session. SLIDE SESSION Split the monitor and start/run Imagescope as you did during the previous lab sessions. Open the digital slides listed below. The slides are in the folder labeled Module 16. Female Reproductive System that is within the folder labeled HISTOLOGY SLIDES, which is on your desktop. Cervix 1 Cervix 2 Fallopian tube ampulla Fallopian tube isthmus Mammary gland (breast)-active Mammary gland (breast)-inactive Ovary 1
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 OVARY

Ovary 2 Ovary-corpus albicans Ovary-corpus luteum Ovary-infant Uterus-proliferative endometrium Uterus-secretory endometrium Vagina

In studying the ovary, you will use the following slides, which are already on the filmstrip: Ovary 1 Ovary 2 Ovary-corpus albicans Ovary-corpus luteum Ovary-infant

The ovaries, which are the sites for oogenesis, are a pair (left and right) of slightly flattened, ovoid organs that lie on either side of the uterus. On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled Ovary-infant to place it in the main window. The slide contains a section taken from a human infants ovary. o Study the section at low magnification. Delimit the two regions of the ovary: cortex and medulla. The cortex is the thick peripheral zone that contains numerous round structures called ovarian follicles that vary is size, while the medulla is the inner zone that is devoid of follicles but contains a lot of blood vessels. Note that the ovarian follicles in the cortex and the blood vessels in the medulla are embedded in stromal tissue that is made up of collagenous connective tissue. Delineate the connective tissue capsule, which is called tunica albuginea. It is external to the cortex and in the slide it can be seen only on the upper and left edges of the section. o Now examine the slide under higher magnifications. Look at the tunica albuginea first. Verify that it is made up of dense irregular connective tissue. External to the tunica albuginea, note the presence of cuboidal cells that appear to form a stratified epithelium. Actually, these cells comprise a simple cuboidal epithelium that is referred to as germinal epithelium because early histologists thought that it is the source of the female germ cells. Incidentally, sometimes the cells that make up the germinal epithelium are squamous instead of cuboidal.
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Now, scrutinize the ovarian follicles. An ovarian follicle consists of a developing female gamete and the cells and other tissue elements that encase it. Note that the ovarian follicles are embedded in collagenous connective tissue. Observe that, most of the follicles, especially in the peripheral areas of the cortex, consists of a single large cell that is surrounded by a simple epithelium that consists of squamous cells. These follicles are primordial ovarian follicles. The large cell in the follicles is a primary oocyte while the epithelial cells are called (granulosa cells, squamous epithelial cells, follicular epithelial cells). The primary oocyte, the flattened granulosa cells that surround it and the basal lamina on which the granulosa cells rest comprise a primordial follicle. o Study a few of the primary oocytes where the cellular details are distinguishable. Keep in mind that the ovarian follicles are primordial follicles but the oocytes they contain are primary oocytes. Note how big the oocytes are compared to the granulosa cells and stromal cells. Note further the presence of a large, eccentrically placed, vesicular nucleus with a large nucleolus in the oocytes. Notice that in some of the ovarian follicles, especially in the deeper cortex, the granulosa cells that surround the primary oocyte form a simple cuboidal or columnar and in a few instances, a stratified cuboidal epithelium. These follicles are primary ovarian follicles. Ovarian follicles where the granulosa cells form a simple cuboidal, simple columnar or stratified cuboidal epithelium are referred to as primary ovarian follicles. In primary ovarian follicles, the oocytes are still primary oocytes. Find a primary ovarian follicle where the cellular details of the oocyte are distinguishable and where the granulosa cells comprise a stratified cuboidal epithelium. o Note the presence of a thick, deeply-staining membrane around the oocytes. This membrane is the zona pellucida.

