Findings

At high power, this plastic section of a mucosal fold in the fallopian tube shows the structure of the mucosa in greater detail. Note the ciliated cells and peg cells whose apices protrude into the lumen. Numerous blood vessels are present in the subjacent lamina propria.

Comment

In addition to a regional distribution of ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells discussed in the comment with the previous image, the relative distribution of these cell types changes during the menstrual cycle. Estrogen produced during the first half of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase) stimulates ciliogenesis in the Fallopian tubes, whereas progesterone increases the number of secretory peg cells during the second half of the cycle (luteal phase).

Preparation

Plastic section; hematoxylin and eosin

View

High-power light microscopy

Specimen

Fallopian tube

Image Credit

V. Eroschenko, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences
WAMI Medical Program
University of Idaho