o External to the granulosa cells, note that the stromal cells are organized to form a sheath around the follicle. These sheath, which is a part of the primary follicle, is referred to as the theca folliculi. It consists of two layers: an inner cellular layer called theca interna, and an outer fibrous layer called theca externa. Go back to the filmstrip and click the slide labeled Ovary 1 to place it in the main window. The slide contains a section of an ovary from a sexually mature female cat and some segments of the Fallopian tube. o Inspect the slide under low magnification. Locate the ovary. It is the roundish structure that contains several secondary ovarian follicles, which in low magnification look like large vesicular structures. The structures where the mucosa forms leaflike figures, one to the left and the other one below the ovary, are sections of the fallopian tube. You need not study them inasmuch as there will be better sections of the Fallopian tube that you will examine later. Note that the section of the ovary in the slide consists mostly of cortical tissue, the medulla occupies a very small region. o Under varying magnifications, study the section of the ovary in the slide. Note the germinal epithelium, which in this slide is intact only in the bottom half of the section. Deep to the germinal epithelium, delimit the tunica albuginea. Now, focus your attention on the ovarian follicles. Note the numerous primordial and primary ovarian follicles that occupy the peripheral region of the cortex. Re-inforce what you have learned about these types of follicles in the previous slide by examining a few of these follicles. Observe that in the lower half of the section of the ovary, there are several cystic structures that are shown in crosssection. These are secondary ovarian follicles or antral follicles. Notice that the secondary follicles in this slide consists of a cavity (antrum) that is enclosed by a wall that is made up of two histologic layers: a stratified layer of granulosa cells and the theca folliculi (i.e, theca interna and theca externa). Actually, the granulosa cells forms a thickening, called cumulus oophorus, on one pole of the secondary follicle. At the center of the cumulus oophorus is a an oocyte. However, the follicles in this slide do not show an oocyte or a cumulus oophorus.

The secondary follicle, which develops from a primary follicle is an ovoid spherical cystic structure that consists of a single, crescentic cavity called antrumwhich contains fluid (liquor folliculi)that is enclosed by a wall that is made up of a stratified epithelium consisting of granulosa cells, and the theca folliculi. The granulosa cells form a thickening (cumulus oophorus) on one pole of the follicle that protrudes into the antrum. The central area of the cumulus oophorus is occupied by an oocyte, which remains a primary oocyte until shortly before ovulation when it becomes a secondary oocyte. A secondary ovarian follicle with a secondary oocyte is a mature ovarian follicle, which is otherwise called Graafian follicle, that is ready to expel its ovum or secondary oocyte into the abdominal cavity. Place the slide labeled Ovary 2 in the main window by clicking the image of the slide on the filmstrip. The slide also contains a section of an ovary of a sexually mature female cat. o Examine the slide under low magnification and locate the ovaryit occupies the bottom half of the slide.. As in the previous slide, this slide also contains segments of the Fallopian tube, they are shown in cross section in the upper half of the slide. As in the previous slide, you need not study the segments of the Fallopian tube. o Re-inforce what you have learned about the histology of the ovary from the previous two slides by examining this one using different magnifications. Pay particular attention to the secondary follicles in this section. Locate the two (2) secondary follicles that show an oocyte. In these follicles: Delineate the theca folliculi (i.e., theca interna and theca externa) and the granulosa cell layer that envelop the follicle. Delimit the antrum. Note the cumulus oophorus that is located on one pole of the follicle. Focus your attention on the oocytes. Note the zona pellucida that envelops the oocyte. Notice that in one of the oocytes, the following cellular details can be identified: cytoplasm, nucleus, chromatin and nucleolus. Go back to the filmstrip and click the slide labeled Ovary-corpus luteum to place it in the main window. The slide contains a section of the ovary that is in its luteal phase. After ovulation, as a consequence of the release of the ovum and the liquor folliculi into the abdominal cavity, the Graafian follicle collapses and the granulosa cell layer and theca interna are thrown into folds. Subsequently, the cells of the granulosa cell layer and the theca interna undergo transformationthey enlarge, become plump, pale-staining and polygonal, and they accumulate lipid. Thenceforth, they are called lutein cells (i.e, granulosa lutein and theca lutein
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cells) and what used to be the ovarian follicle has transformed into the corpus luteum. The granulosa lutein cells are more numerous, larger and lighter than the theca lutein cells. They occupy the inner region of the corpus luteum. o Look at the slide under low magnification. Notice that the specimen of the ovary in the slide has an unusual shape it is doughnut-shaped, with a hole in the middle. Note that about 80% of the ovary is occupied by a single, darkly-staining structure that has some infoldings. This structure is the corpus luteum. Actually, the hole in the middle of the specimen is the antrum of what used to be the Graafian follicle. o Study the slide under higher magnifications. Focus on the corpus luteum first. Notice that compared to the granulosa cells and theca interna cells that you studied in the previous slides of the ovary, the cells of the corpus luteum are much bigger. They are also vacuolated. You need not identify the two cell types that comprise the corpus luteum because they are difficult to distinguish in this section. Now, examine the stroma, especially on the outer region of the section. Note the presence of primordial and primary follicles, some of which are atretic. Locate atretic secondary follicles. A typical one, except for the absence of the oocyte, is on the upper right of the slide (at around 2 oclock). Very few ovarian follicles develop to maturity, most undergo atresia or degeneration. Atresia in a primary follicle is heralded by shrinkage of the oocyte, which is followed by degeneration of the granulosa cells. In small secondary follicles, usually the first sign of abnormality is the eccentric location of the egg nucleus. However, in bigger secondary follicles, the process is initially appreciated in the wall of the follicle. The granulosa cell layer is invaded by connective tissue elements and many of the granulosa cells fall into the antrum, while the cells of the theca interna become bigger. Also, the basal lamina between the theca interna and the granulosa cells thickens, and is sometimes referred to as glassy membrane. Notice the numerous blood vessels embedded in the stroma. Find the two (2) corpora albicans that are contained in the section. One is on the lower left region while the other one is on the lower right region of the slide. They should be easy to find because their pale, pinkish and acellular appearance contrast sharply with the surrounding stroma. In any case, you will find
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better examples of corpora albicans in the next slide that you will study. On the filmstrip, click on the slide labeled Ovary-corpus albicans to place it in the main window. o Under low magnification, delimit the corpora albicans. They are the pale, pinkish, acellular structures that vary in size, which occupy the bulk of the section. When the corpus luteum involutes, it is reduced to a white scar in the ovarian cortex called corpus albicans. The corpus albicans is relatively acellular, with only a few fibroblasts populating it. o Under higher magnifications, note that the corpus albicans consists primarily of collagen fibers where relatively few fibroblasts are embedded. FALLOPIAN TUBE To study the Fallopian Tube you need the following slides, which are already on the filmstrip. Fallopian tube-ampulla Fallopian tube-isthmus

The Fallopian tubes or oviducts are a pair tubes that convey the ovum or the conceptus to the uterus. Grossly, it has four segments: 1) infundibulumthe funnelshaped area that is adjacent to the ovary and whose distal segment, which possesses processes called fimbriae, opens into the peritoneal cavity; 2) ampullathat comprises 2/3 of the length of the tube; 3) isthmusthe narrow and slender part that connects the Fallopian tube to the uterus; and 4) pars interstitialisthe part of the tube within the uterine wall. On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled Fallopian tube-ampulla to place it in the main window. The slide contains a cross section of the second segment of the Fallopian tube. o Pan the slide under low magnification. Note the irregular shape of the lumen because of the intricate folds that are formed by the oviductal mucosa. Demarcate the three layers of the oviductal wall: mucosa, muscularis and serosa. o Under higher magnifications, study the histologic layers of the oviduct. Delimit the layers of the mucosa: epithelium and lamina propria. The oviductal mucosa is made up of an epithelium and lamina propria. It forms numerous folds that become less complex and shorter proximally. The epithelium is simple columnar, that is populated by
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two cell types: one type is ciliated while the other type, which is called peg cell, is nonciliated but secretory. Verify that the epithelium is ciliated simple columnar, although this may not be very apparent in many areas of the section. You need not distinguish the two types of cells that are present in the epithelium. Note the highly cellular and highly vascular nature of the lamina propria. The lamina propria of the oviduct is a very cellular connective tissue that is richly supplied with blood and lymphatic vessels, but which is devoid of glands. Try to delineate the two muscle layers that comprise the muscularis. The muscularis is made up of two layers of smooth muscle cells: an outer layer where the muscle cells are longitudinally-arranged and an inner layer where the muscle cells are circularly or spirally-arranged. Verify that the serosa consists of a thin layer of connective tissue that is covered externally by mesothelium. Note the presence of a solitary lymph nodule in the serosa. The outermost histologic layer of the oviduct except for that in the pars interstitialis, which is within the uterus, is serosa. The serosa is richly supplied with blood and lymphatic vessels and contains a plexus of nerves. On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled Fallopian tube-isthmus to place it in the main window. The slide contains a cross-section from the third segment of the Fallopian tube. o Reinforce what you have learned about the histology of the oviduct from the previous slide by examining this one under different magnifications. Note that the mucosal folds in this segment of the oviduct are less intricate and are shorter than those in the ampulla. Notice that in this slide the simple columnar nature of the epithelium is more apparent than in the previous one. Note further that the layers comprising the muscularis and the adventitia are also easier to distinguish in this section than in the previous one.

UTERUS You need the following slides, which are already in the filmstrip, to study the uterus. Uterus-proliferative endometrium Uterus-secretory endometrium
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The uterus is a pear-shaped, hollow, pelvic organ that receives the embryo a few days after fertilization and nourishes and nurtures it throughout its development. Grossly, the uterus has two parts: corpus or body and cervix that are demarcated from each other by a constriction, the isthmus. The corpus uteri is the expanded upper portion that makes up much of the organ while the cervix is the cylindrical inferior portion whose proximal end projects into the vagina. The rounded region of the corpus uteri that is above the attachment of the Fallopian tubes is called the fundus. On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled Uterus-proliferative endometrium to place the slide in the main window. The slide contains a section of the uterus that was taken during the proliferative phase of the organ. o Pan the slide under low magnification and delineate the endometrium from the myometrium, which are the only histologic layers of the organ that are included in the slide. The endometrium occupies about a quarter of the slide and is on the left side. The corpus uteri has three histologic layers: mucosa, which is otherwise called endometrium; muscularis, which is referred to as myometrium, and serosa/adventitia. The mucosa is made up of a simple columnar epithelium and a lamina propria that contain simple tubular glands called endometrial glands. o Focus your attention on the endometrium and study it under various magnifications. Note that it consists of an epithelium and an underlying lamina propria. Observe that the epithelium is simple cuboidal and that some of the cells are ciliated. Notice that in the lamina propria, there are simple tubular glands (endometrial glands) that span the full-thickness of the endometrium, but they are relatively few and far between. The endometrium varies in thickness during the course of the menstrual cycle, which consists of menstrual, proliferative or follicular and secretory or luteal phases. During the menstrual phase, the superficial 2/3 of the endometrium, which is called the functional layer, is shed off leaving only the deeper 1/3, which is called the basal layer. During the proliferative phase, the functional layer is restored by mitosis of the epithelial and stromal cells in the basal layer. During the secretory phase, the endometrium is edematous and the glands become secretory. Thus, the endometrium is thickest during the secretory or luteal phase. o Now shift your attention to the myometrium. Note that it is much thicker than the endometrium.
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Note further that it is made up of closely-packed smooth muscle fibers. The smooth muscle fibers actually form four layers, but these layers are poorly-defined. You need not delineate them in this specimen.

Now, click the slide labeled Uterus-secretory endometrium to place the slide in the main window. The slide contains a slice of the endometrium that was sectioned during the luteal or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle. o At low magnification, delineate the endometrium from the myometrium. As in the previous slide, the serosa/adventitia has not been included in this section. o Study the endometrium under varying magnifications. Be sure you can distinguish histologically the proliferative (previous slide) from the secretory endometrium (this slide). During the secretory phase of the endometrial cycle, the endometrium is at its thickest because aside from the fact that the functional layer has been fully restored, the glands, which have become higly tortuous, become secretory and the stroma becomes very vascular. Note that as in the previous slide, the endometrium consists of a simple columnar epithelium and an underlying lamina propria. Observe that the endometrium in this slide is much thicker than in the previous slide. Observe further that the endometrial glands in the lamina propria, which as in the previous slide are simple tubular, are much longer, higly coiled and cork-screw-shaped. Note the presence of secretory material in the lumen of many of the endometrial glands.

CERVIX You will need the following slides, which are already on the filmstrip in studying the cervix. Cervix 1 Cervix 2

The cervix is the cylindrical inferior portion of the uterus whose proximal portion protrudes into the vagina. The portion that projects into the vagina is the portio vaginalis (exocervix; ectocervix) while the rest of the cervix is the endocervix. The cavity of the cervix (cervical canal; endocervical canal) is continuous with the uterine cavity through the internal os and with the vaginal canal via the external os. Place the slide labeled Cervix 1 in the main window by clicking its image on the filmstrip. The slide contains a section of the cervix that shows part of the endocervix and part of the exocervix.
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o Under low magnification, note that the cervix consists of a mucosa (right and bottom edges of the specimen) and an underlying collagenous connective tissue. o Under varying magnifications, study the mucosa and note that it consists of an epithelium and a lamina propria. Pan the bottom and right edges of the slide. Observe that the inferior edge of the specimen is lined by a simple columnar epithelium while the right edge is lined by nonkeratinized stratified squamous . The region of the cervix that is lined by stratified epithelium is the exocervix or portio vaginalis while that lined by simple columnar epithelium is the endocervix. Note that the transition from one type to the other type of epithelim is an abrupt oner. This abrupt transition occurs at or near the external os. Notice that the mucosa in the endocervix form folds and that in some areas, it invaginates into the lamina propria to form mucus-secreting, branched tubular glands (cervical glands). Observe that in the lamina propria that underlies the endocervix is heavily infiltrated with MALT and is highly vascular. Notice the huge cystic structure on the right lower region of the specimen. Scrutinize the structure and note that it is made up of a cavity that is lined by a simple columnar epithelium. This structure is actually a cervical gland that has occluded and dilated to form cyst or follicles called nabothian cyst. o Now focus your attention on the dense irregular connective tissue that underlies the mucosa. Note that the tissue is richly supplied with blood vessels. Notice also the presence of smooth muscle cells. Go back to the filmstrip and click the slide labeled Cervix 2 to place it in the main window. The slide also contains a section of the cervix that shows part of the endocervix and part of the exocervix. o Reinforce what you have learned about the histology of the cervix by studying this slide under different magnifications. o Note that this specimen shows more nabothian cysts than the previous one. o Note further that there are actually two areas where there is a sudden transition from one epithelial type to another. This is because this specimen of the cervix is not exactly normal. There is an area in the endocervix where the epithelium has been transformed into nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium because of frequent inflammation (a process called metaplasia). o Notice that in the region where metaplasia has occurred, the lamina propria is heavily infiltrated with MALT.

VAGINA
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On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled Vagina to place it in the main window. The slide contains a section of the vagina of a human female. o Under low magnification, delineate the mucosa from the muscularis layer. The vagina has an adventitia that is external to the muscularis layer but this third layer layer is not included in the section. o Examine the mucosa under different magnifications. Note that it consists of an epithelium and a lamina propria. Observe that the epithelium is like that of the exocervix, i.e., nonkeratinized stratified squamous. Notice that the lamina propria is rather thick and that it consists of dense irregular connective tissue that is richly supplied with MALT and blood vessels. Notice too that there are no glands in the lamina propria. o Now focus your attention on the muscularis. Note the bundles of smooth muscle fibers that seem to travel in all directions. Actually, the smooth muscle fibers are arranged into layers: an inner layer where the muscle fibers are circularly arranged and outer layer where the muscle fibers are longitudinally arranged. However, the layers are poorly-defined that is why it is not possible to distinguish them in this slide.

MAMMARY GLAND You need the following slides, which are already on the filmstrip, in studying the Mammary Gland.

Mammary gland (breast)-inactive Mammary gland (breast)-active

The mammary glands of females are a pair of modified sweat glands that provide nourishment for the females offspring during the initial stages of growth and development. In the adult female, each mammary gland is made up of 15 to 20 lobes that are separated from each other by interlobar connective tissue. The lobes are further subdivided by connective tissue (interlobular connective tissue) into lobules that contain the secretory alveoli and tubules as well as the intralobular ducts of the gland. The secretory alveoli and tubules are drained by intralobular ducts that unite to form interlobular ducts that run in the interlobular connective tissue. The interlobular ducts unite to form a single lobar duct (lactiferous duct) that opens independent of the other lactiferous ducts into the nipple.

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On the filmstrip, click the slide labeled Mammary gland (breast)-inactive to place it in the main window. The slide contains a slice of a lobe of the breast of a sexually mature but non-pregnant woman. o Under low magnification. Notice that the section consists of islands of darkly staining structures that are surrounded by pinkish staining areas. The darkly staining structures are the breast lobules while the pinskish staining areas are made up of dense connective tissue. Also note the presence of large vacuolated areas, which are actually made up of adipose tissue. Note that the total volume in the specimen that is occupied by connective tissue is greater than that occupied by the lobules. This arrangement is typical of the inactive breast. o Under varying magnifications, study the lobules: Observe that they consists of epithelial-lined structures (alveoli and ducts) that are supported by loose connective tissue. Note that in the lobules, the ducts are rather numerous in relation to the alveoli. Actually, in the inactive breast most of the tubular structures in the lobules are ducts, very few alveoli exist. It is difficult to distinguish the alveoli from the ducts, but the tubular structures that are lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium that surrounds a distinct lumen can be assumed to be ducts. Identify myoepithelial cells, they are small cells with pale cytoplasm that lie external to the lining cells. o Now, examine the interlobular connective tissue under varying magnifications. Confirm that the connective tissue is dense irregular in most places, but there are areas made up of adipose tissue. Find interlobular ducts, which are lined by simple cuboidal epitheliumthat is taller than that lining the intralobular ducts. Note the blood vessels that are embedded in the connective tissue. Go back to the filmstrip and click the slide labeled Mammary gland-active to place it in the main window. The slide contains a section of a lobe from the breast of a pregnant female. o Examine the slide under low magnification. Observe that compared to the section in the previous slide, the lobules in this section are bigger and more numerous. Observe further that the interlobular connective tissue is much thinner in this slide than in the previous one. During pregnancy, marked changes occur in the breast. The elveoli proliferate while the interlobular and intralobular connective tissue decrease in amount to give way to the expansion of the lobules.

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o Study the lobules under varying magnifications. Note that the lobules are occupied mainly by acini that are separated from each other by thin connective tissue. Note that many of the acini are dilated because of the presence of secretory material. Observe that the lining cells of the acini vary in height from cuboidal to low columnar. Note that the intralobular ducts are difficult to distinguish because they are also secretory in nature. Identify myoepithelial cells. o Scrutinize the interlobular areas under varying magnifications. Note the presence of numerous adipocytes and blood vessels. Find interlobular ducts.

END

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